Patiala News:Justice Alka Sarin Encourages Litigants to Opt for Amicable Settlement at National Lok Adalat
– Hon’ble High Court Judge Justice Alka Sarin Inspects National Lok Adalat at Patiala
Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Alka Sarin, Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court and Inspecting Judge of the District Courts, Patiala, today inspected the National Lok Adalat organised at Patiala in accordance with the directions of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
During her visit, Justice Alka Sarin inspected various benches of the National Lok Adalat and interacted with the litigants. She encouraged the parties to resolve their disputes amicably through mutual understanding and settlement, highlighting the importance of Lok Adalats in providing speedy and accessible justice.
She was accompanied by Sh. Avtar Singh, Ld. District and Sessions Judge, Patiala, and Ms. Shilpi Gupta, Civil Judge (Senior Division)-cum-Incharge Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Patiala.
Justice Alka Sarin also inspected the Family Court and interacted with couples whose matrimonial disputes were pending before the court. She personally encouraged the couples to make sincere efforts to resolve their differences amicably and consider reconciliation in the larger interest of their families and children.
On the occasion, Sh. Avtar Singh, District and Sessions Judge, Patiala, said that the main objective of the National Lok Adalat was to facilitate amicable settlement of the maximum number of cases, thereby saving the precious time and money of litigants. He highlighted that an award passed by a Lok Adalat is final and no appeal lies against it. He further said that court fees, if paid, are refunded to the parties, while disputes are resolved expeditiously and as per mutually agreed terms, making it a “win-win situation” for both parties.
Ms. Shilpi Gupta, Civil Judge (Senior Division)-cum-Incharge Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Patiala, said that under the directions of NALSA and the able guidance of Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Alka Sarin, Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court, and under the supervision of Sh. Avtar Singh, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Patiala, the National Lok Adalat was organised for settlement of various types of cases, except non-compoundable criminal cases.
She said that 17 judicial benches were constituted across District Patiala, including 11 at Patiala, two each at Rajpura, Nabha and Samana. In addition, one bench was constituted at the Revenue Court, Patiala, for settlement of cases relating to matters such as mutations and partition.
She said that during this National Lok Adalat, 31679 cases were taken up under different categories and 26134 cases were settled through mutual compromise involving amount of Rs 460478386/-. A key highlight of this National Lok Adalat was the amicable settlement of 98 family dispute cases pending before the Family Courts and 168 cheque bounce cases involving a total amount of Rs . 66299741.
Upon her arrival in Patiala, Justice Alka Sarin was welcomed by District and Sessions Judge Mr. Avtar Singh, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans, District Attorney Devinder Goyal, the District Bar Association, and other judicial officers.