The first National Lok Adalat of the year 2021 was organised by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) in association with the High Court Legal Services Committee (HCLSC) and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA) on Saturday.
It was held at various places across the state in both virtual and physical modes, during which a total of nine pending cases were disposed of while 282 pre-litigation matters were also settled amicably with a total settlement amount of Rs 1,64,50,724.
The nine pending cases included two criminal cases, three civil cases, two MACT cases, one NI Act case and one family matter. The 282 Pre-litigation matters included 174 bank recovery cases, 105 MV Act cases and three petty matters.
National Lok Adalat for Imphal East and West district was jointly held at ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex. It was also held at Bishnupur, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Senapati, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Chandel, Moreh, Jiribam districts and in the High Court of Manipur.
In today’s National Lok Adalat for Imphal East and Imphal West organised by MASLSA, three benches were constituted. The Bench No. 1 was conducted in offline/ physical mode, whereas Bench No. 2 and 3 was conducted in online mode through video conferencing.
The first bench comprised of Judge, Family Court, Manipur Binny Ngangom as chairperson; advocate Ch Momon Singh and advocate Angom (O) Bala as members. The Second Bench comprised of Additional Sessions Judge (FTC), CAW, Manipur Ojesh Mutum as chairperson and advocate Ch Nanda Devi as Member. The third bench comprised of civil judge (Jr Divn)/ JMFC, Imphal East Kimneingah Kipgen as chairperson and advocate B Supriya Devi as member.
The representatives of the Bank and the parties were present in the online Lok Adalat through video conferencing. All modes of virtual communication were adopted for effective communication between the parties in view of the present situation.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the conventional physical Lok Adalats are now shifted to Hybrid Lok Adalats in which lok adalat is conducted through physical as well as online mode. Online lok adalat, popularly known as e-lok adalat, is one such innovation of legal services institutions where technology has been used to its maximum advantage and has become a platform to deliver justice at the doorstep of people.
Online Lok Adalats play an important role in resolving disputes without wasting much time and money and to ensure that access to justice continues during these challenging times. Offline or physical lok adalat are also conducted with strict compliance of COVID19 guidelines for the parties who are not handy in using online applications and are at places where there are connectivity problems.
The chief justice, High Court of Manipur P V Sanjay Kumar visited the National Lok Adalat held at Senapati Court Complex as a part of the inspection at Senapati and Mao Court Complexes. Judge, High Court of Manipur and executive chairman, MSLSA Justice Kh Nobin Singh inaugurated the National Lok Adalat for Imphal East and Imphal West District at ADR building, Lamphel Court Complex.
As directed by executive chairman, MASLSA, steps will be taken up for including the revenue matters pending before the Revenue Courts namely ASSO/SDC/SDM/DC offices in the coming Lok Adalats by tying up with the State Revenue departments concerned.
