The India Post, Chandigarh, 18th December, 2008 :As on today, more than ten lacs cases are pending in the Subordinate Courts of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh. Mr. Justice T.S. Thakur, Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken the initiative to resolve this ever-growing problem. Under his direction the State Legal Services Authorities of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh have decided to organize Mega Lok Adalats called "Samadhan-2008" on December 20 and 21.
The Hon’ble Chief Justice held separate meetings with members of the judiciary and senior officers of the executive and senior officers of the banks, in October, 2008. The District Judges were directed to constitute Mega Lok Adalat Project Core Committees comprising of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, two senior most Judges of the district, NGOs and Social Workers. The District and Sessions Judges were to be over all Incharge of the project Mega Lok Adalat Project Core Committee. The Judicial Officers and Executive Officers were asked to identify the cases which could be settled in the Mega Lok Adalat. They were also directed to organize pre-Lok Adalats for maturing the cases for Mega Lok Adalats. The Hon’ble Chief Justice set the target of 2.5 lac cases, for settlement in the Mega Lok Adalats. He asked the State Executives of all the three States to coordinate with the judiciary for ensuring the maximum settlement of cases. He also stressed upon the Chief Secretaries and other senior Government functionaries to issue necessary instructions to the concerned departments to give wide publicity to this project and thereby ensuring, that general public is made aware of this opportunity for settlement of their pending litigation and also pre-litigative settlement of disputes. Meetings were also held with teachers, BDPOs, Sarpanches, Patwaris and other grass-root-level-functionaries for creating awareness about the Mega Lok Adalat Project.
The category of cases which are proposed to be taken up in the Mega Lok Adalats include 138 Negotiable Instruments Act, Motor Accident Claim Cases, Compoundable Criminal Offences, Matrimonial Disputes under Hindu Marriage Act, Petty Offences under Special Enactments, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Cases relating to Road Accidents cases except cases under Section 279/304A IPC, Petitions under Section 18 & 19 of Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, Petitions for Custody of Children, Civil Suit of recovery of money as well as possession of Immovable Property, Suit for Injunction, Rent cases and Civil and Criminal Cases relating to Electricity.
The category of cases as enumerated above is illustrative and not exhaustive. The courts may refer to the Lok Adalats, all categories of Civil or Criminal cases, except cases which are not compoundable under any law for the time being in force.
The inaugural function of this project would be held at Judicial Courts Complex, Gurgaon which would be inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice D.K. Jain, Judge, Supreme Court of India on December 20 at 10.00 AM. Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.S. Bedi, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.S. Singhvi, Judge, Supreme Court of India would be the guests of honor. Hon’ble Mr. Justice T.S. Thakur, Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court will preside over the inaugural function. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Executive Chairman, Haryana State Legal Services Authority and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashutosh Mohunta, Administrative Judge, Gurgaon Sessions division will also grace the occasion.