Lok adalat settles 188 cases

CHANDIGARH, Sept 25: The state-level lok adalat held in the District Courts Complex concluded here today, with the eight adalats disposin...

CHANDIGARH, Sept 25: The state-level lok adalat held in the District Courts Complex concluded here today, with the eight adalats disposing of 188 of the total 410 cases which were taken up. About Rs 2.12 crore was disbursed as compensation after the settlement of motor accident claims and land acquisition cases.

UT District and Sessions Judge B.S. Bedi informed that about 60 of the total 215 cases related to accident claims were resolved. Besides, 90 per cent cases filed under the Hindu Marriage Act were also resolved. While in nine cases the couples consented to part in peace, in five others they reunited.

The bench comprising Sudershan Modi, presiding officer, labour court, advocates Anita Ahuja, Kasturi Lal and member K.K. Monga resolved about six marital disputes. Applications for restoration of conjugal rights were taken up by the adalat comprising Civil Judge senior division H.S. Madaan, Chief Judicial Magistrate Sant Parkash and advocate T.N. Dutta. All the five applications were disposed of, with the couples going home reunited.

As far as motor accident cases were concerned, the disposal rate was not very encouraging, though the judges tried their best to resolve as many disputes as possible. The main reason cited was that the insurance companies had not come with complete files. While two of the total 40 cases were disposed of in the adalat presided over by ADJ R.C. Godara, the adalat presided over by ADJ G.S. Sandhu disposed of six of the total 37 cases.

In many cases the compromise could not be reached because the company asked for more time to complete verifications. quot;The lok adalat was supposed to be held on September 18. The companies had sufficient time to get the files inspected, but they failed to do so to the inconvenience of litigants,quot; said an advocate.

However, the overall results were encouraging, with about 620 traffic challans being disposed of, apart from all the 648 Shop Act cases which were taken up. Earlier during the day, Justice R.S. Mongia of the Punjab and Haryana High Court delivered the presidential address. Justice N.K. Sodhi also spoke on the occasion.