Chandigarh, July 18: Under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority and under the able guidance of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Acting Chief Justice-cum-Patron-in-Chief, State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi, Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh, a Special Lok Adalat was organised today at the District Courts Complex, Sector 43, Chandigarh by the State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh and the District Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh.

Seven Benches headed by serving Judicial Officers were constituted at the District Courts Complex, Sector 43, Chandigarh. Cases relating to Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), matrimonial disputes and traffic challans were taken up and amicably disposed of with the consent of the parties.

During the Special Lok Adalat, more than 1,046 cases relating to the Negotiable Instruments Act, matrimonial disputes, MACT matters and traffic challans were settled. The total settlement amount awarded in these cases was ₹5,98,76,877.

Sh. H.S. Grewal, Learned District & Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh, visited the Benches of the Special Lok Adalat. Addressing the litigants, he emphasised that both parties should make sincere efforts to end litigation through mutual understanding. He said that overlooking minor differences can strengthen family relationships and contribute to the better upbringing of children.

Sharing an example, he referred to a couple who had filed a divorce petition after 28 years of marriage while both their children were settled abroad. They were counselled to continue living together as they did not have their children in India to care for them in their later years.

The Special Lok Adalat was conducted under the guidance of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi, Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh. Rooted in Gandhian principles, Lok Adalats have emerged as an effective supplementary mechanism for the speedy and amicable resolution of disputes, significantly reducing the burden on regular courts.

Sh. H.S. Grewal, Learned District & Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh, Sh. Arun Kumar Aggarwal, Learned Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh, and Sh. Sunil Kumar, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, thanked all stakeholders for making the Special Lok Adalat a success. They also appealed to the public to resolve disputes through Lok Adalats, which provide speedy, inexpensive and effective justice.