Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Justice Ajay Tewari, Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman of Punjab State Legal Services Authority, the National Lok Adalat was organized on 12.03.2022 throughout the State of Punjab strictly as per the guidelines issued by the Centre as well as the State Government from time to time to curb the surge of COVID-19. The National Lok Adalat was held through physical as well as virtual mode.Disclosing this Sh.Arun Gupta, District & Sessions Judge-cum Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority said that in this Lok Adalat, approximately 1,73,910 cases (Pre-Litigative and Pending) were settled in total 447 Benches of Lok Adalat. Various long pending matters relating to matrimonial disputes, property disputes, cheque bounce cases, labour matters, criminal compoundable cases, cancellation/untraced reports of various FIRs etc. were taken up.
Apart from this, various awards were passed with the consent of the parties.As per the provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the court fee was ordered to be refunded. The guidance and initiative by the Hon’ble Executive Chairman Mr.Justice Ajay Tewari, proved as a catalyst in resolving a large number of cases and brought back the smile on the faces of the litigants.On this occasion, the people have also been made aware about the Toll Free Number 1968 for any kind of legal assistance available to all the needy persons particularly the marginalized segments. The Front Offices set up at District and Taluka level in the premises of the courts, are in existence to guide the litigants for obtaining free and effective legalaid. Sh.Arun Gupta, Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority has urged the general public to settle their grievances amicably in the Lok Adalats.