Legal services offered at fast pace

Veeran (37), a government servant, sustained head injury when a car hit his two-wheeler nearly five years ago. In 2011, he filed a petition in the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal for claiming a compensation of Rs. one lakh from the vehicle owner and insurance companies. Since then, he has walked to the court several times. Following the advice of his counsel, the case was referred to the Lok Adalat and now the four-year-old dispute came to an end. Ramya Ramachandran, counsel for Veeran, said, “Today he sat together before the board of Lok Adalat and agreed to accept Rs.25, 000 as compensation. Even if we try the case before a regular court, we will get a similar amount.”

A 40-year-old person in 2010 had filed a petition in the family court seeking divorce from his wife on grounds of cruelty. To counter him, his wife filed a criminal case under the Domestic Violence Act seeking maintenance.

The matter was referred by the Legal Services Authority for resolution of dispute. J. Marie Anna Dayavady, duty counsel for Legal Aid Clinic, said, “After pacifying for long, the woman agreed to withdraw the case and both sides agreed for mutual divorce. Since the divorce case can not be tried here, it will be sent to the Family Court for formal order.”

There are so many successful stories reported at the Lok Adalat conducted by the Union Territory of Puducherry Legal Services Authority (UPLSA) in Integrated Court Complex as per the directions of National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi and Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar, Judge of the Madras High Court and Executive Chairman, UPLSA.

The lok adalat was formally inaugurated by P.Velmurugan, Principal District Judge and member secretary of UPLSA.

Mr. Velmurugan told The Hindu , “Around 7,500 of total 27,500 cases pending in the courts have been referred to the Lok Adalat proceedings and divorce cases and non-compoundable criminal cases were not part of this. Notices or summons were issued to the parties before hand.”

Besides a portion of pending cases, around 5,000 pre-litigation disputes and 10,000 petty cases were also referred to resolution of disputes.

Five boards were constituted to deal cases in Lok Adalat.

Referring to the direction of Chief Justice of Madras High Court S.K. Kaul to clear the long pendency of cases, Mr. Velmurugan said necessary instructions have been issued to courts in the Union Territory to expedite the trial of long pending cases.

“We are giving adequate attention to clear the long pending cases and restricting adjournments. Cases relating to senior citizens have been given special attention”, said Mr. Velmurugan.

Cases under the Negotiable Instrument Act, labour disputes, land acquisition, civil cases, consumer cases were all referred to the Lok Adalat.

Lok Adalat was simultaneously conducted at Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam as well.