National Lok Adalat held at various places in Manipur

Imphal, 12th December, 2020

National Lok Adalat held at various places in Manipur on 12 December, 2020

As per the calendar of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), 4(four) National Lok Adalats were scheduled for the year 2020, and first National Lok Adalat of this year was held in February, 2020. Thereafter, the subsequent National Lok Adalats scheduled for the months of July and September were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During these challenging times also, as directed by NALSA, the Manipur State Legal Services Authority in association with District Legal Services Authorities and High Court Legal Services Committee organized the last National Lok Adalat for the year, 2020 on 12th December, 2020 at various places across the state, both in virtual and physical modes.

It is to be noted that for the first time in Manipur, simultaneous virtual Lok Adalats were held across various districts, viz., Bishnupur, Thoubal, Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel, Moreh, Jiribam and in the High Court of Manipur, apart from the virtual Lok Adalat for Imphal East and West district at ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex. For the districts of Senapati and Churachandpur, it was held in physical mode due to connectivity issues, with strict compliance of COVID-19 protocols.

In today’s online National Lok Adalat organized by MASLSA, 2(two) benches were constituted. The first bench comprises of Smt. Binny Ngangom, Judge, Family Court, Manipur as Chairpersons and Km. Ch. Nanda Devi, Advocate as Member.

The Second Bench comprises of Smt. Heeralata Moirangthem, Civil Judge (Jr. Divn.), Imphal West-II as Chairperson and K. Binodini Devi, Advocate as Member. The representatives of the Bank, Insurance companies and the parties were present in the online Lok Adalat through video conferencing. In such challenging times, all modes of virtual communication were adopted for effective communication between the parties.

As a measure of popularizing Lok Adalats and online Lok Adalats, and to spread awareness to the general public, the event was also broadcasted live in the facebook page of MASLSA in parts.

In today’s National Lok Adalat, 12 cases concerning Motor Accident Claims cases and 4 Civil cases pending before the courts and 132 Pre-litigation bank recovery cases were settled amicably with total settlement amount of Rs. 1,90,84,850/- (Rupees one crore ninety lakh eighty-four thousand eight hudred and fifty) only.

MASLSA is thankful to the Presiding Officer, Judicial Officers, ld. Advocates, all the parties, Officials of Bank/ Insurance Companies, News and Print Media for making this programme a success.

It is also requested to all the News and Print Media to give wider dissemination of the concept of virtual Lok Adalat as well as availability of legal services and Legal Services Institutions in general so that access to justice is enabled for all.

See a photo gallery of this event here

(Sorokhaibam Sadananda) MJS
Deputy Member Secretary,
Manipur State Legal Services Authority
ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex,
Lamphelpat, Imphal