Hoshiarpur Hosts Successful National Lok Adalat: 26,069 Cases Settled On-Spot

Hoshiarpur Hosts Successful National Lok Adalat: 26,069 Cases Settled On-Spot
Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha/Mar.15
Following directives from the Punjab State Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar, the District Legal Services Authority, Hoshiarpur, organised the year's first National Lok Adalat in the district on Saturday. The event was presided over by District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Rajinder Agarwal.The Lok Adalat addressed a wide range of cases, including NI Act Section 138 matters (pending and pre-litigation bank recovery cases), labour disputes, motor accident claim cases, electricity-water bill disputes (excluding non-compoundable cases), matrimonial disputes, traffic challans, revenue matters, and other civil and less serious criminal cases, along with domestic disputes.CJM-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Neeraj Goyal, informed that 19 benches were constituted across the district for the smooth conduct of the Lok Adalat. These included 9 benches at the Hoshiarpur court complex, 2 at Sub-Division Dasuya, 1 at Mukerian, 2 at Garhshankar, and 5 at revenue courts.Out of 29,451 cases heard, 26,069 were settled on the spot, with awards totalling over Rs 13.84 crore (Rs 1,38,48,4145) passed in favour of the parties.Special help desks were set up by District Legal Services Authority staff and para-legal volunteers for traffic challan payments, facilitating quick resolution of pending fines.District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman Rajinder Agarwal and CJM-cum-Secretary Neeraj Goyal visited various Lok Adalat benches. The Bar Association Hoshiarpur extended full cooperation for the event's success.Secretary Neeraj Goyal highlighted that Lok Adalats resolve long-pending and complex cases efficiently. One such case was Civil Appeal No. 12/2022 (CIS No. Civil Appeal/77/2022), Baljeet Kaur and another vs Jaswinder Kaur and others, pending in the District and Sessions Judge, Hoshiarpur court.The dispute originated in 2014 when plaintiffs/defendants sought partition of joint property for separate possession, claiming inability to use their share. The defence contested their rights, asserting ownership.An initial decree declaring shares was passed on 15.02.2022, leading to an appeal on 17.03.2022. Through Judge Rajinder Agarwal's efforts in pre-Lok Adalat meetings on 10.03.2026 and 13.03.2026, a compromise was reached. Additional District and Sessions Judge Jaswinder Shimar finalised it at Lok Adalat Bench No. 01.Goyal appealed to the public to utilise Lok Adalats for swift, cost-effective justice, noting that awards are final, non-appealable, and promote harmony.