First National Lok Adalat at various places in Manipur

Imphal, 10th April, 2021

First National Lok Adalat at various places in Manipur on 10th April, 2021

As per the calendar of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the Manipur State Legal Services Authority in association with High Court Legal Services Committee and District Legal Services Authorities organized the first National Lok Adalat for the year, 2021 on 10th April, 2021 at various places across the state, both in virtual and physical modes.

National Lok Adalat for Imphal East and West district is jointly held at ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex. National Lok Adalat is also held at Bishnupur, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Senapati, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Chandel, Moreh, Jiribam districts and in the High Court of Manipur.

In today’s National Lok Adalat for Imphal East and Imphal West organized by MASLSA, 3(three) benches were constituted. The Bench No. 1 is conducted in offline/ physical mode, whereas Bench No. 2 & 3 is conducted in online mode through video conferencing.

The first bench comprises of Smt. Binny Ngangom, Judge, Family Court, Manipur as Chairperson, Shri Ch. Momon Singh, Advocate & Smt. Angom (O) Bala, Advocate as Members.

The Second Bench comprises of Shri Ojesh Mutum, Addl. Sessions Judge (FTC), CAW, Manipur as Chairperson and Ch. Nanda Devi, Advocate as Member.

The third bench comprises of Kimneingah Kipgen, Civil Judge (Jr. Divn.)/ JMFC, Imphal East as Chairperson and Km. B. Supriya Devi, Advocate as Member.

The representatives of the Bank and the parties are 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.

First National Lok Adalat at various places in Manipur on 10th April, 2021

In today’s National Lok Adalat, a total 9 pending cases (2 Criminal cases, 3 civil cases, 2 MACT cases, 1 NI Act case & 1 family matters) are disposed of and 282 Pre-litigation matters (174 bank recovery cases, 105 MV Act cases & 3 petty matters) were also settled amicably with total settlement amount of Rs. 1,64,50,724/- (Rupees one crore sixty-four lakhs fifty thousand seven hundred and twentyfour) only.

It is to be noted that due to COVID-19 pandemic, the conventional physical Lok Adalats are now shifted to Hybrid Lok Adalats in which lok adalat is conducted through physical as well as online mode. Online lok adalat, popularly known as e-lok adalat, is one such innovation of legal services institutions where technology has been used to its maximum advantage and has become a platform to deliver justice at the doorstep of people.

Online Lok Adalats will play an important role in resolving disputes without wasting much time and money and to ensure that access to justice continues during these challenging times. Offline/ physical lok adalat are also conducted with strict compliance of COVID19 guidelines for the parties who are not handy in using online applications and are at places where there are connectivity problems.

First National Lok Adalat at various places in Manipur on 10th April, 2021

Hon'ble Mr. P V Sanjay Kumar, Chief Justice, High Court of Manipur visited the National Lok Adalat held at Senapati Court Complex as a part of the inspection at Senapati & Mao Court Complexes. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kh. Nobin Singh, Judge, High Court of Manipur & Executive Chairman, Manipur SLSA inaugurated the National Lok Adalat for Imphal East and Imphal West District at ADR building, Lamphel Court Complex.

As directed by Hon’ble Executive Chairman, MASLSA, steps will be taken up for including the revenue matters pending before the Revenue Courts viz. ASSO/SDC/SDM/DC offices in the coming Lok Adalats by tying up with the concerned State Revenue Departments.

MASLSA is thankful to the Presiding Officers, 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 Lok Adalat as well as availability of legal services and Legal Services Institutions in general so that access to justice is enabled for all.

First National Lok Adalat at various places in Manipur on 10th April, 2021

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