PANAJI: Lok Adalats are gaining popularity in Goa with several people in the state approaching these Lok Adalats, which are swift and act as an inexpensive remedy with legal status for solving of cases.
Lok Adalat is a system of alternative dispute resolution and was set up in the country vide the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Its process is voluntary and works on the principle that both parties to a dispute are willing to sort out the matter by way of an amicable solution. Through this mechanism, disputes can be settled in a simpler, quicker and cost-effective manner.
According to sources in the High Court of Bombay at Goa, in June 2015, Lok Adalats in Goa witnessed 2,097 pre-litigation cases while in the month of July 2015, the number of cases in the Lok Adalats were 2,091 and 2,594 cases were received in August, last year, which even witnessed over 800 cases in the Lok Adalats during some months.
“The Lok Adalat is a faster and an inexpensive remedy with legal status and it also helps the courts in reducing the burden of arrears of cases and the award becomes final and binding on both the parties,” said an advocate Gerson de Souza. He said, “Another benefit of Lok Adalat is that there is no strict application of the procedural laws and the Evidence Act while assessing merits of the claim. In Lok Adalats, though represented by their advocates, the parties to a case can interact directly with the Lok Adalat judge.”
Further explaining the benefits of Lok Adalats, the lawyer said, “There is high cost involved in prosecuting or in defending a case in a regular law court as there is a need to follow certain procedures leading to a delay in the disposal of cases thus resulting in huge pendency in the courts, while the Lok Adalats are inexpensive and the cases are disposed faster. Also, the area of contribution chosen for the purpose especially concerns and helps the common man and the needy sections of the society.”
According to sources in the High Court, a Lok Adalat may be organised at such time and place and on such days including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, as the State Authority, High Court Legal Services Committee, as the case may be, organising the Lok Adalat deems it appropriate.
The main thrust of Lok Adalats is on compromise and while conducting the proceedings, Lok Adalat acts as a conciliator and its role is to persuade the parties to hit upon a solution and help in reconciling the contesting differences.