Srinagar (J&K), September 12: Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Pushpendra Singh Bhati, on Saturday said Lok Adalats embody the spirit of providing maximum relief to common citizens through amicable settlement and dialogue within the framework of law.
Speaking at the inauguration of the third National Lok Adalat at the District Court Complex in Srinagar, Justice Bhati said the entire legal fraternity, including judges and advocates, has a collective responsibility to ensure that citizens receive timely and effective relief.
“Lok Adalat in itself is a concept and spirit under which efforts are made to provide maximum relief,” he said, stressing the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue and mutually acceptable settlements.
Justice Bhati particularly highlighted the significance of Lok Adalats in motor accident cases, where delays in compensation can place victims’ families under severe financial strain.
“It is the responsibility of the law, the legal system and the courts to ensure swift action so that compensation reaches them promptly. This Lok Adalat is precisely the mechanism through which compensation is delivered to them as quickly as possible within legal parameters,” he said.
Emphasising the role of Lok Adalats in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, the Chief Justice said they had a significant role to play and should be further strengthened as expectations of common citizens from the justice delivery system continue to grow.
He called upon the legal community, including lawyers, to rise to the occasion and work towards ensuring maximum relief to people across the Union Territory.
“It is expected that we, as a legal community along with lawyers, rise to the occasion to provide maximum relief to the common citizens of the State,” Bhati said.
Responding to a question on fast-track courts, the Chief Justice said their establishment was primarily a matter of government policy and such courts could be set up if the government formulated an appropriate policy in this regard.
Assuring the public of the judiciary’s commitment to speedy justice, Justice Bhati said the courts would continue to make every effort to improve the justice delivery system and ensure prompt action.
“On behalf of all judges and the judiciary, I want to assure the general public that we will make every effort to deliver speedy justice in the temple of justice, make the justice delivery system smoother and more effective, and keep the courts motivated to take prompt action in service of common citizens,” he said.
He added that ensuring speedy, accessible and effective justice would remain the endeavour of the entire judiciary.
The third National Lok Adalat was inaugurated at the District Court Complex in Srinagar on Saturday, providing litigants an opportunity to resolve eligible disputes through amicable settlement.
