Leh, Sept 13: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Leh, convened the third National Lok Adalat at the District Court Complex, where a substantial number of disputes were resolved through amicable settlement. The proceedings were virtually inaugurated by Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Sindhu Sharma, Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Executive Chairperson of the Ladakh Legal Services Authority.
Justice Sharma, addressing the gathering online, underscored that while the people of Ladakh are inherently peace-loving, the geographical remoteness, extreme climatic conditions, and vast expanse of the region necessitate the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms for prompt redressal. She commended the role of legal services institutions in making justice accessible and emphasized the importance of enhancing legal awareness so that the public may fully avail themselves of the benefits of Lok Adalats.
The occasion was attended by Manoj Parihar, Principal District and Sessions Judge Leh and Member Secretary, Tsewang Phunstog, Chief Judicial Magistrate Leh, Phuntsog Angmo, Secretary DLSA and Special Mobile Magistrate Leh, Lakshay Badyal, Munsiff Nubra, along with senior prosecuting officers, members of the Bar Association led by its President Mohd. Shafi, Panel Lawyers, Legal Aid Defense Counsels, Paralegal Volunteers, Court Staff, and Litigants.
Six benches were constituted to hear matters, presided over by judicial officers in association with advocates and revenue officials. The benches dealt with a range of disputes, including banking recovery suits, matrimonial matters, compoundable criminal cases, civil disputes, and labour-related issues.
By the conclusion of the day-long exercise, 267 cases had been taken up, out of which 223 were disposed of through settlement. The total settlement amount reached Rs. 94,82,756, reflecting the efficacy of the forum in bringing litigants together for voluntary resolution.
The National Lok Adalat in Leh once again reaffirmed the importance of ADR as an instrument of speedy justice delivery, offering relief to parties without the protracted ordeal of conventional litigation.
