GUWAHATI, Sept 28 - The Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA) conducted its first e-lok adalat for motor accident cases (MACs) on Sunday in four districts of the State on a pilot basis, which resulted in amicable settlement of 60 cases, said a press release issued here on Monday.
The concept of holding e-lok adalats has been taken by ASLSA as an initiative to provide solution to the litigants for amicable settlement of their disputes during these pandemic times. The entire process of adjudication was conducted through video conferencing among judges, lawyers, litigants and insurance companies.
Altogether 60 motor accident cases were settled on the day by the e-lok adalat in which over Rs 2 crore was awarded to the claimants. Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, an award made by the lok adalat is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties.
The four participating districts were Barpeta, Cachar, Dhemaji and Kamrup (M).
Chief Justice (Acting) of the Gauhati High Court and Executive Chairman of ASLSA Justice N Kotishwar Singh inaugurated the e-lok adalat through the digital platform. He highlighted the difficulties being faced by litigants and recognised the efforts put in by ASLSA in this Covid-19 situation.
The Chief Justice (Acting) further envisaged the need for maximum use of technology to provide necessary relief and wished that ASLSA�s initiative would be a milestone in providing timely justice to the needy.
Nayan Shankar Baruah, Member Secretary of ASLSA said such e-lok adalats would provide much needed relief to the litigants owing to the restricted functioning of courts in view of Covid-19. He said more such e-lok adalats would be held in other districts of the State also.
The inaugural session was attended by all the district & session judges cum chairpersons of the participating districts, DLSA secretaries, presiding officers of the benches of e-lok adalats, litigants and other members of the legal fraternity, the release added.
