Port Blair, July 10: The State Legal Services Authority and District Legal Services Authority, Andaman and Nicobar Islands conducted the National Lok Adalat in the Alternative Disputes Resolution Centre – “PRAYAS” here on Saturday to dispose of cases involving Electricity/Water/Telephone/Public Utility disputes.
As many as 109 pre-litigation disputes involving Allahabad Bank, Port Blair and 01 pending pre-litigation dispute relating to supply of electricity and water were placed before the National Lok Adalat, which was formally inaugurated by Justice Soumitra Pal, Judge, High Court at Calcutta and Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The bench of the Lok Adalat was chaired by Mr Subhendu Samanta, District & Sessions Judge & Chairman, District Legal Services Authority with Mr Krishna Rao, Advocate & President, Andaman & Nicobar Bar Association and Smt Rubana Aziz, Municipal Councillor as members. As many as 40 pre-litigation cases involving an amount of Rs 1,33,65,801/- were disposed of settling the amount at Rs. 77,71,300/- paving a relief of Rs. 55,94,501 to the loanees/litigants. A sum of Rs. 93,300 was collected on the spot.
Earlier, addressing a legal awareness programme, Justice Soumitra Pal spoke about various aspects of Lok Adalat and the Legal Services Institution. He expressed gratitude to the Lt. Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the administration for establishing the Law College in these islands and for support rendered for various developmental activities for the High Court and District Court at Port Blair.
In his brief address, Mr Krishna Rao, Advocate and President, Andaman and Nicobar Bar Association highlighted how litigants cab be benefitted if their disputes and cases are settled at the instance of Lok Adalat. He highlighted that the award passed by the Lok Adalat attains its finality and the same is not appealable before any court of law and that the Lok Adalat’s Award can be executed as if it is the decree of a civil court.
Mr Prasenjit Biswas, Registrar, High Court at Calcutta, Circuit Bench at Port Blair and Member Secretary, A&N State Legal Services Authority, Mr Debasis Bandyopadhyay, Additional District & Sessions Judge, A&N Islands, Mr Amar Kishore Mahato, Chief Judicial Magistrate & Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Mr Abhranil Neogi, Judicial Magistrate First Class-II, Port Blair and Mr Indranil Chakraborty, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Additional Court were also present on the occasion. Mr J. Sudarsanan, Chief Administrative Officer, District and Sessions Court welcomed the gathering.
