Over 2.64 lakh cases settled through Lok Adalats in HP

A total of 2,64,748 cases have been settled through Lok Adalats between December 2013 to August 2016 in Himachal Pradesh.

Around four lakh cases were taken up during the period from December 2013 to August 2016 out of which 2,64,748 cases were settled by holding 3799 Lok Adalats and permanent Lok Adalats have been constituted in the state at Dharamshala, Mandi, Shimla and Una, the spokesperson of Himachal Pradesh Legal Services Authority said.

Mobile Lok Adalats are also being organised in the state to help in settling of cases.

A total of 1611 people have benefited through legal aid provided by the Authority from April 2015 to March 2016.

Furthermore, legal literacy camps are being organised by the Authority in remote areas, industrial zones, hospitals, fairs and jails to spread legal awareness among more people.

A panel of legal practitioner for providing legal aid has been maintained at sub-divisional, district and high court legal services committees and at present 956 lawyers have been appointed in the state for this purpose.

In order to provide easy access to legal services, Legal Aid Clinics have been opened in 2628 gram panchayats in the Panchayat Bhawans across the state.

These centres are being manned by a retainer lawyer and Para Legal Volunteers, who are being imparted training in a phased manner.

Besides legal advice, these centres are also offering other services like preparing application for job card, awareness under MNREGs scheme, helping villagers in drafting petitions, representations and filling up applications for various benefits under government schemes.

Alternative Dispute Resolution centres are also being set up in the state to ensure speedy delivery of justice.

The state government has also given powers to the Gram Panchayats to settle small disputes under few sections of Indian Penal Code of both civil and criminal in nature, the spokesman added.