Eight seventy five benches, taken up cases 2,31,365, disposed cases 1,15,938, settlement amount Rs. 357,71,94,758 – all this in a single day via video conferencing. This is the success story of Mega Lok Adalat held on 19 September 2020.
The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, is aimed to provide free and competent Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities and to organize Lok Adalats to secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis equal opportunity; to promote an inclusive legal system in order to ensure fair and meaningful justice to the marginalized and disadvantaged sector; creating legal awareness, legal aid and settlement of disputes through amicable settlement are the main functions of the Authority.
The physical Lok-Adalat was held on 8 February 2020. The total number of benches were 906. Taken up cases 1,86,980. Disposed cases 70,822 and settlement amount was Rs. 256,25,06,636.
However, the real challenge was to arrange a Lok Adalat with equal magnitude during Covid-19 scenario. Hundreds of Judicial Officers, court staff, learned Advocates and Honorable Judges of Karnataka High Court took up the task of holding the Lok Adalat via video conferencing.
The statistics show E-Lok Adalat achieved better results. This is not to in anyway undermine earlier achievements.
Technology coupled with strong determination to achieve speedy justice has made KSLSA’s ‘Success Story of 2020’.
The next Mega E-Lok Adalast is scheduled to be held on 19 December 2020. Details of the event will be shared soon.
Legal awareness programmes are taken up for empowerment of legal knowledge to all the citizens in general and to the weaker sections of the society in particular. Various activities are taken up to reach the vulnerable sections of the society such as SC/ST, Women, Industrial Labourers etc.
The Authority provides legal aid by way of providing the services of able efficient services of Lawyers. Any person, who fulfills the criteria, is entitled for the legal Aid.
Lok Adalats organized by the Authorities and the Taluk Committees help the disputing parties to come to settlement through conciliation and such settlement reached before a Lok Adalat becomes a record having equal status as that of a judgment/decree of the Court.
Karnataka State Legal Services Authority is a Statutory Body constituted under a Central Legislation “Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987”. Hon’ble the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India is the Patron-in-Chief of National Legal Services Authority. Sr. Judge of the Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority. Hon’ble the Chief Justice of High Court of Karnataka is the Patron-in-Chief of Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Bangalore. Sr. Judge of High Court of Karnataka is the Executive Chairman of Karnataka State Legal Services Authority.
The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief of National Legal Services Authority. The Chief Justice, High Court of Karnataka, is the Patron-in-Chief of Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Bengaluru and Senior most Judge, High Court of Karnataka, is the Executive Chairman of Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Bengaluru. State Legal Services Authority is working through the Member Secretary and monitoring and guiding the District Legal Services Authorities and Taluka Legal Services Committees in the State in achieving the aims and objectives of the Act. There are 30 District Legal Services Authorities in the State of Karnataka. 150 Taluka Legal Services Committees are functioning under District Legal Services Authorities in the State. District Legal Services Authority is headed by Principal District & Sessions Judge as Chairman, Sr. Civil Judge cadre Officer or Principal CJM of the District as the Member Secretary. Taluka Legal Services Committees are headed by the jurisdictional Principal Senior Civil Judge as Chairman and the Principal Civil Judge as the Member Secretary. There are three High Court Legal Services Committees i.e., at Bengaluru, Dharwad and Kalaburagi which are chaired by the sitting Judge of the High Court of Karnataka. Hon’ble Mr. Justice L. Narayana Swamy, Judge, High Court of Karnataka is the Chairman of High Court Legal Services Committee, Bengaluru. The general public who need any legal help / legal aid may contact the concerned Taluka Legal Services Committee / District Legal Services Authority, High Court Legal Services Committees or Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, as the case may be.
S. Basavaraj, Member, Karnataka State Bar Council
Daksha Legal 