Lok adalats in villages soon

CHANDIGARH, Oct 1: With a view to generating awareness amongst the rural masses about schemes and programmes pertaining to free legal aid...

CHANDIGARH, Oct 1: With a view to generating awareness amongst the rural masses about schemes and programmes pertaining to free legal aid, the UT State Legal Services Authority yesterday convened a meeting of sarpanches of all the villages of the Union Territory and apprised them of the legal aid programme offered under the Legal Services Act.

While addressing the sarpanches, member secretary of the UT State Legal Services Authority, S. K. Sardana, disclosed that the authority was ready to hold Lok Adalats in villages, which was also well received by the sarpanches who offered full co-operation.

Earlier Sardana, who had convened the meeting, said that awareness about Lok Adalats among the rural masses was negligible and information about the same was thus provided to them.

Story continues below this ad

The meeting was convened following the desire of the chairman of the UT Legal Services Authority, Justice N. K. Sodhi, to take effective steps to sensitise the ruralites about the scheme and concepts of the Lok Adalat and legal aid programmes.

The local Legal Services Authority has already held two Lok Adalats where, as many as 7,787 cases were decided and compensation of more than Rs 6 crore was awarded. The authority has also disposed of many cases of mediation and counselling pertaining to service matters, property disputes, rent matters and bank disputes.