Continuing its endeavour to fulfil the constitutional commitment of providing swift, cost-effective, and efficient dispute resolution to the masses in general and the litigant public in particular, the J&K Legal Services Authority under the patronage of Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority), the dynamic leadership of Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority and the able guidance of Justice Sanjay Dhar, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee organized the first National Lok Adalat for the year 2026across the UT of Jammu & Kashmir, to promote amicable settlements in a wide range of cases, including MACT claims, matrimonial disputes, cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, money recovery, commercial disputes, and compoundable criminal offences.
To ensure maximum participation and effective disposal of cases, pre-Lok Adalat sittings and pre-counselling sessions were conducted well in advance across the districts of the Union Territory, encouraging parties to explore amicable settlement of their disputes. Several awareness programmes, meetings and sensitization sessions were also conducted by the Legal Services Institutions to promote the concept and importance of Lok Adalats among litigants and stakeholders.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority inaugurated the 1st National Lok Adalat at District Court Complex, Jammu. Upon his arrival, the Executive Chairman was received by Mr. R. N. Wattal, Principal District & Sessions Judge (Chairperson, DLSA) Jammu, Shazia Tabassum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, Smt. Maleeka Sharma, Secretary, DLSA Jammu along with other Judicial Officers of the District Judiciary.
During his visit, the Executive Chairman inspected various benches constituted for the Lok Adalat and interacted with the Presiding Officers, members of the benches, Advocates and litigants, appreciating the arrangements made for the smooth and effective conduct of the Lok Adalat. Several disputes were amicably settled on the spot with the active intervention of the benches. MACT compensation cheques were also distributed among eligible beneficiaries, providing timely relief to the claimants.
As per the information received from various Legal Services Institutions working in different districts across the UT of J&K, out of total 76,707 cases taken up by 194 Benches in the day long National Lok Adalat, 67,993 cases were amicably settled and disposed off involving an amount of Rs.55,86,33,017/-as compensation/settlement amount in cases like Motor Accident Claims, civil, criminal, labour disputes, Electricity and Water Bills, Land Acquisition, Family matters, cheque dishonor and Bank Recovery etc.
While interacting, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority appreciated the efforts of Judicial Officers, Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities, Advocates, Legal Aid Defense Counsels (LADCs), Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs), court staff and all stakeholders for their wholehearted participation in the successful conduct of the 1st National Lok Adalat of the year 2026.
Highlighting the importance of Lok Adalats, the Executive Chairman stated that Lok Adalats serve as an effective mechanism for alternative dispute resolution by enabling parties to settle disputes amicably in a speedy and cost-effective manner, thereby reducing pendency of cases and strengthening the justice delivery system. He urged the litigant public to take maximum advantage of such initiatives and resolve their disputes through consensus.
Shazia Tabassum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority also appreciated the coordinated efforts of the Legal Services Institutions across the UT of J&K in making the Lok Adalat a success and reiterated that the Authority will continue to strengthen the mechanism of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to ensure that justice reaches every section of society, particularly the marginalized and underprivileged. She further informed that the 2nd National Lok Adalat of the current calendar year shall be held on May 09, 2026 and those litigants who could not get their cases either listed in today’s lok adalat or could not settle the same for any reason can avail the opportunity in the next lok Adalat.