A.D.R.C, Amritsar will provide cost free and speedy settlement of disputes

Amritsar, Aug. 27 (Punjab Post Bureau) – The newly constructed building of A.D.R.C, Amritsar (Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre, Amritsar) at District Court Complex, Amritsar is providing the mechanism of Alternative Dispute Resolution System. The mechanism of Alternative Dispute Resolution such as Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services), Mediation and Conciliation Centre, Lok Adalats, facilities are available here which provide cost free and speedy settlement of disputes to the litigant parties. Not only the pending cases in Courts are taken up in this mechanism, but the pre-litigative cases are also taken up. Giving details Sh.Gurbir Singh, Learned District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar said that the most important service/facility provided for general public is Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services) Amritsar which is presided over by retired Additional District & Sessions Judge and is also having two nominated members. This lok adalat is meant for settlement of disputes regarding public utility services such as LPG (Gas Connection), Banking Services, Insurance Services, Postal and Telephone Services, Hospital and Sanitation Services, Electricity & Water services or Transport services etc. The procedure of filing a pre-litigative in this Lok Adalat is also very simple. Any person having any grievance against these services in any manner can file an application on a plain paper before the Chairman of this Lok Adalat. No Court fee or engagement of an Advocate is required in this Lok Adalat. This Lok Adalat can pass award on the basis of settlement between the parties and also on merits of the case. The award passed by this Lok Adalat is final and is deemed to be decree of Civil Court. During the month of August 2014 on 20.8.2014 ten cases of Bank of India were settled on a single day. The total claim of the bank in these ten cases was Rs.27,41,780/- and the claims were settled for Rs.14,24,394/-. Till today during the month of August 2014 this Lok Adalat has settled 53 cases.

Mediation and Conciliation Centre has also been established in this complex, which comprises of three mediation rooms. Advocates trained as Mediators assist the parties to resolve their conflict through techniques of Mediation. Besides in some cases the mediation is also conducted by Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar an officer of the rank of Chief Judicial Magistrate. The mediators use specialized techniques for settlement of disputes between the parties by having meetings with the parties in joint as well as single session. Any litigant who wants to get his case referred to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre, can request the Court concerned where his case is pending. Besides there is also the facility of Mediation in matrimonial cases at pre-litigative stage.

This building further have a training room for conducting training programmes for Para Legal Volunteers. District Legal Services Authority has selected seven persons for being trained as para legal volunteers. Shortly a Training Programme shall be organized by this authority for training these selected persons to be trained as Para Legal Volunteers along with Law Students and this shall also be a refresher course for already working Para Legal Volunteers.

The building is also having a facility of Front Office, where one lawyer and one social worker sit daily to help general public in availing free legal aid and free legal advice. Giving details Learned Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar said that free legal aid is available to women, children, persons belonging to SC/ST, handicap persons, persons in custody, as a matter of right. Besides any person having annual income less than Rs.1,50,000/- can also avail free legal aid which includes the services of advocate and the entire expenses to be incurred on the case. Further under the Alternative Dispute Resolution System, the Lok Adalats are being organized regularly on the last working Saturday of the month. For the month of August, the Lok Adalat shall be held on 30^th August 2014. For this purpose 10 Benches have been constituted at Amritsar. Any person who desires the settlement of his case through Lok Adalat can make a request to the court  concerned or can file an application in the office of Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar. Sh.Gurbir Singh, Learned District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar said that the building of ADR Centre, Amritsar provides a good atmosphere to the parties to work out for a settlement of their dispute.  The public should avail maximum benefit out of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in order to settle their disputes by way of amicable settlement.