Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 10 March 2025
The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, organized the National Lok Adalat on March 8, 2025, at multiple locations, including the District Court Building in Sri Vijaya Puram, ADR Centre ‘PRAYAS’ in Sri Vijaya Puram, and the Sub-Divisional Court Complexes at Mayabunder and Diglipur. In a significant achievement, the National Lok Adalat was also conducted virtually at Campbell Bay.
The Judicial Officers of the judgeship marked the commencement of the National Lok Adalat across Sri Vijaya Puram, Mayabunder, Diglipur, and Campbell Bay, aiming to resolve cases amicably.
A total of 1,222 pre-litigation cases were referred to the National Lok Adalat, including 623 pre-litigation BSNL recovery cases and 367 pending court cases across Sri Vijaya Puram and Campbell Bay.
At Sri Vijaya Puram, the National Lok Adalat disposed of 90 pre-litigation bank recovery cases and 19 BSNL recovery cases. A total amount of Rs. 5.04 crore was involved in these cases, of which settlements were reached for Rs. 2.88 crore, providing Rs. 2.16 crore in relief to bank loan borrowers. Additionally, Rs. 21.81 lakh was collected on the spot. The BSNL cases involved Rs. 1.08 lakh, which was settled at Rs. 54,800, with Rs. 47,800 realized on the spot. A sum of Rs. 2.23 lakh was collected in fines from 340 disposed criminal cases.
In Mayabunder, a total of 157 pre-litigation cases, including 100 BSNL recovery cases, were taken up. The Lok Adalat settled 15 pre-litigation bank recovery cases, reducing an involved amount of Rs. 17.59 lakh to Rs. 12.95 lakh, providing a benefit of Rs. 4.64 lakh to borrowers. Rs. 70,100 was realized on the spot. Similarly, 16 BSNL cases were settled, reducing Rs. 18,711 to Rs. 10,900, which was collected on the spot. Additionally, 113 pending cases were taken up, out of which 60 compoundable criminal cases were disposed of, collecting Rs. 1.53 lakh in fines.
In Diglipur, one bench was constituted to handle 150 pre-litigation cases, including 101 BSNL recovery cases. A total of 34 pre-litigation cases were disposed of, with Rs. 26.06 lakh involved, of which Rs. 15.72 lakh was settled. Rs. 1.40 lakh was realized on the spot. Additionally, 37 pending cases were addressed, disposing of 28 compoundable criminal cases and collecting Rs. 95,900 in fines.
Four benches were constituted at Sri Vijaya Puram, one at Mayabunder, and one at Diglipur to facilitate the Lok Adalat proceedings.
At Sri Vijaya Puram, the benches were presided over by Mr. Diptendra Nath Mitra (Judge, Family Court), Mr. Neyaz Alam (Additional District and Sessions Judge), Mr. Pabitra Sen (Joint Civil Judge, Sr. Division), and Mr. Souvik Ghosh (Judicial Magistrate First Class, 1st Court). They were assisted by advocates and social workers, including Ms. Monisha Ajit, Ms. C. Kala Devi, Ms. K. Usha Rani, Mr. Prem Pushpa Bai, Mr. K. Vijay Kumar, Ms. Maria Sheela, Ms. Komal Anand, and Ms. Pandiyamma.
The Mayabunder bench was led by Mr. Subhajit Basu (Additional District and Sessions Judge, N&M Andaman), accompanied by Advocate Mr. Sudip Sutradhar and Social Worker Mr. Saw Thomson.
The Diglipur bench was chaired by Mr. Somnath Das (Judicial Magistrate First Class, N&M Andaman) with Advocate Ms. Ranjita Sarkar and Social Worker Mr. Shyamal Debnath.
The National Lok Adalat at Sri Vijaya Puram was organized by Ms. Arkabrati Neogi, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, DLSA, under the supervision and guidance of Mr. Sudhir Kumar, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, DLSA, A&N Islands.
Similarly, the events at Mayabunder and Diglipur were conducted under the supervision and guidance of Mr. Subhajit Basu, Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, Sub-divisional District Legal Services Authority, North & Middle Andaman, Mayabunder.
The success of the National Lok Adalat in Andaman & Nicobar Islands underscores the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution in facilitating settlements and ensuring timely justice for litigants and financial institutions.