![Country’s First Insurance E-Lok Adalat Conducted by Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) [READ REPORT]](/secure/uploads/2020/10/lj_3259_e_lok.jpeg)
Under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the Jharkhand State Legal Authority (JHALSA) organized the program namely; “High Court of Jharkhand & JHALSA Initiatives” and country’s first “Insurance Lok Adalat (Virtual)”. The JHALSA organized the program on September 26th, 2020. Since the Lok Adalat was virtual, it was conducted through video conferencing where all the parties to the case, their respective advocates and Officers of the Insurance Companies, etc., joined through the same.
In the e-Lok Adalat, 10,719 matters were disposed of and were settled worth a total of Rs. 65,89,28,111. Most of the cases were related to the motor vehicle accident and therefore instant compensation was given to the families which gave much relief to them since they have lost their bread earners in road accidents. The preparatory work for the proceeding including the conciliation proceedings began from July 7th, 2020.
In the inaugural program, the “Jharkhand VidhikSewa Mobile App” and “VidhikSewa Web Portal” were also launched which were of “High Court Legal Services Committee”. The mobile application is a relief provider to the people as it is designed in such a way so that the beneficiaries can take the benefit of legal services without physically approaching “Legal Services Institution” by just filling in their details and grievances in the app. The objective of this app is to provide justice to people’s doorstep. This app makes justice inclusive as it helps the people who reside in a remote area as well as poor people by their saving traveling expenses. On the app, panel lawyers, jail clinics have been added and it will be continuously monitored by a committee formed by JHALSA. The app will also appoint a lawyer after the documents uploaded by the eligible people have been scrutinized.
The program has been online inaugurated by His Lordship Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aniruddha Bose, Judge, Supreme Court of India in the benign presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan, Chief Justice, High Court of Jharkhand-cum-Patron-in-Chief, JHALSA, Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.C.Mishra, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand & Executive Chairman, JHALSA, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand & Chairman, Jharkhand High Court Legal Services CommitteeHon’ble Smt. Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand, and Hon’ble Judges of Hon’ble High Court of Jharkhand.
The message of Hon’ble Mr. Justice N.V. Ramana, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA was conveyed during the inaugural program. The message conveyed, “At the outset, I would like to congratulate the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority and the Jharkhand High Court Legal Services Committee for organizing an e- Lok Adalat for insurance matters during these unprecedented times. E-Lok Adalats have started gaining momentum, and I hope that with the passage of time, it may effectively supplement the conventional Lok Adalat.
The benefits of leveraging technology should trickle down to the grassroots and the availability of a forum for people living in rural, tribal, and remote areas will finally be a reality. The technology-driven e-Lok Adalat will serve as a vehicle of justice and promote an inclusive legal system.” It was further conveyed, “During the pandemic, Legal Services Institutions in Jharkhand have responded fittingly to the legal needs of people and their efforts have made justice more affordable and accessible. The initiatives of “VidhikSewa Mobile App” and “VidhikSewa Web Portal” of the High Court Legal Services Committee are praiseworthy. I hope that this will enhance the accessibility of people to the legal services institutions and will enable them to file legal aid applications from smartphones and computers.”
