On Saturday, Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) organised an E- Lok Adalat for Insurance Matters today. E-Lok Adalats held till date, have been able to dispose of about 1,80,806 pending cases and 17,749 cases at the pre-litigation stage.
During the inaugural programme, the Vidhik Sewa Mobile App and Vidhik Sewa Web Portal of High Court Legal Services Committee were launched. Four pamphlets on duties of different duty holders in respect of the road accident victims and E- handbooks on Civil and Criminal Law were also released to further access to justice initiatives.
The mobile app is designed in a manner so that beneficiaries can avail the legal services entitled to them without physically approaching Legal Services Institutions. They can do so by filling in their details and grievances in the app itself. Panel lawyers, jail clinics etc. have been added on the app, and a committee formed by JHALSA will be continuously monitoring the app. This app, along with the web portal of the High Court Legal Services Committee is with the overarching objective of taking justice to the doorsteps of people.
The Vidhik Sewa Mobile App and Web Portal will make legal services more inclusive, and help those residing in remote and far-flung areas, as well as the poor as it saves their cost of travelling.
Hon’ble Justice Mr. N.V. Ramana, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA’s message was conveyed during the inaugural programme.
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 organising 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 grass roots 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 “Vidhik Sewa Mobile App” and “Vidhik Sewa Web Portal” of 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.”
In the e-Lok Adalat many of the cases related to motor vehicle accidents, and therefore the instant compensation disbursed provided much needed relief to the families who lost their bread earners in road accidents.
Hon’ble Justice Mr. Aniruddha Bose, Judge, Supreme Court of India spoke about how JHALSA has stood up and taken up the challenge posed by COVID 19 by creating a new mode of dispensing justice. He also highlighted the issue of ‘litigation aversion’ among common people and encouraged Legal Services Authorities to make it more friendly by popularising the idea of legal clinics.
He added, “We need to reach out to the victims and sufferers to ensure them that we are there for them.”
Hon’ble Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan, Chief Justice Jharkhand HC & Patron in Chief JHALSA, in his address congratulated the stakeholders for their contribution in developing the app and pamphlets on legal awareness for victims of road accidents.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.C. Mishra, Judge High Court of Jharkhand & Executive Chairman JHALSA said, “JHALSA is not only giving a helping hand to the needy to fight against this unseen COVID 19 but is also maintaining its tradition of working as a friend to the people in need. It has always extended its helping hand whenever required.”
The event was also attended by Hon’ble Justice Mrs. Anubha Rawat Choudhary, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand, and Hon’ble Justice Mr. Aparesh Kumar Singh, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand.
The event featured moving testimonies by the claimants who received compensation on account of losing their families in road accidents. All the beneficiaries were deeply appreciative of the Legal Services and Judicial Authorities, and expressed their gratitude towards them.
Picture Source :