On Saturday, the Delhi State Legal Services Authority organized its first-ever online Lok Adalat under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in Delhi.
The accomplishment ceremony was presided over by Justice NV Ramana, Supreme Court Judge Executive Chairman, NALSA and was attended by legal aid functionaries across India.
Justice Ramana’s Address in the Online Adalat
Justice NV Ramana emphasized on the need to learn and embrace new ways for the betterment of the society and also expressed the challenges involved in utilising these innovations, while addressing the new innovations in justice delivery spurred by the onset of the pandemic.
He noted that a crucial challenge lay ahead in making technologies such as video conferencing available to those who live in the remotest corners of the country and who may not be able to use video conferencing.
Further, Justice Ramana is stated to have observed that the use of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in the services of Adalats impacting a new momentum to Lok Adalats in India.
The virtual lok adalat, conceptualised by Justice Ramana of NALSA was appreciated by the other dignitaries.
Guest Presence in the Online Adalat
DSLSA’s Chief Patron Chief Justice DN Patel of the Delhi High Court, and Delhi High Court’s Justice Hima Kohli, who also serves as the Executive Chairman of DSLSA was also a part of the ceremony.
Justice Ramana in the capacity as Executive Chairman of NALSA announced that legal services authorities across India had afforded legal aid, assistance and advice to persons at various stages of the justice system and to survivors of domestic violence between April and June and further stated that during this period, training and capacity-building programs were also organized for lawyers impaneled with legal services authorities.
Justice Hima Kohli told the audience that in the Lok Adalat organized in conjunction with SAMA all 11 districts of Delhi have participated.
Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh have successfully organized such Adalats amid the pandemic and DSLSA’s online Adalat is not the first in the country.
Also Read- First E-Lok Adalat held in Karnataka
On August 22, 2020, the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority has announced to organise a Virtual Adalat.
