1st National Lok Adalat organized in Distt Ang, Justice Koul inaugurates proceedings

Anantnag: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Anantnag successfully organized 1st National Lok Adalat of 2025 on Saturday across District Anantnag under the aegis of the J&K Legal Services Authority.
The event was graced by the presence of Justice Vinod Chatterjee Koul, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, and Administrative Judge for District Anantnag, who also inaugurated the proceedings at various court complexes.
At the outset, Justice Vinod Chatterjee Koul visited the Sub Judge Court Bijbehara where he inaugurated the 1st National Lok Adalat of the year in presence of Pr. District & Sessions Judge (Chairman DLSA) Tahir Khurshid Raina; Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Fakhruddin Hamid; Sub Judge Bijbehara, Tabassum Qadir Parray; Bar Members of Bijbehara Court and litigants.
Justice Koul then inaugurated a baby-feeding room for female litigants ensuring a more inclusive and accessible judicial environment for female litigants.
Thereafter, the President Bar Association Bijbehara presented a Charter of demands highlighting infrastructural requirements, upon which the Deputy Commissioner was directed to take immediate action.
Since the day is also celebrated and observed as International Women’s Day, Justice Koul issued directions to Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag for the creation of a dedicated washroom for female advocates and female litigants reinforcing gender-sensitive initiatives within the justice system.
Additionally, he participated in a plantation drive, planting Deodar saplings to promote environmental sustainability.
Subsequently, Justice Koul visited the District Court Complex, Anantnag, where he formally inaugurated the 1st National Lok Adalat of 2025 in presence of Chairman DLSA (Principal District & Sessions Judge, Anantnag) Tahir Khurshid Raina; Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Fakhruddin Hamid; Additional District & Sessions Judge Anantnag, Masarat Roohi; Special Judge UAPA, Manzoor Ahmad Khan; Secretary DLSA Anantnag, Fozia Paul; Chief Judicial Magistrate Anantnag, Feroz Ahmad Khan; Spl. Mobile Magistrate, Anantnag, Lubna Sultan; Munsiff JMIC Anantnag, Arshad Aziz Qureshi; Sajad Ahmad Superintendent Headquarter Anantnag, Bar Members, Litigants, and Court staff.
During the proceedings, Justice Koul distributed Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) compensation awards to several beneficiaries, ensuring timely justice and relief to the affected families. In his interaction with the legal fraternity, he emphasized the importance of expediting the completion of the New Court Complex, Anantnag, and directed the Deputy Commissioner for its swift execution.
Following the inauguration, Hon’ble Judge inspected Lok Adalat benches constituted at DLSA Hqrs. and lauded the efforts of District Judiciary in facilitating dispute resolution.
Apart from the 04 benches constituted at DLSA headquarter, 06 benches were constituted in peripheral courts.
The cases which were referred in National Lok Adalat included matters of Civil disputes, Cheque bounce cases, Cr. Compoundable, Matrimonial cases, Money recovery cases, Traffic Challan, Bank cases and Pre Litigation cases.
A total of 10,183 different Cases/ matters were taken up in which 9698 different Cases/matters were amicably settled. An amount of Rs. 1,62,78,285 was amicably settled in different cases.