ACHIEVEMENTS OF DELHI LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

Daily Lok Adalat - A regular feature

Delhi Legal Services Authority has commenced Daily Lok Adalat at Central Office, first floor, Pre-fab Building, Patiala House court Complex, New Delhi for the settlement of cases under Section 138 Negotiable Instrument Act, Criminal Compoundable Cases, MACT Cases and Matrimonial Disputes.

Sunday Lok Adalats:

Delhi Legal Services Authority is promoting Alternate Dispute Resolution System so as to liquidate the mounting arrears of cases in the Criminal Courts. At present, approximately more than 4 lakh cases under Section 138 Negotiable Instruments Act are pending before Courts of Metropolitan Magistrates in Delhi. Sunday Lok Adalats have become a regular feature of the Delhi Legal Services Authority. Because of the relentless efforts of DLSA under the able guidance of Hon'ble Mr. Justice T.S.Thakur, Executive Chairman DLSA, these Lok Adalats have become an eye opener and helped deciding large number of cases never settled before.

Inauguration of Mediation and Conciliation Centre at Rohini Court Complex and launching of Training Programmes for Advocates of Rohini Bar Associations:

Delhi Legal Services Authority has established a Mediation and Conciliation Centre, Commenced Training of Advocates on Mediation & Conciliation and concluded the 2nd Special Plea Bargaining Adalat on 1st October, 2007at Rohini Court Complex, New Delhi.

Inauguration of Legal Aid and Counselling Centre at Tihar Jail Court Complex:

Delhi Legal Services Authority has established a Legal Aid and Counselling Centre in Tihar Jail Courts Complex, Delhi Prison on 20th of July 2007 at 5:00 PM. The Legal Aid and Counselling Centre in Tihar Jail Court Complex was Inaugurated by Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhan, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority.

Mega Traffic Lok Adalats:

Under the directions of Arrears Committee of Supreme Court of India headed by Hon'ble Mr. Justice S. B. Sinha, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Delhi Legal Services Authority organized Mega Traffic Lok Adalat on 8th and 9th September, 2007 and 9th and 16th December, 2007 in order to reduce the huge pendency of Traffic Challans Cases as well as to create awareness of the Traffic Rules. The third Mega Traffic Lok Adalat is scheduled to be held on 27th April, 2008 and 4th May 2008 at all the four court complexes i.e. Tis Hazari Court, Patiala House Court, Karkardooma Court and Rohini Court Complexes.

Mega Traffic Lok Adalat on 8th & 9th September, 2007 in respect of Compoundable Traffic Offences and Petty Offences was organized at all the four District Court Complexes and Courts of Special Metropolitan Magistrates. A total number of 42,567 cases relating to Compoundable Traffic Offences and Petty Offences under weight and measurement at were disposed off and total Compounding Fee of Rs.58, 21,890 was realized.

Mega Traffic Lok Adalat on 9th & 16th December, 2007 was organized at all the four District Court Complexes i.e. Tis Hazari, Rohini, Karkardooma and Patiala House Court Complexes. On 9.12.2007, 12,887 Traffic Challans of Private Vehicles were disposed off and on 16.12.2007, 24,599 Traffic Challans of Private and Commercial Vehicles were disposed off. Total number of 38,316 Cases including 829 Cases under Negotiable Instruments Act were disposed off and Compounding Fee of Rs. 30,44,925 was realized.

Mega Traffic Lok Adalats have disposed off 80,053 cases and realized Compounding Fee of Rs. 88, 66,415.

Statistical report of the Mega Traffic Lok Adalats is as under:-

Special Adalats on Plea Bargaining:

Delhi Legal Services Authority is perhaps the first in the country to have taken the initiative to organize Special Adalats on Plea Bargaining introduced by way of amendment in the Code of Criminal Procedure. Delhi Legal Services Authority had organized legal awareness programmes in all the jails in Central Jail Tihar and Rohini Jail from 15th March, 2007 to 26th March, 2007. More than 200 under trial prisoners of each jail attended the said legal awareness programme. Jail Visiting Advocates, Jail Superintendents and Welfare Officers had also participated. Response of under trial prisoners was overwhelming and encouraging and approximately 1200 under trial jail inmates had expressed their willingness to avail the concession of the Plea Bargaining. Delhi prisons had furnished the list and particulars of the cases of 1200 under trial jail inmates who were lodged in the jail for committing offences punishable with imprisonment upto seven years. Thereafter Delhi Legal Services Authority in association with High Court of Delhi had organized. The Authority prepared draft applications and affidavits and also informative material on Plea Bargaining and thereafter workshops were organized in each jail for preparation of the applications and affidavits of the willing and eligible under trial jail inmates for the Special Adalats on Plea Bargaining. Pamphlets and Handbills on Plea Bargaining containing information were also distributed among the under trial jail inmates.

Statistical information on the Special Adalats on Plea Bargaining is as under.

Lok Adalat for the settlement of Cognizable and Criminal Compoundable Cases at pre-litigation stage:

Delhi Legal Services Authority commenced Lok Adalats on 29.07.2007 for the settlement of Cognizable and Compoundable Offences at Pre-litigation stage at Patiala House Court Complex, New Delhi under Alternate Complaint Resolution Exercise. Hon'ble Justice T. S. Thakur, Judge, High Court of Delhi and Executive Chairman, Delhi Legal Services Auhtority had graced the occasion. Sh. P. H. Parikh, President, Supreme Court Bar Association was also present.

Particulars of the Lok Adalats and disposal is given below:

Lok Adalat for Bank Recovery Cases at Pre-litigation Stage:

Delhi Legal Services Authority organizes Lok Adalat for the settlement of cases relating to personal loan, credit cards etc. advanced by Private Sector Banks like ICICI, HDFC, Standard Chartered, ABN AMRO etc. on every Sunday at pre litigation stage. It provides an opportunity to the borrower to settle their liability with the bank by negotiation and thereby, it saves time, energy and money of the people as well as potential litigation is settled at its inception.

Concilliation proceedings by Mahila Courts:

Delhi Legal Services Authority has commenced conciliation proceedings by Mahila Courts in all the four District Court Complexes. Lok Adalat for the settlement of cases pending in Mahila Courts was first organized on 26.08.07 and thereafter, it is being organized twice a month in all the District Court Complexes in Delhi. Statstical information relating to the disposal of the cases by the Mahila Court is detailed below:

Accreditation of NGO's and Collaboration with Governmental Organizations, Bar Associations, Colleges, RWA etc.:

Delhi Legal Services Authority has associated with more than 100 Non-Governmental Organizations as its strategic partners, in implementing its Legal Aid Programmes. It has associated Governmental Organizations, like Directorate of Social Welfare, Delhi Police, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Health Services, Delhi Commission for Women, Department of Labour etc., Bar Associations, Colleges, Schools, RWAs and Market Associations in organizing legal literacy programmes on the contemporary social and legal issues like Domestic Violence, Female Foeticide, Child Labour, Tobacco Control Act, Women Empowerment etc.

Mobile Legal Van:

National Legal Literacy Mission launched by National Legal Services Authority to empower the citizens with knowledge of their rights and remedies available to them under the law and create a society based on the foundations of political awareness, social equalities and women empowerment. Consequently, Delhi Legal Services Authority started 'Mobile Legal Services Van'. It visits various parts of Delhi like slum areas, unauthorized colonies, industrial areas, college and schools to create legal literacy. Mobile Legal Services Van is manned by an experienced, competent and public spirited counsellor of the Authority. Through Mobile Legal Van, DLSA provides legal aid and counselling to the target class as well as creates awareness of the Legal Rights and Remedies available to the beneficiaries under the Law. It also distributes publicity material like pamphlets, handbills and books prepared by the Authority on social and legal issues.

Telephone Helpline:

Delhi Legal Services Authority is providing solution to the legal problems and queries raised by General Public through Toll Free Telephone Helpline No. 23341111, on all the working days, from 09.00 am to 8:00 pm at 54-57, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Place, Gole Market, New Delhi. Trained Officers, Social Workers and Panel Advocates of the Authority, listen to their problem on phone give necessary guidance even on phone and thereby saves a time and money of the poor persons.