A National Lok Adalat for disposing of cases to be held across the country on November 12 is likely to see a large number of consumer cases this time. The pending cases will be disposed of by way of settlement between parties in the National Lok Adalat which is held periodically and across the country.
The National Consumer Dispute Redressal Committee (NCDRC) will prepare a list of such pending cases before which may be settled with the consent of the parties. These cases will then be referred by the forum to the Lok Adalat.
The department of consumer affairs has identified that about 6,07,996 consumer cases remain pending across the country. The NCDRC itself has 22,250 pending cases before it. Banking, insurance, and electricity are some of the sectors with a large number of pending consumer disputes according to the data collated by the department of consumer affairs.
As many as 28,318 consumer cases remain pending in Uttar Pradesh while Maharashtra has 18,093 pending cases followed by Delhi with 15,450 pending cases, as per the government's data.
As per the government’s press statement, the Department of Consumer Affairs is undertaking an exercise to reach the parties whose cases are pending before the consumer forums through email or SMS. The electronic process is aimed at easing the procedure for the parties for referring their cases to Lok Adalat for settlement.
National Lok Adalat is a statutory body set up under the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) Act as a mode for alternative dispute resolution settlement. The legislation lays down the composition and qualification requirements for the members of the National Lok Adalat.
Lok Adalats are set up at various levels for disposing of legal cases outside the court system by way of arriving at a settlement between the parties. Therefore, only those pending or pre-litigation cases can be referred to Lok Adalats for settlements that do not include cognizable, non-compoundable offences.
This mode of dispute resolution not only helps in the speedy disposal of the cases but is also cost-effective for litigants as the element of court fees is not involved. Parties are not required to hire lawyers and interact directly with the panel members thereby further cutting litigation.
Unlike in the court system, the only end result of a dispute can be a settlement and award of compensation. These orders passed by the Lok Adalats are final and executable. However, should a party be dissatisfied with the order passed, it can proceed to invoke its legal remedy and approach the court for adjudication of the dispute.
With consumer cases fitting the bill for arriving at a settlement between the aggrieved consumer and the goods or service provider, many pending consumer cases are expected to be referred to the National Lok Adalat to be held across the country.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
