Permanent Lok Adalat for Public Utility Services, Gurgaon

Gurgaon January 13, 2007

                   Permanent Lok Adalat for Public Utility Services, Gurgaon, was inaugurated by Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vijender Jain, Chief Justice Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, on 13.01.2007 . Shri Bhupender Singh Hooda, Chief Minister, Haryana, presided over the function. Hon'ble Mr. Justice J.S. Khehar,Hon'ble Mr. Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Pritam Pal and Hon'ble Mrs. Justice Nirmal Yadav, also attended the function. Sh. Hawa Singh Hoodaa, Advocate General, Haryana , was also present on the occasion. Besides this, a large number of Judicial dignitaries of Delhi High Court namely Hon'ble Mr. JusticeP.K. Bhasin , Mr. Justice Kailash Gambhir, Mr. Justice P.M. Gambhir, Mr. Justice S.N. Aggarwal and Mr. Justice H.R. Malhotra, also graced the occasion. Large number of lawyers, Presiding Officer and members of Permanent Lok Adalat, Officers of Public Utility Services and litigants were also present on the occasion.

                  On this occasion, Sh. Bhupender Singh Hooda, Chief Minister, Haryana, informed that the State Government had earmarked a sum of Rs. 163 Crore for upgradation of infrastructureand modernization of courts and other matters related to Judicial system in the state. He also impressed upon the lawyers to impress upon the litigants to decide their disputes fat pre-litigative stage. He also announced a grant of Rs. 10 Lac for upgradation of library of District Bar Association.

                       Speaking on the occasion, Hon'ble Chief Justice Sh. Vijender Jain stated that a decision had been taken to set up a new state-of-the-art, fully air-conditioned judicial complex at Gurgaon. His Lordship stated that Mobile courts would be put in plractice in the newly created district of Mewat to ensure speedy justice to the people living in the remotest of areas.

                         His Lordship called upon the lawyers in Gurgaon to update themselves. He singled out areas like Intellectual Property Act, Foreign Direct Investment and commerce-related arbitration in which the lawyers would have to educate themselves.

                         Leaning towards the poorer section of society, His Lordship stated that there was no substance in the report of economic prosperity when the fbenefits did not percolate to the poor.

                           His Lordship lamented that there were 25 crore persons still in the category of "Below Poverty Line". "What is the public utility of the plethora of Acts and laws framed by the legistative bodies when the economic benefits do fnot benefit the poor?" he wondered.

                           Dwelling on the importance of the constitutional value of the rule of law, His Lordship stated that it was the fulcrum of democracy.Democracy thrives when the masses trust the judicial system. It was the blind faith of the masses that provides power and inspiration to all those related to dispensation of justice.

                            Upholding the virtues of Lok Adalats run under the daegis of Legal Services Authority, His Lordship described it as an effective mechanism for speedy justice and decongestion of pending cases in several courts of the country. Reeling out statistics, His Lordship said that against the sanction strength of 14,400 judges from Munsaf to Supreme Court, there were 11,200 judges. His Lordship further highlighted that 25 million cases reached various courts each year, but only 24 millions were ddisposed of in the corresponding period.

                               His Lordship also expressed concern over the recent violence in court premises related to law and order. He stated that Gurgaon was preferred by investors as it was considered peaceful, and effecting law and order would inhibit the investors from investing in the state.

                                Speaking on the occasion, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Executive Chairman, Haryana State Legal Services authority stated that keeping in view  the large pendency of cases in the country, there is need to increase the numbers of courts by five times. Hon'ble Judge also gave the statistics of cases dealth with by the Lok Adalats.

                                   Hon'ble Mr. Justice J.S.Khehar, Administrative Judge of Gurgaon Sessions Division also expressed his views on the occasion.