The 4rd Quarterly National Lok Adalat (NLA) 2023 and final NLA sitting for the year was undertaken by the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) under the aegis of the Nagaland State Legal Services Authorities (NSLSA) on December 9. During this sitting, a total of 193 cases and disputes were settled with a total settlement amount of Rs. 325,623,02, informed a press release issued by the PRA NSLSA.

Out of 11 Lok Adalat sitting constituted in the 11 district court premises, 914 cases/ disputes were listed for compromise settlement which included cases in pending stage as well as in pre-litigation stage mostly in the category of bank Recovery, loan recovery and other cases viz. public utility i.e Telephone Bills.

Lok Adalat aims to settle disputes/cases at pre-litigation stage i.e is even before the case is filed in the court and pending cases in the court of law which are admissible under the Lok Adalat regulation to be settled through compromise and amicable means

Judges of Gauhati High Court, Justice Michael Zothankhuma and Justice Devashis Barauh along with Ajongba Imchen NJS, Registrar, Gauhati High court Kohima Bench and Atoka Achumi, NJS, Asst. Registrar, Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench and Officers of the Registry Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench attended a National Lok Adalat proceeding at District Court Complex Kohima Nagaland.

In Kohima DLSA, the National Lok Adalat the  presiding officers were Duvelu Vero, NJS Principal District and Sessions Judge and Chairman Kohima DLSA and Wokono Yhoshii, NJS Chief Judicial Magistrate and Secretary, Kohima DLSA. A total of 480 Pre- litigation cases were taken up which included bank recovery cases and BSNL telephone bill recovery cases, pending bank recovery case and  1 criminal and 1 MACT case. 28 cases was settled which included 2 Bank recovery case and 22 BSNL telephone bill recovery case at pre- litigations, 2 Bank Recovery, 1 criminal compoundable case and 1 MACT case at pending stage. Total outstanding amount was Rupees 36,058,93 with a total settlement amount of rupees 10,98,960. The Banks and BSNL waived a total amount of  rupees 25,069,34 through the negotiation of Conciliators.

Meanwhile, the Mokokchung DLSA conducted the National Lok adalat at District Court. Julian Sitlhou, NJS, Secretary, Mokokchung DLSA was the presiding officer. Altogether 25 pre- litigation cases taken up and settled. The total settlement amount was  13,53,109/- (Thirteen Lakhs Fifty three thousand One hundred and Nine).

The Wokha DLSA conducted National Lok Adalat  at DLSA front office, District Court Complex Wokha with Nino Iralu, NJS, District & Sessions Judge and Chairperson Wokha DLSA as the Presiding Officer. Out of 15 cases on loan and Bank Recovery Cases at Pre-Litigation), 14 cases were disposed off with a total settlement amount of Rs.12,60,636.

The Phek DLSA conducted National Lok Adalat at District court complex. The Lok Adalat was presided by Neiko Akami, NJS,Chairperson, Phek DLSA & District and Sessions Judge. Thirteen (13) matters of Pre-litigation bank recovery cases of SBI and NStCB were taken up and disposed off with a settlement amount of Rs.13,20,966.

The Tuensang DLSA conducted its 4^th quarterly National Lok Adalat at District Court complex Tuensang with Longshithung Ezung, NJS Chairperson Tuensang DLSA cum District and Sessions Judge as the presiding officer. Five cases were taken up and were disposed off with a total settlement amount of Rs.91,9,534/- only.(Ninty One Lakh Nine Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Four).

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The 4^th quarterly National Lok Adalat was held at Dimapur with Seyielenuo Mezhü as the presiding officer.

After a brief speech by the presiding officer the National Lok Adalat was declared opened. Altogether 65 cases were taken up and disposed with Total settlement amount is Rs. 2,05,28,106/- (two crore five lakh twenty eight thousand one hundred six).

The Longleng DLSA conducted the 4^th National Lok Adalat at District Court Complex with the SBI Longleng. Kumdilong Kessen (NJS) Secretary, Longleng DLSA was the Presiding Officer. Nine cases were taken up and eight were disposed which included Bank Recovery Cases at Pre- Litigation stage. The Total Settlement Amount was  Rs. 168,680/-(One Lakh Sixty Eight Thousand Six Hundred Eighty).

Meanwhile, the Mon DLSA organised the 4^th quarterly National Lok Adalat at the Front Office, DLSA, Mon. Tucuno Vamuzo, Chairman of Mon DLSA cum district and sessions judge along with B Peter Resu, Secretary, Mon DLSA & JMFC were the presiding officers. A total amount of Rs 10,13,000/- (Ten Lakhs, thirteen thousand) only was settled from an outstanding amount of Rs. 21,29,740 (Twenty One Lakh thousand seven hundred and forty) only.

The Zunheboto DLSA conducted National Lok Adalat at District Court Complex Zunheboto. Cheliam Khiamniungan, JMFC cum Secretary Zunheboto DLSA was the presiding officer. Easter H Yepthomi and Inolito K Sumi were the conciliators. All together 18 pre litigation bank recovery cases were taken up and disposed of with the total settlement amount of Rs. 29,61,707.

At Kiphire, the DLSA conducted its 4^th quarter Lok Adakat at District Court Complex Kiphire.  Holika Sukhalu, Secretary KDLSA was the Presiding officer, while Panel Lawyer Lizi Sangtam was the conciliator. A total of 11 bank loan recovery cases were taken up however no settlement was made.