BANDIPORA: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Bandipora, under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority, successfully conducted the 3rd National Lok Adalat of the year 2026 today across District Bandipora.
The National Lok Adalat was inaugurated by Jeema Bashir, Chairman, DLSA (Principal District & Sessions Judge), Bandipora in the presence of learned Judicial Officers and other stakeholders. The event witnessed active participation of Legal Aid Defense Counsels (LADCs), Panel Lawyers, members of the Bar, bank officials, representatives of various departments, Adhikar Mitras and litigants.
The National Lok Adalat was organized under the direction and supervision of Jeema Bashir, Chairman, DLSA Bandipora, and under the guidance of Sheikh Babar Hussain, Secretary, DLSA Bandipora.
A wide range of cases were taken up for amicable settlement, including MACT claims, bank recovery cases, bank pre-litigation matters, criminal compoundable cases, matrimonial disputes, civil cases, electricity-related matters and traffic challans, among others.
To facilitate speedy and effective resolution of disputes, ten Benches were constituted at different locations across the district.
The 1st Bench was presided over by Ahsan Ullah Parvaiz Malik, Additional District & Sessions Judge, Bandipora, with Advocate Mushtaq Ahmad Hurra as Bench Member.
The 2nd Bench was presided over by Iqbal Ahmad Akhoon, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bandipora, with Mudasir Ahmad Bhat, Advocate, Bandipora, as Bench Member. While the 3rd Bench was presided over by Amandeep Singh, Chairman, TLSC Bandipora (Munsiff/JMIC), with Aamir Shafi Dar, Panel Lawyer, DLSA Bandipora, as Bench Member.
The 4th Bench was presided over by Mehak Mehboob, Additional Special Mobile Magistrate, Bandipora, with Javaid Iqbal Lone, Advocate, as Bench Member.
The 5th Bench was presided over by Rahila Rashid, Munsiff/JMIC, Sumbal, with Advocate Tasleema Jan, Panel Lawyer, TLSC Sumbal, as Bench Member.
The 6th Bench was presided over by Zaffar Hussain Shawl, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, with Shabir Ahmad Wani, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Bandipora, as Bench Member. The 7th Bench was presided over by the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Bandipora, with Abid Ahmad Naik, Labour Inspector, as Bench Member.
The 8th Bench was presided over by Mukhtar Ahmad Sofi, ARTO Bandipora, with Tariq Ahmad, Inspector, as Bench Member. The 9th Bench was presided over by the Tehsildar/Executive Magistrate 1st Class, Bandipora, with the Naib Tehsildar, Bandipora, as Bench Member.
The 10th Bench was presided over by the Executive Officer, Municipal Council Bandipora, with the Secretary, Municipal Council Bandipora, as Bench Member.
The Benches functioned at various locations to ensure wider accessibility and effective participation of litigants. The 1st Bench heard cases at Additional District Judge Stationed at Sumbal, the 2nd and 3rd Benches functioned at the new District Court Complex, Bandipora, the 4th Bench at Munsiff Court Gurez (TLSC Gurez), and the 5th Bench at Munsiff Court Sumbal (TLSC Sumbal), The 6th, 7th and 8th Benches functioned at various locations viz ADC office, ALC Office, ARTO office at the Mini Secretariat, Bandipora, while the 9th Bench heard cases at the Tehsil Office, Bandipora, and the 10th Bench functioned at the Municipal Council, Bandipora.
A total of 251 cases were taken up during the National Lok Adalat, out of which 118 cases were amicably settled, resulting in a total settlement amount of Rs 11289492. The matters disposed of included bank recovery cases, matrimonial disputes, civil cases, pre-litigation cases and other eligible disputes, besides cases falling within the jurisdiction of the respective Benches.
The National Lok Adalat provided litigants with an efficient, expeditious and cost-effective mechanism for resolution of disputes, enabling parties to arrive at mutually acceptable settlements without undergoing prolonged litigation. The initiative not only contributed towards reducing the burden of pending cases but also reinforced the fundamental objective of the legal services framework ensuring access to justice for all and promoting amicable, consensual and speedy resolution of disputes.
The successful conduct of the National Lok Adalat reflected the coordinated efforts of the judiciary, legal services institutions, government departments, financial institutions, legal aid functionaries and other stakeholders in strengthening the system of alternative dispute resolution and people-centric access to justice.
The District Legal Services Authority, Bandipora, reiterated its commitment to providing free and accessible legal services to eligible persons, particularly the vulnerable and marginalized sections of society, and to creating greater awareness among the public about the various legal aid and dispute-resolution mechanisms available for obtaining speedy, affordable and amicable justice.
