National Lok Adalat: 219 cases settled, INR 2.39 cr realised in Nagaland

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• Participants engage in discussions during the National Lok Adalat in Phek on Saturday.

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• DIMAPUR — The second quarterly National Lok Adalat (NLA) 2025, organised across Nagaland by the district legal services authorities (DLSAs) under the aegis of the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority on Saturday, disposed of 219 cases with a total settlement amount of INR 2,38,99,111.
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• Zunheboto: Zunheboto DLSA conducted the NLA at the District Court Complex, Zunheboto. District and sessions judge-cum-chairman of Zunheboto DLSA, Phuleto Yeptho, was the presiding officer. Easter H Yepthomi and Inolito K Sumi were the conciliators. A total of three pre-litigation bank recovery cases were taken up, of which two were disposed of, with a total settlement amount of INR 10,38,219.
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• Phek: Phek DLSA held the Lok Adalat at SBI, Chozuba, Phek, chaired by Sekhotso Rokha, panel lawyer, Phek DLSA. Mezivolu T Therieh, district and sessions judge-cum-chairperson of Phek DLSA, addressed the purpose of conducting the NLA. The Lok Adalat was presided over by the chairperson of Phek DLSA, with Vethothi Vero, retainer lawyer, and Sekhotso Rokha, panel lawyer, serving as conciliators. Twenty-four pre-litigation bank recovery cases from SBI (Chozuba) and Nagaland State Co-operative Bank (Phek, Pfustero, and Chozuba) were taken up and resolved, with a total settlement amount of INR 26,04,401.

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• Kohima: Kohima DLSA conducted the Lok Adalat at the District Court Complex. Duvelu Vero, principal district and sessions judge and chairperson of Kohima DLSA, was the presiding officer, with the panel lawyers of Kohima DLSA serving as conciliators. A total of 12 bank recovery cases, 13 telephone bill recovery cases, and nine MS cases were presented before the Lok Adalat. Of these, 13 telephone bill recovery cases, three MS cases, and 19 bank recovery cases were taken up and settled. The total outstanding amount of INR 2,23,69,327 was settled with INR 23,04,002 through the National Lok Adalat. A total of 10 banks and two telephone offices participated in the Lok Adalat.
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• Kiphire: Kiphire DLSA organised the Lok Adalat at the District Court Complex, Kiphire, which was presided over by Holika Sukhalu, chief judicial magistrate and secretary of Kiphire DLSA. The session saw participation from the SBI Kiphire branch and the Nagaland State Co-operative Bank. A total of 10 bank loan recovery cases were taken up, with eight cases settled for a total amount of INR 5,70,370.
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• Longleng: Longleng DLSA held the Lok Adalat at the District Court in collaboration with SBI Longleng. A total of four bank loan recovery cases were taken up and disposed of, with a settlement amount of INR 84,157. Chief judicial magistrate-cum-secretary of Longleng DLSA, Kumdilong Kessen, who presided over the session, briefed the gathering about the purpose of the Lok Adalat. Panel lawyers P Monyei Phom and Panglang Y Phom acted as conciliators, while paralegal volunteers (PLVs) Asangpongjei, Yingli, and Hentok participated.
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• Mokokchung: Mokokchung DLSA organised the Lok Adalat at the District Court, chaired by Julian Sithlhou, chief judicial magistrate and secretary of Mokokchung DLSA. A total of 11 bank loan recovery cases were taken up and disposed of, with a settlement amount of INR 9,86,735.
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• Peren: Peren DLSA conducted the Lok Adalat at Jalukie town. The event was presided over by Atoka Achumi, chief judicial magistrate and secretary of Peren DLSA, as the presiding officer, with Asungbe, Inchang Hiekha, Kidungyi Putlang, and Italang Ramlia serving as conciliators, assisted by PLV Santhuilakbo. A total of four pre-litigation bank recovery cases were taken up and successfully disposed of, with a settlement amount of INR 9,76,000.
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• Mon: Mon District Legal Services Authority conducted the Lok Adalat at the District Court, Mon. The presiding officers were Nokshei Kano, district and sessions judge-cum-chairman of Mon DLSA, and Wokono Yhoshii, chief judicial magistrate-cum-secretary of Mon DLSA. Panel lawyers Angun Konyak, N Mannon, M Moba, and Henlem P served as conciliators. A total of five pre-litigation and 17 pending trial bank recovery cases were taken up. One pre-litigation and two pending trial bank recovery cases were disposed of, with a settlement amount of INR 8,39,481.
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• Tuensang: Tuensang DLSA organised the Lok Adalat at the SBI main branch in Tuensang. The session was presided over by Somet Chumden Chang, principal district and sessions judge-cum-chairman of Tuensang DLSA, with retainer lawyer Amtimangyang Chang of Tuensang DLSA acting as the conciliator. A total of 10 bank recovery cases were taken up, of which seven were disposed of, resulting in a settlement amount of INR 14,97,346.
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• Wokha: Wokha DLSA conducted the Lok Adalat at the District Court Complex, Wokha. Seyielenuo Mezhu, district and sessions judge and chairperson of Wokha DLSA, was the presiding officer. Panel lawyers Shanchobeni P Lotha and Longtsubeni Humtsoe served as conciliators. A total of six pre-litigation bank recovery cases were taken up and disposed of, with a total settlement amount of INR 4,32,500.
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• Dimapur: The Dimapur District Legal Services Authority held the Lok Adalat at the Dimapur District Court premises. N Longshithung Ezung, chairman of Dimapur DLSA, provided an introduction, while Atoka Achumi, CJM-cum-secretary of Dimapur DLSA, highlighted the purpose of the Lok Adalat. All panel lawyers of Dimapur DLSA acted as conciliators. A total of 133 pre-litigation cases were taken up, of which 93 were disposed of, along with 22 pending trial cases. The total settlement amount was INR 1,25,65,900.
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• NLA, also popularly known as the 'People's Court', is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism aimed at reducing court backlogs, providing access to justice for marginalised communities, and ensuring that disputes are resolved in a timely and cost-effective manner.
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• It was mentioned that in 2024, the National Legal Services Authority recognised the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority for achieving the highest disposal percentage of pending cases in the first NLA held on March 9. Additionally, the performance of Nagaland State Legal Services Authority in the second and fourth NLAs showed the highest improvement in disposal percentages.