By IANS,
New Delhi : Lok Adalats (people’s court) in the national capital will now also take up criminal cases that are compoundable and which are in the initial stages of investigation.
Starting March 22 (Sunday), the Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA) is organising these Lok Adalats to deal with criminal cases that are in the initial stages of investigation and in which the chargesheet has not yet been filed.
These Lok Adalat’s will be held at Tis Hazari, Patiala House courts complex, Karkardooma courts and Dwarka courts on Sundays.
DLSA project officer Sanjay Sharma told IANS that as many as 60 categories of criminal cases which come under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) can be settled in the Lok Adalats.
“Cases like causing hurt, wrongfully restraining a person, assault, criminal intimidation, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons and cheating are some offences that can be settled in the Lok Adalat. This is for the first time any legal authority is taking up criminal cases for settlement at pre-litigation stage so that litigation can be lessened in our courts,” Sharma said.
DLSA has identified for settlement as many as 400 cases which were sent by various police stations across the capital.
Explaining the driving force behind these Lok Adalats, Sharma said: “The idea is to offer an informal platform for settlement of criminal cases and at the same time decongest the courts of such matters.”
The decision of the Lok Adalat is final and binding and cannot be challenged in any other court.