National Lok Adalat held in Haryana.

Chandigarh July, 10: Haryana State Legal Services Authority organized National Lok Adalat under the guidance of Mr. Justice Rajan Gupta, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, Haryana State Legal Services Authority across the State of Haryana. The National Lok Adalat was organized in 22 District and 33 sub-divisions of Haryana and cases were settled pertaining to “Civil, Criminal, Matrimonial, Bank Recovery, etc”. The purpose of holding National Lok Adalat is to facilitate a platform to the litigants to settle their disputes amicably.

On the day of National Lok Adalat, Mr. Justice Rajan Gupta monitored the Lok Adalats being held in 22 Districts and 33 Sub-Divisions of Haryana through video conferencing as well as discussing working of Lok Adalats with District and Sessions Judges telephonically.

He called upon to settle maximum number of cases as Lok Adalat is a system of alternative dispute resolution which finds its origin in India and got established as a system with the changing times. Lok Adalats not only settle pending dispute or disputes going to arise between parties but it also ensures social harmony as parties to dispute settle their cases amicably to their full satisfaction. It also decongests courts as matters are settled amicably with the consent of parties eliminating further litigation in form of appeals and revisions. The limited resources available with the courts are relieved and are made available to dispense justice expeditiously and in an effective manner. Apart from settlement of dispute, parties are benefitted by return of court fee paid by them at the time of institution of cases.

Lok Adalat is an effective alternative dispute resolution method for ensuring quick and final consensual disposal of cases binding on the parties without incurring any extra cost or fees. During Lok Adalats, pre-litigative and court pending cases of all nature are taken up by different lok adalat benches presided by Judicial Officers and members. Lok Adalats have proved to be very successful particularity with regard to MACT cases.

Considering the current prevailing situation, Haryana State Legal Services Authority directed to conduct Lok Adalats physically or virtually across the State as per local requirements. Necessary directions were also issued to follow health protocols strictly such as wearing of masks, sanitization of hands, social distancing etc. for prevention against COVID-19.

Last year, due to COVID pandemic, Haryana State Legal Services Authority organized its first E-Lok Adalat on September 18, 2020 through video conferencing across the State of Haryana with an aim to resolve the cases/disputes of parties through one of the effective mechanism of alternate disputes. After a successful conduct of E-Lok Adalat, the HALSA moved its step towards Daily E-Lok Adalat in Haryana which aim to help the litigants for amicable settlement of disputes.

Daily Lok Adalats were first started in one of the district on experimental basis. After encouraging results, daily Lok Adalats were started in remaining districts. At present, daily Lok Adalats are being held in all the 22 districts of Haryana. In the year 2020-2021, 58,222 Daily Lok Adalats were held and 75,437 cases were decided. Total amount of 75,62,19,818 were settled.`

Today, in National Lok Adalat, 10,581 cases were taken up and 3,011 cases were disposed of at pre-litigative stage. Total amount of Rs.4,82,96,251 were settled.

That apart, 60,172 pending cases were taken up and out of 21,271 cases were decided. Total amount of Rs.87,02,36,422 were settled.

Total No. of 24,282 cases both at pre litigative and pending stage were settled thereby settling total amount of Rs.91,85,32,673 between the parties.

That apart, Haryana State Legal Services Authority has been taking various other steps for precaution and prevention against COVID-19 across the State of Haryana. This Authority also launched a project namely “Arrest the disease-wear a mask, don’t go close, cover your nose” on 26.03.2021 in association with Health Department, Haryana with an aim to create awareness amongst general masses about COVID health protocols as well as to educate them about mask etiquettes. Under the said project, Legal Services Authorities conducted 220 vaccination camps across the State and 35,421 persons were vaccinated. Under this project, District Legal Services Authorities are undertaking mask making campaigns in association with NGOs/Public Agencies/Jails and distributing the same to the needy persons for free of cost. 1,08,517 masks were prepared/distributed under the campaign.

This Authority also launched short animated clips on various topics such as legal aid, gender equality, COVID vaccination and mask etiquettes with an aim to sensitize maximum people on respective topics and various aspects associated with them. HALSA has also prepared publicity materials on COVID-19 which have been shared with all the District Legal Services Authorities to circulate among public at large through different electronic means so we could reach each and every person even living in far-flung areas.

That apart, HALSA is also sharing awareness material under project “Corona Home Warriors” with the help of children and social media. It aims to create maximum mass awareness on prevention against COVID-19 and effective implementation of health protocols such as wearing of mask rightly, social distancing, washing of hands frequently, hands sanitization etc.

Project HOPE has also been launched by this Authority with an aim to help those unfortunate children who have lost their single or both parents in COVID pandemic while fighting with the disease. It aims to ensure the rights and benefits of children who are left alone or with a single surviving parent. Under the said project, 3,090 children have been identified who have lost their single parent and 84 children who have lost both the parents.

In the months of July, August and September 2021, Legal Services Authorities shall also undertake large scale tree plantation to create awareness for protection of environment by distributing free plants including crafted fruit plants.

During lockdown, HALSA through DLSAs extended help to 3,50,000 migrants regarding transit and food in coordination with District Administration & NGOs; more than 4,000 awareness programmes were conducted for creating awareness regarding Covid wherein more than 4,40,000 persons had participated; 2,00,000 mask and sanitizers were distributed; 2,700 were provided medical assistance; more than 20,000 Sanitary napkins were distributed; 8,121 were assisted with shelter; 20,103 were assisted with regard to travelling to home states or home districts; 1,100 Stranded Labourers were assisted for movement pass: 162 persons were given financial assistance under scheme of Haryana Government etc.

Haryana’s first ‘Jal Panchayat’ held in Beholi village

State Government’s unique ‘Jal Panchayat’ programme aims to make a water security plan for every village

Programme has been started under Atal Bhujal Yojana

One of its kind community mobilization programme endeavors to increase community participation for groundwater management

Chandigarh, July 10: While envisaging Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal’s vision of groundwater development and management a step further, State Government’s one of its kind community mobilization programme ‘Jal Panchayat’ endeavoring to increase community participation was organized in Beholi village, in Panipat district. The ‘Jal Panchayat’ organized under Atal Bhujal Yojana aims to make a water security plan for the village.

It is pertinent to mention here that Dr. Anil Gautam, hydrologist working for Atal Bhujal Yojana along with this team conducted three-day research to explore the groundwater management issues in Beholi village.

During the research, the team had examined groundwater condition in the village as well as conducted water quality testing. The technical expert team of water management included Dr. Anil Gautam, Sh. Partik Kumar, Sh. Vargis Bamola, Engineer Mahendra Wadhwani, Dr. Rizvi, Mr. Rahul Verma, Sh Shubham and Sh. Pushp Ranjan.

After conducting the research, Dr. Anil Gautam along with his team then had organized ‘Jal Panchayat’ to share research findings with the villagers and the villagers shared their suggestions to resolve the water-related problems in their village.

Divulging more details about the purpose of organizing ‘Jal Panchayat’ across the State, Additional Chief Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Sh. Devender Singh said that a total of 14 districts will be covered under Atal Bhujal Yojana in Haryana, which includes 1669 gram panchayats of 36 blocks.

He said that the Atal Bhujal Yojana aims to improve groundwater management in priority areas through community participation and Haryana has a target to reduce groundwater depletion by minimum 50 percent.

Deputy Commissioner, Panipat Sh. Sushil Sarwan also attended the ‘Jal Panchayat’ and requested the villagers to conserve the water resources. He also assured support from the district administration in ensuring the successful implementation of Atal Bhujal Yojana.

Project Director, Irrigation Department, Dr. Satbir Singh Kadian said that under the Atal Bhujal Yojana in Haryana the first ‘Jal Panchayat’ has been organized at Beholi village.

During this Panchayat villagers in consultation with the expert team of hydrologists also prepared future action plan for groundwater management of their water resources management, said Dr. Satbir Singh Kadian.

This programme had revolutionized the groundwater governance in Haryana and had set an example for the whole country, he added.

During the Panchayat, the villagers were informed that Atal Bhujal Yojana is a Participatory Groundwater Management scheme supported by the Central government and World Bank and implemented by the Haryana government.

The major objective of this scheme is to create the Hydrogeological data network of groundwater resources in Haryana and further to encourage the creation of community institutions for the management of groundwater resources in the state.

As a part of the programme, community mobilization and awareness activities, as well as capacity building of stakeholders would be organized and then Water Security Plan of each village will be prepared and the same will be implemented over the next four years.

Chief Minister writes to Ministry of External Affairs over Kurukshetra youth Vishal Jood’s release

Seeks high priority intervention to secure justice for a ‘Son of Haryana’ in Australia

Vishal Jood is lodged in an Australian prison since April 2021 over charges of being involved in an assault in Sydney

Chandigarh, July 10: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has written a letter to Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Culture, over Kurukshetra youth Vishal Jood’s release who is lodged in an Australian prison since April 2021 over charges of being involved in an assault in Sydney.

Urging Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi’s high priority intervention to secure justice for a ‘Son of Haryana’ in Australia, Sh. Manohar Lal has written that he has received representations from various quarters including his family who have conveyed to him that Vishal Jood got into a tussle with a group, that was raising anti-Indian slogans and even desecrating the Indian National Flag and these groups have subsequently framed him on false charges.

In the letter, the Chief Minister has further highlighted that he had also held a virtual meeting with some representatives of the Indian diaspora in Australia, who are backing Vishal and have started a campaign there, to get him released from jail, as early as possible. There have been protests and demonstrations in various parts of Haryana and North India in support of Vishal and there is strong public sentiment for his early release, he added.

Efforts to curb power theft in Haryana reveal 5,508 power theft cases in last two days: Ranjit Singh

Chandigarh July 10: Making consistent efforts to curb Power theft in the state, Haryana Power Minister, Sh. Ranjit Singh said that one of the largest and most successful raid in the history of the Power Department has been conducted and has revealed 5,508 cases of power theft in last two days across the State.

He shared this information while interacting with the media persons here today. He said that a highly confidential raid has been conducted after constituting 507 teams including officials of Power Department, CM Flying Squad, Vigilance and Police personnel headed by the Officers of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) utilities of Power Department in the State. About 27,307 premises including poultry farms, industries, mobile towers, water RO’s, water and milk chilling plants, brick kilns, cold stores and road side situated Dhabas were checked during the raid and 5,508 cases of power theft have been revealed, he added.

Sh. Ranjit Singh said that following the raid, FIRs have been logged against the power theft defaulters and power connections have been disconnected. He said that so far, more than 12.5 Mega Watt of power theft has been revealed and a penalty of about Rs 24 crore has been imposed against defaulters.

Power Minister said that revealing these power theft cases will increase revenue in crores in the power sector which will further decrease the power losses and increase power supply in the commercial and domestic sector. He said that the permanent consumers, whose power connections were dysfunctional will clear their dues and seek new power connections which will lead to generation of more revenue in Power Sector in the State.

This unexpected raid will spread a message among other power consumers to refrain from indulging in such illegal practice of power theft, he added.