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Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra's Lok Adalat settles 4.5 lakh cases, recovers Rs 20 crore through challan
A TOTAL of 4.58 lakh cases, including 3.64 lakh pre-litigation cases and 94, 075 pending cases, were settled before the Lok Adalats across Maharashtra. The cases were settled during the programme of second National Lok Adalat of this year held on Saturday across Maharashtra. During the Lok Adalats, Rs 19.93 crore were recovered in around 2.31 lakh traffic-e-challan cases, wherein Lok Adalat notices were sent through virtual mode. The Lok Adalat was organised through the three high courts (Legal Services Committees/Sub Committees) at Mumbai along with Nagpur and Aurangabad benches of HC, 34 district and 305 taluka legal services authorities/committees across Maharashtra. As per Shripad P Deshpande, Deputy Secretary of Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA), which is headed by senior most puisne judge of Bombay High Court Justice Atul S Chandurkar, the Lok Adalat received massive response from all over Maharashtra like its previous versions. The MSLSA stated that 36,084 pending cases were disposed of through a 5-day special drive undertaken by all courts across Maharashtra prior to the Lok Adalat. Disputes such as motor accident claim petitions, bank recovery claims, criminal compoundable offences, matrimonial disputes, dishonor of cheques cases, cases relating to electricity matters, matters relating to telephone bills and traffic police e-challan cases were dealt with by the Lok Adalat. 'The figures of this Lok Adalat and last Lok Adalats are indicative that Alternate Dispute Resolution is not only effective but also an appropriate mechanism for redressal of disputes. It creates a win-win situation for all,' the MSLSA stated. As per the authority, the settlement under Lok-Adalat has got sanctity under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, where the award in such Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court, 'paving way to attain finality and binding effect on all parties to the settlement'. It added that when a matter is settled in Lok Adalat, the parties get refund of entire court fees. The next Lok Adalat is scheduled on September 13.
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Orders status quo amid concerns over demolition
The Bombay High Court on Friday sought to know from the Urban Development Department (UDD) of Maharashtra government by when the heritage status will be granted to the residence of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, Savarkar Sadan, situated at Shivaji Park area of Central Mumbai. The court passed an order while hearing a PIL by a public charitable trust called Abhinav Bharat Congress, seeking heritage status for the premises and a directive to declare the building 'monument of national importance' and formulate special compensation policy for its inhabitants. The court issued notices to respondent authorities seeking their response to the PIL during next hearing on June 13 and ordered that till the said date the status of the property shall not be changed. A division bench of Justices Atul S Chandurkar and Neela K Gokhale was hearing the PIL by the Trust filed through its co-founder and authorised representative, Professor Pankaj Phadnis, who resides in the building, seeking directive to the state UDD to issue a notification so as to include the 'Savarkar Sadan' property in the heritage list in terms of final recommendation of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to Principal Secretary UDD through letter dated August 30, 2010. The petitioner contended that the Municipal Architect (Development Plan) of the BMC on January 20, 2012, too, had written to the UDD to make such a recommendation for heritage status to the said property. The petitioner claimed that after an inaction of more than ten years, the Chief Minister's Office on February 1, 2025 forwarded to UDD an email sent by the petitioner raising grievances, requiring the steps to be taken and enquiries to be made in the matter. The PIL alleged 'apathy' by the state government of 'sitting on recommendation to give the site a heritage status for fifteen years' and apprehended that the same has left the building vulnerable to demolition or redevelopment. It said that while Jinnah House is granted heritage status, Savarkar Sadan has remained unnotified despite having historical relevance. Phadnis, citing a news report of earlier this month, apprehended that prior to such heritage status being bestowed to the said property, it is likely to be demolished. After hearing the petitioner, the bench issued notices to respondents UDD, BMC, Mumbai Police and Union Ministry of Culture seeking their responses during the next hearing. 'Instructions be obtained from the first respondent (UDD) as regards the time within which the grant of heritage status to the aforesaid premises would be undertaken. Till the returnable date, the status of the said property shall not be changed and the position as prevailing today shall be maintained,' the bench noted in the order.
