E-courts to make a debut in Delhi on Feb 8

Delhi’s first ‘E-Lok Adalat’ would become functional from February 8 in all the district courts. In an initiative that is a move towards making court proceedings paper-less, the courts would take up over one lakh pending cases of cheque bounce, reports Sumit Saxena.

Delhi’s first ‘E-Lok Adalat’ would become functional from February 8 in all the district courts. In an initiative that is a move towards making court proceedings paper-less, the courts would take up over one lakh pending cases of cheque bounce.

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ICICI bank would provide the computerised database of its customers to all the district courts to take up cases pending under section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act (related to matters of cheque bounce).

“It is the first of its kind paperless mega Lok Adalat in the country. A computer-generated list would be available in all the district courts. It is a litigant-friendly concept and would ensure speedy disposal of cases without the hassles of moving files,” said Sanjay Sharma, project officer, Delhi Legal Services Authority.

The litigants can walk up to the nearest court complex without any documents in hand. The ICICI bank will provide the requisite human resource and technical support at all the district court complexes. Counters would be set up to assist litigants to pursue the pending cases.

Litigants would be able to access the details of their case with their credit card number and the reference number of personal loan or auto loan.

There would be a separate counter in each court complex for senior citizens and disabled people. A separate counter would be there for women litigants as well. Cash counters would be provided to deposit the money after the settlement of the case.

Also, details of a case would be accessible from any of the court complexes. For example, if a litigant stays in Rohini and his case is pending at Laxmi Nagar, he can go to the Rohini court and pursue the case.

In all, 100 judicial officers appointed for the Lok Adalat. “Soon private players would be allowed to further modernise the court’s infrastructure,” said a source. Supreme Court Judge Arijit Pasayat would inaugurate the Lok Adalat at Patiala House courts.