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Jharkhand Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) held a lok adalat exclusively for university teachers here on Tuesday, managing to resolve as many as 130 of 131 disputes, thereby saving the judiciary more additions to its already long list of pending cases.
Inaugurated by Supreme Court judge Altamas Kabir, along with Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice Prakash Tatia in presence of other judges, the adalat drew on the success of last week’s effort, also for university teachers.
Justice Kabir said the need of the hour was speedy redressal of grievances of litigants without indulging in long-drawn legal battles.
“Alternate disputes redressal is a tool which should be used effectively for reducing the burden of the courts. Cases cannot be cleared in the court room due to many reasons and if such cases are taken up in a lok adalat, litigants get immediate relief and the backlog of pending cases is not increased,” he said.
Of the 130 cases disposed of at the adalat, 11 pertained to Vinobha Bhave University. The rest were regarding teachers and professors of Ranchi University, said JHALSA member secretary B.K.Goswami.
Around Rs 2.49 crore was disbursed during the proceedings to beneficiaries claiming arrears of salary, gratuity and other benefits due to them.
JHALSA had organised a lok adalat on May 13 on the request of Governor and chancellor of universities Syed Ahmed. Buoyed by the success of the first venture, JHALSA opted for a second round.
Head of the department of Hindi at Ranchi College Anil Thakur was all praise for the judiciary. He was battling a claim of Rs 3 lakh, pending as arrears in salary and PhD allowance. He received his cheque at the adalat.
Another professor, Vandana Kumari of Panch Pargana Kisan College in Bundu, was also satisfied that her dispute regarding pay scale and benefits accrued due to a salary revision was resolved.
“These are monetary matters which should be settled by the department and the university. Finally, my dues were settled without any legal hassles and I am very satisfied,” she added.
Justice Tatia said that teachers should never be inconvenienced. “They work for a full term and retire from service only to run from pillar to post to get their rightful dues. University authorities responsible for payment of dues should be more concerned and compassionate towards their fellow employees and avoid prevent matters from reaching the courts,” he said.
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