The Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority building under construction in Doranda on Thursday. The library on the Jhalsa premises. Pictures by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, July 2: Coming soon: justice — quick and affordable — on the doorstep.

The Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (Jhalsa) will launch a mobile court — complete with a judge, six lawyers and a group of rights activists — on July 5 to reach out to people living in backward areas.

A day ahead, Jhalsa, a wing of Jharkhand High Court, will also open a permanent lok adalat to hear out complaints against public utility agencies, including insurance companies, municipal corporations, banks, telecom companies, airlines and hospitals.

Supreme Court judges Justice S.B. Sinha and Justice Altamas Kabir and Jharkhand Chief Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra will be present on the occasion. Judicial officers from across the state have been invited to offer tips at the function on how to run the mobile court and permanent lok adalat effectively.

Justice M.Y. Eqbal, the executive chairman of Jhalsa, said the mobile court is the brainchild of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. His concept was based on the need to take civil and criminal justice closer to the common man so that they benefited without having to travel long distances. The country’s first mobile court was launched in Mewat, Haryana, on August 5, 2007. “So far, people went to court seeking justice. Now, we will bring justice to them,” Eqbal said.

To begin with, one court is being set up in an air-conditioned bus, which has cost the state around Rs 20 lakh. It will visit one particular panchayat area or village on a fixed day every month. “The court will resolve petty criminal and civil offences that contribute to 83 per cent of the total judicial backlog in the state,” he added.

The first halt will be Kanke circle under Ranchi district, where all pending cases of mutation will be resolved on the spot. Eqbal said he had asked the deputy commissioner and circle officer to keep the cases ready.

On July 6, the mobile court will reach Deoghar and stay stationed for the entire month of Shravan. “Around 10 lakh devotees visit the Baidyanath Temple every year. It will be a good time to spread awareness. The team will create awareness on new laws through written and visual material in local languages, advise those coming to the camp with particular problems and provide a referral system about legal services if people either want to file a case or resolve a dispute,” said a judicial officer.

After the temple town, the court will tour villages in Dumka, Hazaribagh and Dhanbad districts.

Meanwhile, a new multipurpose building — Nyay Sadan — is being spruced up to house the permanent lok adalat. Jharkhand is one of the few states where permanent lok adalats have been established.

“It is aimed at improving public services. We will first offer conciliation service to the complainants. If that fails, the people’s court can decide the case on merit,” a judicial officer said. “According to a Supreme Court ruling, these courts are empowered to function even if lawyers choose to stay away,” he added.