Jamshedpur, Dec. 21: The State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) plans to open counselling and conciliation centres in the district to speed up clearance of cases filed in civil courts.

The counselling and conciliation centres, which would start at police stations, would begin to function from January.

“We have decided to start the counselling and conciliation centres to ease the load on the courts,” said SLSA member secretary D.G.R. Patnaik.

He added that the centres would be opened at some key police stations under the aegis of the SLSA and the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA). Patnaik said:

“I hope the centres would start to function from January,” he added.

Explaining the functioning of the centres, Patnaik said only those cases, which are compoundable in nature, would be taken up at the centres.

“Only those cases which are not against the state and which can be resolved at pre-litigation stage would be entertained,” Patnaik told The Telegraph from Ranchi.

He added that deputy commissioners, police superintendents and NGOs would be involved in the functioning of the centres.

“Lawyers would have no role in these centres. NGOs would counsel the parties to settle the cases outside court,” Patnaik said.

He added that the number of cases in Jharkhand courts have increased. Litigants are approaching the courts with petty cases that can be settled outside.