Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge intervenes to reunite estranged couple

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 26

When an estranged couple went to the Patiala Judicial Complex for legally parting ways during the National Lok Adalat, there was no way for them to realise that they would return home united.

‘A large number of cases resolved’

The active participation by Justice Ajay Tewari acted as a catalyst in resolving a large number of cases and brought back smiles on the faces of litigants. -  Arun Gupta, District And Sessions Judge

They would have been divorced, but for the initiative taken by Justice Ajay Tewari, Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge and executive chairman of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority.

The couple with a six-year-old child was living apart for the past one and a half years. Justice Tewari convinced them that couples with children were parents and not just husband and wife. It was their primary responsibility to accord priority to the task of bringing up the children by giving up their ego and differences.

Justice Tewari was visiting Mohali and Patiala for participating in the process of resolving disputes between the parties during the National Lok Adalat. Justice Tewari was also of the view that ensuring the retention of matrimonial bonds and responsibilities of parenthood was one of the important functions of the Lok Adalats.

Data gathered by the Legal Services Authority reveals this was not the only case that ended on a positive note during the Lok Adalat. In July alone, 62,538 cases were taken up by 341 Benches across Punjab. Out of the total, 24,813 matters involving Rs411,63,52,408 were disposed of . In April, 15,749 cases were disposed of.

“The active participation by the executive chairman, Justice Ajay Tewari, acted as a catalyst in resolving a large number of cases and brought back the smiles and hopes on the faces of the litigants,” said District And Sessions Judge Arun Gupta.

He urged the general public to settle their grievances amicably during the upcoming National Lok Adalats scheduled to be held on September 11 and December 11. He said the needy, particularly the marginalised segments, could dial the toll free number 1968 for any kind of legal assistance. The front offices set up at district and taluka-level in the court premises were also working to guide the litigants for obtaining free and effective legal aid.