Plea before Kerala High Court to provide sufficient staff to Permanent Lok Adalat, Ernakulam

A plea has been moved before the Kerala High Court to provide sufficient staff strength to Permanent Lok Adalat, Ernakulam (PLA) so as to ensure its proper functioning [Bobby P Kuriakose v State of Kerala and others]. .The petition filed by one Bobby P Kuriakose has also prayed that his insurance claim, which is pending before the PLA, be heard and disposed of within a time frame. The plea contended that his insurance claim case, which was posted for evidence on October 26, was adjourned to December 6. On enquiry, the petitioner was informed that the PLA has partially stopped functioning since October 1 due to lack of sufficient staff, and all cases, except flood-related cases, have been adjourned by notification for the last 2 months. .The petitioner contended that earlier, the PLA was functioning smoothly by hearing flood appeals in relation to the 2018 Kerala flood in the morning session, and the remaining cases including the petitioner’s case were being heard in the afternoon session.However, the staff strength of the PLA was reduced from 8 to 3 as a result of which it partially stopped functioning since October 1 and it does not sit in the afternoon session. The petitioner said in his plea that he apprehends that this situation will continue and that his case will get adjourned indefinitely since the sitting has not resumed even as on date.“The Permanent Lok Adalats have been set up under Section 22 B of The Kerala State Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 to provide an affordable, speedy and efficient mechanism to secure justice. It is understood that the staff strength of Permanent Lok Adalat, Ernakulam has been reduced from 8 to 3, the result of which, it has partially stopped functioning since 1.10.2022, and most, unfortunately, no action whatsoever has been initiated by the concerned authorities to provide sufficient staff,” the plea said.In view of the above, if the Court does not interfere, the functioning of the PLA at Ernakulam, would come to an indefinite stand still and the very object and purpose of the statute will be defeated.The case will be heard today by Justice VG Arun.The petitioner is being represented by advocates Asok Chacko Thomas and Rajesh Vijayendran.