THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: South India's first permanent Lok Adalat will start functioning in the capital shortly.

The adalat will aim at a quick settlement of disputes relating to various public utility services such as transport, hospital, postal, telegraph, power, water and those which the Central or State Government has declared as public utility services by notification.

The Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA), which is entrusted with the task of setting up the adalat, is currently in the process of identifying a building to set up the adalat.

According to U. Sarathchandran, member-secretary, KELSA, though two buildings are presently under consideration, one near the Secretariat and another one near the Vanchiyoor Court Complex, it is yet to be finalised. "The adalat will start functioning within a week of identifying the building," he said.

As in the case of the existing adalats, which is held every second Saturday, the primary focus of the permanent adalat too would be to resolve a dispute through conciliation and compromise. There will also be no court fee. However, the permanent adalat, like regular courts, will have the power to conduct trial in case a dispute is not settled amicably. An order issued by the adalat is unchallengeable, even in the Supreme Court.

The adalat would be presided over either by a sitting or a retired judge. A decision in this regard would be taken by a 21-member State authority headed by the Chief Justice of the High Court. The State authority will include various dignitaries, including the Advocate-General, chairperson of women's commission, Director General of health service and the Director of Prosecutions. The adalat will also have a social worker and an advocate as its members.

The members will be selected from a panel maintained by KELSA. As of now only Haryana and Rajasthan have permanent Lok Adalats.

Mr. Sarathchandran also dispelled apprehensions among a section of lawyers that the adalat would become a threat to their profession. "There should not be any room for concern among the advocates. The Lok Adalat is also a court and the litigants can bring their advocates and argue," he said.

Helpline service

Incidentally, KELSA will also launch a 24 hour helpline service over phone on legal matters for people who are in `distressful situation' and for those who seek `immediate legal advice.'

The service, dubbed to be the first of its kind in the State, is provided in association with Hutchison Essar, a leading telecom service provider in the country. "We have already selected a panel of advocates for the helpline," added Mr. Sarathchandran.

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