HC strikes down Lok Adalat verdict

Cuttack: The Orissa high court has held that a Permanent Lok Adalat is not competent to pass any order on a dispute over electricity bill issued to a consumer when the grievance is pending before the ombudsman.A single-judge bench gave the ruling on the Southern Odisha Electricity Supply Company’s petition challenging the direction issued by Permanent Lok Adalat (Ganjam) to restore power supply to the consumer without claiming reconnection charges and without directing payment of arrear dues lying against him.“It is clear that the Permanent Lok Adalat ought not to have taken cognizance of the complaint when the purported case was already pending in the Ombudsman II; out of the framework of the Electricity Act,” Justice S K Panigrahi observed while quashing the Permanent Lok Adalat’s order on March 28.“After going through the law laid down by the Supreme Court and various high courts, it is quite vivid that the provisions contemplated under Sections 126 and 127 of the Electricity Act constitute a complete code in itself and there is remedy of appeal against the final assessment order. The order of the Permanent Lok Adalat is, thus, an outlier in the established scheme of things of the Electricity Act,” Justice Panigrahi also observed.Accordingly, Justice Panigrahi ruled: “The Permanent Lok Adalat is not competent to maintain an application under Section 22 of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 against the pendency of the grievance redressal in the Ombudsman II under Sections 126 and Section 127 of the Electricity Act.” “For the foregoing reasons, the impugned order dated 04.04.2015 passed by the Permanent Lok Adalat is not sustainable. Therefore, the present writ petition is allowed and the impugned order passed by the Permanent Lok Adalat in is set aside,” Justice Panigrahi said.

Karnataka HC defines limits of Lok Adalats powers

Karnataka high court ruled that Lok Adalat cannot handle cases needing judicial orders. A conciliator, not a judge, leads Lok Adalat. Pooja challenged a compromise agreement involving Gunderao from Sindagi under CPC.

Canada set to increase permanent residency fees by 12%

India remains a top source of new permanent residents in Canada amidst fee hikes across various programs. The immigration plan now includes temporary resident arrivals, with Canada targeting 4.85 lakh new permanent residents in 2024.

Assam contractual teachers on pay scale of permanent employees: Official

Around 4,500 contractual teachers in Assam with the same pay scale as regular employees can work until 60. The Education Department has no immediate plans for permanent positions, despite the benefits provided. More than 25,000 TET-qualified teachers are working in primary schools.