Indore: Courtship of estranged couple

It was not only civil disputes that were settled at Lok Adalat on Saturday but estranged couples buried their hatchet too.   

Sunil Pal and Neeta Pal decided life is too short for petty differences, and decided to come together, again.  Their 3-year-old child gave a broad smile when she saw her parents together probably for the first time.

“It all started with some small things and then it worsened. But we realised that this is going to harm the interests of our daughter in the long run. I have realised that small disputes should not be extended and given a quarrelsome shape” said Neeta Pal.

“I will make sure that I do not fight. I have taken the silent route and will let her speak to avoid clashes”, said Sunil Pal.

Same was the case for Dr Sandeep Singh and Jyoti Singh as they were also able to reunite with the help of counsellors.

“Small disputes become bigger issues and then we turn egoistic, but thanks to the Lok Adalat which gave us a chance to meet again and we are now together. And our kids too--daughter aged 10 years and 7 years are pretty happy with the decision”.

His wife Jyoti Singh said,” We need to be responsible parents. Now we have to live for our daughters. And I would now like to win my husband through love and care. Hope it works”.

There were many more cases which came for settlement. A resident of Khaategaon, Golu alias Sandeep Chauhan suffered multiple fractures in an accident in Dewas and was admitted in Bombay Hospital till May 2013. Claims were submitted in July to the accidental insurer HDFC Ergo.

“We submitted the claims and then a board at the court settled the amount to be given to the victim to 11.5 lakh, while the company wanted us to settle for 10 lakh”, said Advocate Piyush Verma
I thank Lok Adalat from the bottom of my heart to make this claim possible. I have lost my leg due to the accident. But the amount of claims has lessened it by a bit”, said an emotional Sandeep.

In another case, Sadhana Soni who visited the Lok Adalat camp at the Municipal Corporation office to settle her property tax claim was happy to avail the discounts given by the municipal corporation.  “The total amount of property tax after penalties accounted to Rs 22014, but after the discount given on the penalties, the total sum was lessened to just Rs 12,800, which I have happily paid”, she summed up.

Municipal Commissioner Rakesh Singh was seen monitoring all the activities at the office and had given lucrative offers to the defaulters.  “We have given 100 % rebate on penalties which amount to Rs 50,000, and 50% on penalties amounting to Rs 1,00,000 and 25% on penalties over Rs 1,00,000.

Many people are expected to turn up after office hours in the evening and the corporation is ready to put an extra effort to make things easier for them”.

And they kept waiting:   The family court had some real sad stories as well, where wives kept waiting for their husbands but they did not come. There was a question mark in their eyes and more for their child’s future.  “I have come for settlement and have been staying away for four years. My husband has not come back and has also kept my 13-year-old boy. I am not getting a single penny for my subsistence from my husband--who has not turned up in the Lok Adalat for the last two years. And those present here for settlement too do not take a strict stance--and ask us to go back home. I think this is sheer disrespect of the court and strict actions should be taken against those who are not cooperating”, said Pushpa Sulel, a home maker and wife of Mahendra Sunel.  Similar was the plight of Ritu Solanki (62), daughter of Satyanarayan Solanki. “I am much more worried about my son’s future--hope his father turns up to see us, to meet us and to settle things. Hope my husband realises things”, she said.

‘The notice was not our mistake’:  GB Gore, a retired personnel from Rau--I was asked to resolve issues with MP State Electricity Board regarding pending bills in the Lok Adalat of March 31st. I had cleared before time on March 17. But they have still sent me notices. I am  67-year-old man and it is very difficult for me to come to the district court from Rau. This is sheer carelessness on the part of the authorities. I am not sure, they might carelessly send me notices in the next Lok Adalat too and make a mockery of a sincere law abiding old man, he said.

National-level body lifter Rohit Chauhan , student of Elva college was seen at the HDFC Bank counter where he had a word with the authorities. His mother got a notice from the bank to pay the pending money for the vehicle loan that she had taken.

“We have been paying all the instalments and even then they have summoned us to the court. I had gone to the bank office--where HDFC has assured me full support. But I feel the bank should feel responsible enough”, he said.