Imphal, November 17: Finally a counselling and conciliation centre has come up in the state after more than five years eliciting hopes in the judiciary that many legal cases lying for years in the cold could now be settled without much ado.

The centre was inaugurated by the executive chairman of the Manipur State Legal Service Authority, Justice Maibam Binoy Kumar at the Cheirap Court Complex here this afternoon.

He said, the centre was designated for Imphal West district, but for the time being it will look after all relevant matters put up from anywhere in the state.

Justice Binoy Kumar asserted that the main objective of setting up the centre was to facilitate swift disposal of legal contests through rigorous counselling and avoiding hassles of litigation.

Particularly, economically deprived groups would be major beneficiaries as proper counselling curb expenditure and time in delivering justice.

Reminding the adage that �justice delayed is justice denied�, Justice Binoy Kumar regretted that many unfortunate victims have to undergo extended jail terms for their misdemeanours just because they belonged to the weaker social strata.

However, through the centre such incidents will be minimal and prompt justice delivered, he stated.

A counselling and conciliation group comprising social workers, judicial officials and advocates will collectively hold conference with differing parties and bring them together to an understanding precluding the possibility of litigation.

The Lok Adalat will be the legitimate body that can pronounce the judgement based on the agreement, which will be legally binding, he explained.

MSLSA member secretary Th Sudhir who presided the function stated that the initial emphasis will be on filling up the man power shortage at the centre and commencing its services at the earliest.

He said, unlike the scorch of litigation, where both counsel and battling parties are losers, proper counselling will lift everyone to a winwin situation.

District and session Judge Th Surbala expressed happiness at the opening of the centre.

Claiming that in western countries like US of America 90 pc of court cases are settled outside the courtroom, she was hopeful that the centre will function to reverse the phenomenon of low disposal and high acquittal of accused in heinous crimes in Manipur.

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