Overview
- The Chief Justice joined a Mediation Awareness walk in Panaji and addressed a conference on mediation at Sancoale organized by the Bar Council of India and IIULER.
- He highlighted the Supreme Court’s 'Mediation for Nation' initiative aimed at sensitizing litigants, the Bar, and the Bench to consider mediation in suitable disputes.
- Kant stressed that mediators do not impose outcomes and that the process can begin pre-litigation as well as serve fresh and long-pending cases.
- He said sensitisation has led high courts and district courts to increasingly identify and refer appropriate matters, citing success in commercial, matrimonial, motor accident, and cheque bounce cases.
- Calling mediation a voluntary process not mandated by law, he urged large-scale training and institutional support, estimating a need for over 50,000 mediators and noting efforts by MCPC, NALSA, and the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.