Chief Justice of India Justice N.V. Ramana said that a lot of problems can be resolved quickly through mediation rather than going to court.
At the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre's Curtain Raiser and Stakeholders' Conclave the CJI said that extensive consultations could lead to a mutually acceptable solution, avoiding unnecessary delays caused by court proceedings. He believes that approaching the courts should be the last resort for resolving issues.
The CJI emphasised the importance of mediation, stating that people should try to resolve disputes through mediation before going to court, and that solutions can be found in less time through mediation. He believes that asset distribution should be settled amicably among family members to avoid wasting time in the courts for years.
The CJI also stressed the importance of speedy resolution of pending cases in various courts in his inaugural address to the mediation centre in Hyderabad. He also stated that Hyderabad was the ideal location for the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre to be established.
The CJI said, “Mediation was mentioned even in the Mahabharatha. We can bring disputes to an end through mediation and as far as possible, women should mediate to resolve disputes.” According to the CJI, Lord Krishna attempted mediation between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, but the mediation failed, resulting in disastrous consequences. He believes that a small difference of opinion can lead to a large conflict, and that even a large conflict can be resolved through understanding.
K. Chandrasekhar Rao, the Chief Minister of Telangana, who also spoke at the event, said mediation has been a part of the country's dispute-resolution system for centuries in various forms such as panchayats, where village heads have played an important role in resolving disputes.
Rao thanked CJI Ramana on behalf of the government and the people of Telangana for his support in the establishment of the IAMC in Hyderabad, as well as for attending the event and speaking to the legal community. IAMC has been given 25,000 square feet of temporary space, and land in Puppalaguda will be allotted soon for the construction of a permanent structure, according to Rao.
