Curtain falls on long-pending cases in UT, 441 settled

The curtain has come down on long‑pending disputes under the mediation ‘For the Nation’ — 90-day drive, as two cases pending in Chandigarh for more than 10 years and 31 cases pending for over five years were finally resolved. Out of 2,710 cases referred for mediation, 441 were successfully settled, marking a significant milestone and showcasing the power of mediation as a tool for reducing judicial pendency and delivering timely justice.

The nationwide campaign, spearheaded by the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) in association with the Mediation & Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC), Supreme Court of India, was conducted from July 1 to September 30 under the guidance of Justice Surya Kant – Judge, Supreme Court of India, Executive Chairman, NALSA, and Chairman, MCPC, and Chief Justice of India Justice BR Gavai.

Implemented across all taluka courts, district courts and high courts, the campaign aimed at resolving pending and pre-litigation disputes through structured mediation. In Chandigarh, the UT State Legal Services Authority, under Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Deepak Sibal – Executive Chairman, SLSA UT Chandigarh – conducted special sessions at the Mediation and Conciliation Centre, District Courts Complex, Sector 43, Consumer Court, Labour Court, and Debt Recovery Tribunal-2.

The disputes resolved included matrimonial issues, accident claims, domestic violence, cheque bounce, commercial disputes, service matters, criminal compoundable cases, consumer disputes, debt recovery, partition, eviction, labour, land acquisition, and other civil matters.

Among the settlements was a case filed in 2013, concerning 44 per cent property share. The dispute was amicably resolved, with a party agreeing to execute the sale deed of 50 per cent share of the house. In another case filed in 2016, property partition issue was resolved with portions of the property mutually allotted, bringing closure to a decade-old dispute.

“Mediation not only contributes significantly in reducing the pendency of cases in courts but also plays a vital role in strengthening the social fabric by restoring relationships, fostering harmony, and ensuring justice in its true spirit,” Justice Sibal asserted.

It was added that the campaign underscored the growing trust of litigants in mediation as a preferred mode of dispute resolution and reaffirmed the commitment of the State Legal Services Authority, UT Chandigarh, to ensure accessible, affordable and amicable justice for all sections of society.