Legal services authority, SC panel to launch 90-day mediation drive on July 1

As Indian courts face the uphill task of clearing a backlog of more than five crore cases, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Supreme Court’s Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) are set to launch a three-month mediation campaign on July 1 to settle pending cases.

According to a statement issued by NALSA, the 90-day ‘Mediation for the Nation’ campaign aims to present mediation as a people-friendly, cost-effective and speedy mechanism for dispute resolution.

During this drive, cases pending in various courts – from taluka courts to high courts -- will be taken up during this drive. To ensure its success, the mediation process would be conducted online, offline or in the hybrid mode to settle cases.

Pending cases eligible for mediation would include matrimonial disputes, accident claims, domestic violence cases, cheque-bounce, commercial disputes, service matters, compoundable criminal cases, consumer disputes and eviction related matters.

“The special campaign intends to involve all existing mediators, including those who recently underwent 40 hours of mediation training. The campaign will witness settlement efforts on all 7 days of the week as per the convenience of the parties,” NALSA stated.

The campaign was conceptualised under the guidance of CJI BR Gavai and SC Judge Justice Surya Kant, who is also the executive chairman of NALSA and the MCPC.