KOCHI: Highlighting the role of mediation in speedy disposal of cases, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Saturday said a series of mediation training camps would be conducted in all the high courts in the country.
“At a time when the judiciary is struggling hard to reduce the number of cases pending in various courts, mediation and conciliation can play an important role in minimising litigation,” he said.
Justice Balakrishnan was at the Kerala High Court to inaugurate a camp to train judicial officers and lawyers in the techniques of mediation and conciliation.
“About 3.54 crore cases are pending in the country. In the Supreme Court itself, there is a 23 per cent rise in cases every year, but there is no fresh appointment to the Bench. People here do not go in for mediation as litigation is cheaper compared with other nations,” he added.
Supreme Court judge and chairman of the mediation and conciliation project committee of the apex court Justice S B Sinha said a mediation council should be set up to monitor the activities of all mediation centres in the country. He underlined the need to institutionalise the mediation system.
Kerala High Court Acting Chief Justice J B Koshy, Justices P R Raman and Kurian Joseph and Delhi High Court judge Madan B Lokur spoke.