CJI Surya Kant Calls for Stronger Mediation to Ease Court Burden
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday stressed the growing importance of mediation as an effective tool for resolving disputes. He urged the judiciary to actively promote it and build a strong “mediation culture.”
Speaking at a State-level symposium on ‘Mediation: Dialogue as Cornerstone of Justice’, organised by the Andhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (APSLSA), Justice Surya Kant said mediation now has statutory backing under the Mediation Act of 2023. He added that resolutions issued by mediators are enforceable as decrees.
“Mediation has emerged as a preferred mode of dispute resolution,” he said. “It is no longer merely an alternative. It can significantly reduce the burden on conventional courts. Special courts handling family disputes have already helped in this regard.”
The CJI pointed out that mediation is cheaper and faster than arbitration. Moreover, it has gained wide acceptance internationally. He also underlined that the temperament, conduct, and integrity of mediators play a key role in achieving successful outcomes.
Citing history, he referred to Lord Krishna as perhaps the first codified mediator. Krishna’s efforts to reconcile warring factions failed, which eventually led to the Mahabharat war. Therefore, Justice Surya Kant emphasised that professional mediators must learn the nuances of the process to deliver meaningful results.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu highlighted the government’s experience in persuading 29,000 farmers to pool 33,000 acres for Amaravati’s development. He said this demonstrated how consensus-driven mediation can succeed. He also requested the CJI to consider establishing the National Judicial Academy in Amaravati. Additionally, he offered land in the Justice City for reputed legal institutions willing to set up campuses there.
The Chief Minister further announced that incentives for successful mediation would increase from ₹3,000 to ₹10,000. For unsuccessful cases, he agreed to provide ₹3,000, responding to a request from Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court Dhiraj Singh Thakur.
The symposium was attended by Supreme Court judges J.K. Maheswari, P.S. Narasimha, Prashant Kumar Mishra, and S.V.N. Bhatti.