Bar and Court should make mediattion a success-CJI

Bangalore, Jan 19 (UNI) Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan today urged for a committed role between Bar and the Court to make Mediation a success method to reduce the pending cases in various courts of the country.

Speaking after inaugurating a First Anniversary Celebration of Bangalore Mediation Centre and South India Regional Conference on Mediation, he said that with the advent of globalisation it has become necessary to reduce the number of pending cases.

Stating that in most of the foreign countries mediation was preferred for solving the cases, Justice Balakrishnan said that "in India the litigation fee was not costly unlike in foreign countries where most of the cases were settled in Mediation." "The advent of globalisation and the growth of science and technology in our everyday lives has given rise to new causes of action, which call for a corresponding change in the way we see disputes today. Moreover, Mediation may be a useful mechanism to reduce the large backlog of cases that congest our legal system", he added.

He said that despite India possessing a vibrant democracy and legal system it has not succeeded in reducing the number of cases pending due to various reasons.

Justice Balakrishnan said that the availability of organised and well regulated mediation empowers lawyers to provide better service to litigants. It reduces costs, time and stress as compared to court based litigation. Moreover, the latter option was always available as a last recourse to parties who are unable to come to a solution to their dispute. "In this manner, lawyers can greatly improve their practice and efficiency. Mediation, thus makes good professional sense", he added.

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