Mediation must be institutionalised as a permanent process, says Justice P.S. Narasimha
Supreme Court Judge Justice P.S. Narasimha advocates for the institutionalization of mediation as a permanent, informal alternative to traditional litigation in India. He emphasizes that the 'Samadhan Samaroh' initiative aims to reduce case backlogs by empowering parties to resolve disputes voluntarily.
Why it matters
This reflects a significant shift in judicial policy aimed at reforming the overburdened Indian legal system through alternative dispute resolution.
The success of the Supreme Court’s ‘Samadhan Samaroh’ initiative should not be judged merely by the number of cases settled, but by whether it helps institutionalise mediation as a continuous process, Supreme Court Judge Justice P.S. Narasimha has said.
Speaking to Akashvani ’s News On AIR, Justice Narasimha said the initiative was aimed at addressing two issues: the large pendency of cases and the need for a simpler way of resolving disputes.
The Supreme Court of India is organising the ‘Supreme Court Action for Mediated Adjudication and Disputes Harmonization Across Nation’ to advance the vision of ‘participative justice’ and ‘doorstep delivery of justice’.
‘Samadhan Samaroh ’, which commenced on April 21, 2026, will culminate in the holding of a Special Lok Adalat on August 21, 22 and 23.
“The essence of this resolution is informality. That’s the big distinction between court cases and resolutions,” he said.
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