Chandigarh: Emphasising that mediation must become an integral part of India’s justice delivery system, the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, on Saturday highlighted the need for a shift toward resolving disputes outside the courtroom.
Speaking after releasing two books – ‘The mediation movement of India’ and ‘Law of cognisance and summoning in criminal complaints’ – Justice Surya Kant said, “I have been quite candid with my belief that mediation must become a far more integral part of our justice delivery system.”
“Today, we are at a defining moment in this journey. On one hand, mediation has found recognition across a wide range of statutes, culminating in a dedicated legislature, the Mediation Act, 2023, yet on the other hand, its true potential is still underutilised to a great degree. This is why the book has arrived at an opportune time,” he said.
The CJI also referred to the ‘Mediation for the Nation’ campaign launched in 2025, adding that it led to 1,11,000 cases finding resolution and 78,000 cases finally being disposed of by the courts. This is not just a statistic; it represents thousands of families, businesses and individuals who found closure without prolonged litigation, he said.
“Usually by the time a matter reaches court, and it is taken up, the parties have already invested considerable time, resources and emotion in the litigation. And that makes opting into litigation a difficult proposition. Therefore, we must now encourage stronger institutional mechanisms that facilitate pre-litigation mediation, dissolving disputes before they enter the courtroom,” said Justice Surya Kant.
“I firmly believe that our efforts will achieve their full worth only when mediation becomes a concept that an ordinary citizen understands and trusts. It requires us to take mediation beyond courtrooms and into the grassroots,” he added.
