Prayagraj: Prayagraj: Underlining the growing role of mediation in building a dispute-free society, Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath on Saturday emphasised that mediators need not necessarily be lawyers and that trained individuals can help resolve disputes at various levels, contributing to a more harmonious society.Addressing the valedictory session of the first mediation training programme for Allahabad University teachers, Justice Nath, who chairs the Supreme Court’s Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC), said trained faculty members of AU could assist the Allahabad HC in mediation-related work whenever required.He said MCPC was expanding mediation and conciliation training to different sections of society to strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. He also announced that another training programme could be organised at the university if more than 25 fresh registrations are received.The five-day programme, organised by the MCPC, concluded on Saturday and was attended by 52 teachers.AU vice-chancellor Prof Sangita Srivastava, who chaired the valedictory session, said effective conflict management is an essential component of good governance and that mediation equips individuals with practical dispute-resolution skills. She expressed confidence that the expertise gained by the university’s teachers would benefit society and praised the trainers for conducting engaging and insightful sessions.The training was conducted by experts S. Sushila (Karnataka), Vijaykamala (Tamil Nadu), A.N. Bhatt of the Gujarat Legal Services Authority, and Pitambar R. Abhichandani.
