Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Mangalore, Feb 9: An awareness programme along with a demonstration of the process of mediation was held on Friday February 8 at the principal district and sessions judge court hall, in the presence of lawyers, judges and the public.
After the inaugural session high court judge K L Manjunath addressing a rapt audience here, informed that starting February 8, a mediation week will be organized in the city to train advocates. This will also help to create awareness amongst the public about the mediation centres that are being planned in the city, to clear pending cases faster. The centres will provide the people with an alternative system to settle their disputes, he added.
Elaborating on the advantages of these centres Justice Manjunath said mediation is a process in which a neutral third party comprising an advocate who has 15 years of experience, helps the disputing parties to creatively resolve their disputes without going through the trial process. Mediation, always leaves the decision-making power with the parties concerned, he pointed out.
He further informed that the Bangalore mediation centre in the capital city is a role model, which the entire country should emulate. This centre is an initiative of the high court and is supported by the advocates association, Bangalore. It has completed one year of service. The centre has recorded 3,225 cases in one year. Of these 1,990 cases were mediated till February. Of the cases mediated 1,053 were settled thus indicating a success ratio of 53%, he added.
According to him the Supreme Court had recognised the Bangalore mediation centre as the best. He even opined that there was a need for everyone involved in legal profession to ensure prompt justice to litigants. In accordance to the provision of Section 89 of Civil Procedure Code as amended in 1999, it was mandatory for the courts to refer matters of settlement to one of the alternative dispute resolution systems such as conciliation, mediation and Lok Adalat. As per this section the Bangalore mediation centre started to clear cases and 84 mediating advocates, including 29 women lawyers, have selflessly served the cause, he stated.
The resource persons for the camp will be mediation advocates Ramakrishna, Suresh Lokare, Sushila, Vijaya Kumar and Jyothi.