Kerala - Kozhikode   

Lawyers set to don a new role

Towards mediation: S.B. Sinha, judge, Supreme Court, addressing a meeting of executive magistrates at the conference hall of Collectorate in Kozhikode on Saturday. Industries Minister Elamaram Karim and District Collector P.B. Saleem are seen.

Kozhikode: A mediation centre will be opened at the district court here to help reduce the backlog of cases and to speed up justice delivery.

An ‘Orientation Programme on Mediation’ was held on Saturday at Hotel Hyson Heritage, where 200 advocates were given training in donning the role of mediators.

Mediation centres are envisaged at more courts under the district administration once the High Court is satisfied with the performance of the initial centres.

A Regional Awareness Programme on Mediation, which was open to members of the public was held at the Town Hall later. Supreme Court Judge S.B. Sinha was the chief guest at both functions. Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court S.R. Bannurmath, Justice P.R. Raman, Justice A.K. Basheer, Justice R. Basant, all from the Kerala High Court, also attended the programmes.

Justice Sinha said that mediation was the need of the hour and it would help restore faith of the public in the judiciary.

He asked the people to repose trust in the mediation programme which has been successfully implemented in many places.

“Mediation is an age-old tradition in solving problems, but the new process will use scientific techniques. Mediators work as facilitators only trying to bring out all the options available to solve the case,” he said.

Justice Bannurnath, while delivering the inaugural address said that mediation was the brainchild of Justice Sinha and that mediation process has been found to be very quick, taking just 3-4 sessions and 130 minutes on average with a success rate of 60 per cent in cities like Delhi and Bangalore.

“Advocates have a significant part to play in mediation. Besides taking training as mediators, they also will have to accompany the litigants and provide them apt advice,” Justice Bannurnath said. “Both parties end up with a win-win settlement unlike today when lots of money and years are lost in judging a case.”

Industries Minister Elamaram Karim thanked the judges for making mediation a reality in the State’s judicial setup and assured the co-operation of the State government in this initiative. Mr. Karim exhorted more people to make use of the facility, which he said would pave the way for a well functioning judicial system in the country.

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