Govt filing more cases is sign of governance deficit: Judge

Pointing out that the government filing large number of cases is a sign of governance deficit; a senior Supreme Court judge said mediation should be regarded as the best method to reduce the backlog in courts.

“Mediation is a great national service to the cause of justice,” said Justice T S Thakur, delivering the keynote address at the Asia-Pacific International Mediation summit.

“It spares the judiciary from insignificant cases and focus on those matters which impact the lives of people in the country,” he said, adding that mediation can galvanise the entire justice system, which is cost effective and a great service if developed effectively.

Justice Thakur said alternative dispute resolution mechanism is the need of the hour, considering the rate at which the country’s population is growing and its emergence as a big marketplace. 

He said filing of cases will only increase given the greater literacy rates and the need to enforce rights of people, coupled with the explosion of opportunities.