CJI cautions judges agnst forcing parties for mediation

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Saturday cautioned the judges against imposing their views on parties to settle their disputes through mediation or Lok Adalat.

Discussing the strategy of reducing pendency of litigations, the CJI said, “I may add a caution, that never impose your views on mediation or settlement in Lok Adalat and judicial settlement. We should never send a wrong message.”

“I would like to say - be enthusiastic but never be obsessed. Perseverance and enthusiasm are to be distinguished from obsession with an idea,” he added.

Delivering his valedictory address in a national conference here on ‘Initiatives to Reduce Pendency And Delays in Judicial System’, he said the court congestion and delays do require a modern and progressive approach where every judge takes the burden of judicial leadership and managerial skills of his court and the cases before him.

“That will help the system in promptitude and I am certain, we will see the effective results,” he said.

The discussions in conference ranged from the concept of 'case and court management system’, ‘methods of promoting 'Alternative Dispute Resolution’, ‘greater use of technology to endeavour to plug the gaps in justice delivery’ by taking immediate appropriate measures of identifying the cases which need urgent attention and quick disposal.