Mediation centres set up for speedy justice

"Mediation before litigation" is the motto of the Delhi government's fledgling community mediation project. From parking woes to child custody, district mediation centres across Delhi would settle cases without adjourning matters or filing petitions.

"Mediation before litigation" is the motto of the Delhi government's fledgling community mediation project. From parking woes to child custody, district mediation centres across Delhi would settle cases without adjourning matters or filing petitions.

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On Tuesday, Delhi government's law and justice department principal secretary ML Mehta said, "Rather than wasting time at court rooms, people can now visit the nearest mediation centre and seek quicker solutions for their disputes."

Community mediation is a unique project catering to several issues. Cases of cheque bouncing, which form 50 per cent of pending litigations in various district courts, will be resolved at the mediation centre. Cases against government bodies can also be taken up at the mediation centres. The litigants will not be required to engage a lawyer and the mediators will offer a mutually agreed settlement free of cost.

About the mediators, Mehta said, "Respectable society members such as social workers, retired judges and even senior citizens can be appointed mediators."

Nine mediation centres have been set-up across the city so far. "We are training our mediators to resolve long-pending consumer disputes within 30 minutes," said Mehta.

For more information on mediation centres litigants can log on to mediation.delhigovt.nic.in.