Initiatives Underway for Establishing Mediation Council: MoS Law Arjun Ram Meghwal
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Synopsis
The Government is making progress toward establishing the Mediation Council of India, aiming to institutionalize mediation practices in the country. Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, highlighted the role of the council in recognizing mediation service providers and fostering a culture of amicable dispute resolution.
Key Takeaways
- Mediation Council of India to be established.
- Framework for institutional mediation in place.
- Collaboration with High Courts and National Legal Services Authority.
- Focus on amicable dispute resolution.
- Legal provisions of Mediation Act, 2023 notified.
New Delhi, March 20 (NationPress) The Government is actively working on establishing the Mediation Council of India to create a structured framework for the practice of mediation across the nation, as informed in Parliament on Thursday.
Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Minister of State for Law and Justice, mentioned during a Rajya Sabha session that the proposed Council aims to set the guidelines for recognizing mediation service providers in accordance with sub-section 2 of Section 40 of the Mediation Act, 2023.
This Act provides a legal framework for mediation processes that disputing parties may adopt, particularly focusing on institutional mediation. Various stakeholders have been identified to foster a strong and efficient mediation ecosystem.
The MoS noted that certain provisions of the Mediation Act, 2023 have been officially announced via a gazette notification dated October 9, 2023, as stipulated under section 1(3) of the Act.
Describing the Act as a crucial legislative measure to establish a dedicated law on mediation, the MoS added that the Government is collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including High Courts and the National Legal Services Authority, to enhance awareness and facilitate the institutionalization of the mediation framework.
The Government is dedicated to fostering a culture of amicable dispute resolution outside the courtroom, ensuring that the outcomes are driven by the parties involved, he stated in response to a question from Akhilesh Prasad Singh.
In addressing another inquiry from Ashok Kumar Mittal, MoS Meghwal referenced a Supreme Court ruling as a basis for the Government's stance on the disenfranchisement of undertrial prisoners.
He explained during the Rajya Sabha session, “The Supreme Court in Anukul Chandra Pradhan vs Union of India and Others (AIR 1997 SC 2814) affirmed the legality of sub-section (5) of section 62 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibits a person from voting in any election if they are confined in a prison, regardless of the nature of their confinement.”
