CJI Surya Kant Calls for National Registry of Former Judges for ADR; Backs Mediation as Justice
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant called for a structured national registry of former judges willing to serve in ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) mechanisms. He stated: 'Mediation, Lok Adalats, Arbitration, Conciliation: these are not the back door to justice. For millions of Indians, they are the only door.' The CJI's push comes amid India's pending cases crisis — with over 5 crore cases pending across all courts. India's Mediation Act, 2023 and the Commercial Courts Act have given fresh momentum to out-of-court dispute resolution.
Key Facts & Details
7 points- 1CJI Surya Kant calls for national registry of ex-judges willing to serve in ADR
- 2ADR includes Mediation, Lok Adalats, Arbitration, Conciliation
- 3India has 5+ crore pending cases; ADR is critical for access to justice
Deep Dive
- +India enacted the Mediation Act, 2023 — first standalone mediation law
- +Lok Adalats are statutory bodies under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
- +NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) organizes Lok Adalats nationally
- +India's rank in Ease of Doing Business improves with faster contract enforcement
Exam Focus
Likely MCQ: Lok Adalats are constituted under which Act? → Answer: Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
Related Topics
Exam Relevance & Angle
Polity & Legal: Judicial reforms, ADR, and access to justice in India.
Target Exams
Background & Context
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in India:
- Lok Adalats: Statutory body under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Awards are deemed decrees — binding and non-appealable. Organized by NALSA (National Legal Services Authority). Free of cost.
- Mediation: Neutral third party facilitates negotiation. Governed by Mediation Act, 2023 — India's first standalone mediation law.
- Arbitration: Binding award by arbitrator. Governed by Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (amended 2015, 2019, 2021).
- Conciliation: Non-binding; parties reach voluntary settlement.
Pending cases crisis:
- India has 5+ crore (50 million) cases pending across all courts
- Supreme Court: ~70,000 pending
- High Courts: ~60 lakh
- District/Lower Courts: ~4.4 crore
CJI Surya Kant: Became the 51st Chief Justice of India on November 8, 2024. He is from Himachal Pradesh and is known for landmark judgments on environment, labour, and constitutional law.
Related GK Concepts
Must KnowTest Yourself
1 / 3Lok Adalats in India are constituted under which legislation?
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