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.
Test Yourself
1 / 3Lok Adalats in India are constituted under which legislation?
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