CJI BR Gavai stressed that mediation and dialogue can turn conflicts into opportunities for growth and harmony, citing the importance of the Mediation Act, 2023. Speaking at the National Mediation Conference in Bhubaneswar, he underlined the role of mediation in reducing case pendency and building trust in justice delivery.
Bhubaneswar: Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Saturday highlighted the importance of mediation in resolving disputes and building harmony in society. Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day National Mediation Conference in Bhubaneswar, he stressed that dialogue and communication can convert disagreements into cooperation and help restore peace.
CJI Gavai reminded the audience that mediation has been a part of different cultures for centuries, and it has now received official recognition through the Mediation Act, 2023.
He said,
“I would like to say that it is not the mere existence of a quarrel or disagreement that disturbs our peace, but the refusal to listen, empathise, and make a genuine effort to resolve it. Conflict, when approached constructively, can become an opportunity for growth and understanding.”
According to him, the Mediation Act ensures that justice remains participatory, equitable, and accessible. It also plays a significant role in reducing the large number of pending cases before Indian courts, giving citizens faster and more effective solutions.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Odisha Governor Haribabu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Harish Kumar Tandon, and Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant.
Inaugurating the conference, Governor Haribabu Kambhampati underlined the larger purpose of mediation.
He said,
“Mediation is not only about resolving disputes but also about building trust, preserving relationships, and creating social harmony.”
He further described mediation as an age-old practice that creates lasting peace, adding,
“Mediation is a timeless practice rooted in dialogue and consensus, bridging divides, healing relationships, and providing fair and lasting solutions.”
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi spoke about Odisha’s commitment to judicial reforms and alternative methods of dispute resolution. He said that this conference would help strengthen the role of mediation in India’s justice system.
According to him,
“The conference will further consolidate efforts to make mediation a cornerstone of India’s justice delivery system, thereby ensuring efficiency, inclusiveness, and trust in the legal process.”
He also stressed,
“He emphasised the need for quick implementation of the recommendations emerging from the conference.”
Justice Harish Kumar Tandon, the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, said that Odisha has already taken concrete steps to expand mediation services in the state, making the system more accessible to the common people.
Justice Surya Kant, who chairs the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, drew a connection between traditional community-based dispute resolution and the new legislation.
He said,
“Our elders once gathered beneath the banyan tree to resolve disputes in pursuit of restored harmony. The Mediation Act of 2023 carries that spirit into our time.”
He further explained the difference between litigation and mediation by saying,
“If trials deliver verdicts, mediation delivers futures, and the true measure of justice will lie not in cases decided, but in the peace it creates.”
The National Mediation Conference in Bhubaneswar is being seen as a major step towards making mediation a central pillar of India’s justice delivery mechanism.
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