Mediators play crucial role in justice delivery, says Justice Khazi-OxBig News Network

Karnataka High Court Judge J.M. Khazi addressing legal professionals in Kalaburagi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI

Underlining the importance of meditation and arbitration in quick dispute settlement, Karnataka High Court judge J.M. Khazi referred to many Supreme Court rulings to underline the pivotal role that mediation plays in the delivery of justice.

“We need to encourage the settlement of disputes through mediation and reconciliation process. This is legal and it is gaining more importance these days, especially in family matters and other civil disputes. The mediators must be equipped with adequate legal knowledge and skills and work effectively to settle the disputes in a way that is acceptable to both parties,” she said.

She was addressing a gathering of legal professionals working in Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Yadgir district courts and the Kalaburagi Bench of the High Court at Kalaburagi District Court complex, after inaugurating a two-day training programme for mediators on Saturday.

The event was jointly organised by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, the Karnataka High Court Legal Services Committee and Kalaburagi, Bidar and Yadgir District Legal Services Authorities.

“People are increasingly opting for settling disputes through mediation as it offers quick remedy as compared to relatively lengthy court proceedings. Legal professionals involved in mediation should adhere to the core principles and judicial sanctity while mediating a dispute. They should maintain high standards of values and secrecy in matters involving privacy,” she said.

S.V. Srinath, Kalaburagi District and Sessions judge (provisional) who presided over the inaugural session, appealed to the mediators to focus on settling the disputes in family court. He also suggested that judges identify the cases that could be settled easily and quickly through the mediation process and refer them to the mediators.

“The success of mediation chiefly depends upon the degree of cooperation of parties involved in the case,” he said.

Additional Registrar General of Karnataka High Court’s Kalaburagi Bench Basavaraj Cheganti, Additional Registrar Dayanand V.H, trainer Sreekumar, Brinda Nandakumar, Second Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohan Badagandi, Senior Civil Judge Srinivas Navale and others were present.