Jaipur, July 31 (IANS) Rajasthan has emerged as one of India’s leading states in promoting mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, with the state ranking second in the country in resolving cases through mediation, Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma said on Friday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Commonwealth Peace Mediation and Rule of Law Conference (CPMC-2026) in Jaipur, Justice Sharma added that the vision of the Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant is to make mediation an instrument for strengthening social harmony, trust in institutions, and accessible justice.
“A modern legal system should not merely deliver justice but also ensure that the most marginalised sections of society are able to participate in the justice delivery process,” he said.
The three-day international conference was inaugurated by Supreme Court Judge Justice Surya Kant at The Lalit Hotel in Jaipur in the presence of delegates from 52 Commonwealth nations.
The conference, organised jointly by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA), Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), and Nivaaran, will continue until August 2.
The conference has brought together judges, attorneys general, senior advocates, mediators, academicians and policymakers from across the Commonwealth to discuss how mediation can make justice systems faster, more effective and people-centric.
Among those present at the inaugural session were Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani, Commonwealth Lawyers Association President Steven Thiru, Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh, and several judges from India and abroad.
Addressing the gathering, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said India’s legal and cultural traditions have always placed dialogue before confrontation.
“We have always attempted settlement before conflict,” he said, citing the examples of Lord Rama, who sent Angad as a peace envoy before the battle in the Ramayana, and Lord Krishna, who sought reconciliation with the Kauravas before the Mahabharata war.
“These examples also teach us that mediation succeeds only when both sides are willing to listen. If one party refuses dialogue, even the greatest efforts cannot prevent conflict,” he added.
Hari Om Attri, Member Secretary of the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority, said mediation offers a practical solution to India’s mounting judicial backlog.
“Cases that may take years to conclude in courts can often be resolved within a few months through mediation,” he said, adding that the mechanism not only reduces litigation but also preserves relationships between disputing parties.
A book titled “Death of My Mistress—The Law; Birth of My Love—Justice”, authored by Supreme Court Senior Advocate Aruneshwar Gupta, was released during the inaugural session.
Gupta is also Vice-President of the Resolution Institute.
The conference has attracted judges and legal experts from across the Commonwealth, including Justice Abha Nair Patel of the Supreme Court of Zambia, Justice A.H.M. Nawaz of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, and Justice Vasishth V. Kokaram of the Bahamas Court of Appeal.
Legal experts and jurists from Singapore, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Kenya, Eswatini, and the Maldives, among others, are also participating in the deliberations.
The conference will conclude with the adoption of the Jaipur Peace Mediation Declaration, which is expected to lay down common principles on mediation, conflict resolution, and the rule of law for Commonwealth nations.
The declaration is being viewed as a landmark document that could guide judicial cooperation and mediation policies across member countries in the years ahead.
Organisers said the conference is not only an opportunity for India to learn from global experiences but also to showcase Rajasthan’s success in resolving thousands of disputes through mediation, making the state a model for alternative dispute resolution within the country.
–IANS
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