CJI Surya Kant Launches Book On Mediation Movement In India, Highlights Need To Bridge Gap Between Law And Practice

The book, edited by Prof. (Dr.) Seema Gupta, Professor of Law at the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), Chandigarh University, has been published by Law and Justice Publishing Company. The Chief Justice has also authored the Foreword to the publication.

The publication comprises twenty-four chapters contributed by twenty-six authors, including judges, advocates, senior trainers of the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court, practising mediators and legal academics. It covers a wide range of topics, including the Mediation Act, 2023, pre-litigation and institutional mediation, family and commercial disputes, online dispute resolution, artificial intelligence, and ethical and practical challenges faced in mediation.

Speaking at the launch, Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that while the Mediation Act, 2023 could be read in a single sitting, the practice of mediation required far greater understanding and experience. He noted that the book seeks to bridge this gap by explaining the craft of mediation, including how mediators navigate breakdowns in negotiations and address the human dynamics that are often absent from court pleadings.

The launch comes at a time when more than five crore cases are pending before courts across the country. The Mediation Act, 2023 has provided a statutory framework for mediation, while the Mediation for the Nation Campaign 2.0, led by the MCPC and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) under the leadership of Chief Justice Surya Kant, is currently underway. According to the press release, the first phase of the campaign resulted in the settlement of over one lakh cases nationwide.

In the Preface, Prof. Gupta states that India's longstanding tradition of dialogue and compromise finds a structured and legally recognised expression through mediation. She describes the Mediation Act, 2023 as "a declaration that India is ready to pursue justice through conversation, not only adjudication."

In his Foreword, the Chief Justice writes that "the mediation movement is not a passing phase. It is a fundamental rethinking of how justice is delivered, and this book is a worthy companion on that journey."

Prof. Gupta is a certified mediator affiliated with the MCPC and serves as Faculty Advisor of Madhyastha – The Centre of Excellence in ADR at UILS. This is her third book, following Reproductive Rights of Women in India (2023) and Judicial Dissent – A Jurisprudential Analysis & Contemporary Outlook (2024).