Jaipur Declaration Adopted At Commonwealth Peace Mediation Conference; RSLSA Launches 'Nyayayan' Digital Judicial Initiative
The Jaipur Declaration on Peace Mediation 2026, reaffirming mediation as a cornerstone of peace, justice and the rule of law across Commonwealth jurisdictions, was adopted at the conclusion of the Three-Day Commonwealth Peace Mediation Conference 2026 held in Jaipur from July 31 to August 2. The conference also witnessed the launch of "Nyayayan – The Digital Way of Justice," a digital initiative of the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA) aimed at enabling paperless functioning across courts in the State.
The conference was organised by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA) under the aegis of the Rajasthan High Court in collaboration with the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and NIVAARAN (Mediators of the Supreme Court of India). It brought together judicial leaders, constitutional authorities, policymakers, senior advocates, mediators, academicians and legal professionals from India and across the Commonwealth to deliberate on the theme "Peace Mediation and the Rule of Law." The event was conceptualised under the leadership of Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and Executive Chairman of RSLSA, while Hari Om Attri, Member Secretary, RSLSA, coordinated its planning and execution.
The inaugural session on July 31 was attended by Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India, as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries included Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister of Rajasthan; Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Vishnoi, Judges of the Supreme Court of India; Justice Abha Nayar Patel, Judge, Supreme Court of Zambia; Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Law and Justice; R. Venkataramani, Attorney General for India; Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India; Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma; Vikas Singh, President, Supreme Court Bar Association; and Aruneshwar Gupta, Vice President, NIVAARAN. International delegates also included Justice A.H.M. Dilip Nawaz, Judge, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, and Justice Vasheist Kokaram, Judge, Court of Appeal of The Bahamas.
Welcoming the gathering, Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma highlighted Rajasthan's mediation initiatives, including Samadhaan Samaroh, Mediation for the Nation, Mediation for the Nation 2.0, and the 40-Hour Mediation Training Programme for Former High Court Judges, stating that mediation should become an integral component of the justice delivery system through dialogue, reduced litigation and timely, affordable justice. The inaugural ceremony also featured the release of "Death of My Mistress 'The Law', Birth of My Love 'Justice'", authored by Aruneshwar Gupta, and the presentation of the Centenary Commemorative Volume of Justice Dwarka Prasad Gupta.
Delivering the keynote address, Justice Surya Kant said mediation is not merely an alternative dispute resolution mechanism but a philosophy founded on dialogue, empathy, trust and consensus. He observed that the future of justice lies in strengthening consensual dispute resolution while preserving relationships and promoting social harmony.
The second day featured working sessions on mediation in family disputes, criminal justice, commerce, workplace conflicts, and infrastructure and public projects. Justice Surya Kant emphasised that mediation should become the preferred approach to dispute resolution rather than a remedy of last resort. Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma reiterated RSLSA's commitment to institutionalising mediation through capacity building, technological innovation and international collaboration.
The conference concluded on August 2 with a valedictory ceremony attended by Justice Vikram Nath, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority, as the Chief Guest. Other speakers included Justice Vasheist Kokaram, Justice Abha Nayar Patel, Justice A.H.M. Dilip Nawaz, Princess Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and R. Santhanakrishnan, Life President, NIVAARAN. They highlighted mediation's role in strengthening democratic institutions, promoting international cooperation and ensuring accessible, people-centric justice.
A key highlight of the valedictory session was the launch of "Nyayayan – The Digital Way of Justice" by Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. According to RSLSA, the software will facilitate paperless functioning across 36 Negotiable Instruments Act Courts and 12 Commercial Courts, covering 1,495 courts and 1,517 judicial officers across Rajasthan. Justice Sharma also acknowledged the efforts of Hari Om Attri and the RSLSA team in organising the international conference.
The conference culminated in the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration on Peace Mediation 2026, which draws inspiration from the Charter of the United Nations, the Commonwealth Charter and India's Mediation Act, 2023. The declaration recognises mediation as a structured, human-centric process capable of addressing the root causes of disputes, reducing judicial backlog, strengthening access to justice and fostering social cohesion. It also calls for greater institutional support for mediation, capacity building, international cooperation and integration of mediation into justice systems as a preferred mode of dispute resolution.
The conference concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Hari Om Attri, Member Secretary, RSLSA. According to the organisers, the event marked a significant milestone in the global mediation movement and reinforced Rajasthan's position at the forefront of mediation-led judicial reforms. The successful organisation of the conference was credited to Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Hari Om Attri and the RSLSA team, including Ramesh Kumar Joshi, Grishma Sharma, Suman Saharan, Mahendra Pratap Beniwal, Himanshu Kumawat, Meghna Vyas and Komal Motyar.