Rajasthan Strengthens ADR Framework With 40-Hour Mediation Training For Permanent Lok Adalat Chairpersons And Members
Rajasthan took a decisive stride toward advancing its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) framework today with the launch of an intensive 40-Hour Mediation Training Programme at the Rajasthan State Judicial Academy (RSJA), Jodhpur.Organised by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA) under the guidance and visionary stewardship of Mr. Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Acting...
Rajasthan took a decisive stride toward advancing its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) framework today with the launch of an intensive 40-Hour Mediation Training Programme at the Rajasthan State Judicial Academy (RSJA), Jodhpur.
Organised by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA) under the guidance and visionary stewardship of Mr. Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Acting Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court and Executive Chairman, RSLSA, and held under the aegis of the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC), New Delhi, the programme forms a key part of the State's broader judicial reform agenda aimed at strengthening accessible, informal, and efficient justice delivery.
Inauguration by Judicial Dignitaries
The programme was formally inaugurated by Dr. Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, Chairman, RSJA and Chairman, Rajasthan High Court Legal Services Committee (RHCLSC), Jodhpur.
The ceremony was held in the august presence of:
• Mr. Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur, Co-Chairman, RSJA, Jodhpur
• Mr. Justice Inderjeet Singh, Chairman, RHCLSC, Jaipur
The dignitaries highlighted the rapidly expanding role of mediation in India's justice system. They observed that Permanent Lok Adalats (PLAs) have emerged as indispensable mechanisms for reducing pendency, minimising adversarial litigation, expanding access to justice, and delivering swift, affordable, and equitable outcomes, particularly in disputes involving public utility services that directly affect daily life.
Strategic Vision and Address by Member Secretary, RSLSA
Addressing the participants, Mr. Hari Om Attri, Member Secretary, RSLSA, outlined the conceptual basis and practical significance of mediation within the PLA framework. He highlighted the Authority's emphasis on a people-centric, efficiency-driven dispute resolution model that ensures citizens are not burdened by procedural complexities or prolonged litigation.
He also detailed the significance of RSLSA's State-wide 90-Day Special Drive, launched on 10 November 2025, aimed at resolving grievances relating to public utility services through PLAs across all districts of Rajasthan.
As part of this campaign:
• Public utility grievances are being actively invited for PLA resolution
• A dedicated WhatsApp helpline “9119365734” has been launched for direct submission of complaints
• The initiative has already begun receiving encouraging responses from citizens and institutions alike
This drive reflects a systemic commitment to delivering prompt and accessible justice at the pre-litigation stage.
The Hybrid Nature of PLAs and Essential Qualities of Mediators
A central theme of the programme is reinforcing the unique hybrid mandate of Permanent Lok Adalats — to first attempt conciliation and, only if that fails, proceed to adjudicate the dispute on merits.
This dual role requires PLA Chairpersons and Members to possess:
• Legal expertise
• A conciliatory and balanced temperament
• Emotional intelligence
• Neutrality and ethical diligence
• Deep understanding of human behaviour and interpersonal dynamics
Given the increasingly complex socio-economic nature of contemporary disputes, these qualities enable PLA officers to guide parties with fairness, dignity, and clarity.
Expert Faculty and Advanced Training Structure
To ensure a high-quality learning experience, RSLSA has engaged an expert panel of senior trainers, including:
• Mr. Neeraj Bhardwaj, District Judge
• Advocate Mr. K. K. Makhija
• Advocate Ms. Poonam Mehndiratta
• Advocate Ms. Pramila Acharya
Their wide-ranging expertise ensures participants receive doctrinal depth alongside practical insights into negotiation, communication, psychology of conflict, and structured mediation techniques.
The 40-hour programme integrates:
• Theory
• Interactive group exercises
• Simulation-based learning
• Reflective practice
• Real-case modelling
This blended approach is designed to build competence, confidence, and sensitivity among PLA members.
Enriched Curriculum for Contemporary Needs
Recognising evolving dispute landscapes, RSLSA has expanded the curriculum to include:
· Community Mediation
Promoting grassroots harmony and early-stage conflict resolution.
· Pre-Institution Mediation
Reducing court burdens by facilitating settlements before cases are filed.
· Advanced Simulations of Public Utility Disputes
Based on real-life issues relating to:
• electricity
• water supply
• transport
• telecommunications
These modules ensure PLA members are equipped to handle disputes that directly affect everyday life and require swift, practical solutions.
A Transformative Step Towards Accessible Justice
This training programme—launched in parallel with a State-wide special drive—reflects RSLSA's mission to promote a culture of dialogue-based dispute resolution and strengthen institutional capacity across Rajasthan.
By equipping Permanent Lok Adalats with enhanced mediation skills, behavioural insight, and procedural clarity, the initiative is poised to:
• improve dispute disposal rates
• reduce adversarial litigation
• strengthen trust in justice institutions
• enhance accessibility and citizen empowerment
In doing so, the Rajasthan judiciary continues to reaffirm its commitment to innovation, reform, and excellence, positioning the State as a national leader in ADR development and judicial training.