Supreme Court Judge Justice Vikram Nath Inaugurates Upgraded Model Mediation Centre At Allahabad High Court

In a moment of institutional significance, the 7th Floor of the Mediation & Conciliation Centre at the Administrative Annexe Building of the Allahabad High Court was inaugurated by Justice Vikram Nath, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Chairman of the Mediation & Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC), on February 27, 2026.

From its inception in a single room, the Mediation Centre steadily expanded to 6, then 14, and ultimately 21 cubicles, before the demands of justice outgrew its confines.

With foresight, the Mediation Committee relocated the Centre to the 6th and 7th floors of the Administrative Annexe Building. The new 2,420 sq. mt. facility features 44 fully air-conditioned cubicles (including 10 equipped with video conferencing facilities), display systems for day-to-day cause lists, a fully automated office with digital payment modes for deposits and withdrawals, a creche, and dedicated signage.

This expansion makes it the largest, fully equipped Mediation Centre of its kind, creating a pleasant, dignified, and capacious space dedicated to amicable resolution.

As of February 26, 2026, the total number of references registered at the Centre stands at 59,339, of which 58,026 cases have been concluded. In 34,836 cases, both parties appeared and participated in the mediation proceedings, resulting in 12,784 successful settlements. For cases where both parties actively participated, the success rate is a notable 36.69%.

In the first stage of the 'Mediation for the Nation' campaign, 1,942 cases were registered, and 1,666 have been concluded. In this campaign, both parties participated in 1,152 cases, of which 294 were successfully settled. 'Mediation for the Nation 2.0' is currently ongoing, with 773 references already registered. Presently, 258 trained mediators are providing their services to the Centre, making every effort to settle disputes amicably.

The inauguration event was addressed by Chief Guest Justice Vikram Nath; Chief Justice Arun Bhansali; Justice Shekhar B Saraf, Chairman of the Committee for Mediation and Conciliation Centre at Allahabad; and Justice Piyush Agrawal, Member of the Committee, in the presence of esteemed Judges of the Allahabad High Court.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, Senior Judge of the Allahabad High Court and Executive Chairman of UPSLSA.

Justice Shekhar B Saraf, while welcoming the Chief Guest and the Judges of the Allahabad High Court, expressed his gratitude for their presence. He highlighted the urgent need for expanded space due to the increasing number of references.

Justice Saraf emphasised the attribute of approachability, demonstrated by Justice Vikram Nath, Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, and Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi. needs to be imbibed by the Mediation Centre. Litigants, he noted, must feel assured that their disputes can be resolved efficiently and quickly.

Justice Saraf further thanked the Committee members, especially Justice Saurabh Srivastava, for their relentless and painstaking efforts in making the event a success.

Justice Piyush Agrawal provided a brief introduction to mediation, highlighting the need to expand its scope at the ground level. He emphasised the role of pre-litigation desks, where parties have the opportunity to rethink their decisions before entering into formal litigation.

In his address, Chief Justice Arun Bhansali recalled Mahatma Gandhi's teaching that a true measure of justice is not how many cases are decided, but how many disputes are resolved with dignity. Referring to the Centre's data, he stated that these are not merely statistics; they represent families reunited, businesses preserved, and social harmony restored.

CJ Bhansali also highlighted the Centre's unique practices, such as co-mediation and interim settlements for matrimonial and financial disputes, affirming that the Centre is capable of working efficiently, transparently, and sensitively.

Underscoring the importance of mediation, he quoted the sarcastic legal adage: 'Mukadme me harne wala to mar jata hai, jeetne wala adhmara ho jata hai (In a lawsuit, the loser dies, and the winner is left half-dead).

CJ Bhansali traced the humble beginnings of the Centre in 2006 with just two cubicles, marvelling at how it grew by leaps and bounds over two decades to reach its current 44-cubicle setup.

He praised the ongoing 'Mediation for the Nation' campaigns and stressed the need to train more advocates as mediators and conduct awareness programs at the district level.

Chief Guest Justice Vikram Nath strongly recommended an increase in referring eligible cases to mediation. He urged that cases where parties reach a settlement should be officially decided by the courts at the earliest. Appreciating the Centre's upgraded infrastructure and integration of modern technology, Justice Nath also drew attention to the need for a uniform solution regarding interest rates in insurance and motor accident claim cases.

Emphasising the 'Mediation for the Nation 2.0' drive, Justice Nath urged the Judges of the High Court to refer more cases of various natures to the Centre, expressing hope that bilateral talks and trained mediators would lead to mutual understanding.

Sharing real-life examples, he concluded that even the most routine and complex cases can culminate in affirmative resolutions.

The function concluded with a vote of thanks by Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, who expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, the Committee members, and all attending dignitaries.

The programme was compered by Justice Nand Prabha Shukla, Judge of the Allahabad High Court and Member of the Mediation Committee. The event was attended by all the Judges of the Allahabad High Court, including Justice Saurabh Srivastava.