Madhya Pradesh SLSA Conducts State-Level Training For Referral Judges Under 'Mediation For Nation Campaign 2.0'

The Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (MPSLSA) has conducted a State-level Training Programme for Referral Judges in two phases as part of the “Mediation for Nation Campaign 2.0” initiated by the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee of the Supreme Court of India. The programme aimed at strengthening early identification, effective referral and timely disposal of mediation-fit cases.The initiative was undertaken under the leadership of Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh and Patron-in-Chief of MPSLSA, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, and under the guidance of Justice Vivek Rusia, Administrative Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh and Executive Chairman of MPSLSA.The first phase of the programme was conducted on February 14, 2026, for Judicial Officers of the Jabalpur and Bhopal Zones. The second phase was held on February 28, 2026, covering Judicial Officers of the Indore and Gwalior Zones, thereby encompassing the entire District Judiciary of the State.The sessions were conducted in online mode by Giribala Singh, Former Principal District & Sessions Judge and Senior Trainer, Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee. The training focused on strengthening the referral mechanism, emphasizing that timely and well-reasoned referrals increase the likelihood of amicable settlements, reduce adversarial litigation, and conserve judicial time.Judicial officers were sensitized to identify mediation-fit cases at the earliest stage to prevent disputes from becoming prolonged and adversarial.Member Secretary of MPSLSA, Suman Srivastava, informed that during 2025–26, as many as 622 Judicial Officers across the State have undergone 40-hour mediation training programmes. In addition, 285 Community Mediation Volunteers have been trained to facilitate dispute resolution at the grassroots level.She further stated that 45 ADR Centres and 102 Tehsil Mediation Centres are currently operational across Madhya Pradesh. These centres are actively identifying both pre-litigation disputes and pending court cases for referral to mediation to ensure expeditious and amicable settlement.At present, 3,020 mediators—including advocates, retired judges, judicial officers, subject experts and social workers—along with 520 Community Mediation Volunteers are engaged in mediation efforts across the State.The Authority has also associated retired judicial officers and domain experts with the campaign to further strengthen the mediation framework. Additionally, law students were recently introduced to the concepts of mediation and community mediation through an orientation programme aimed at fostering awareness about consensual dispute resolution.Noting the substantial pendency of cases in the State, the Authority emphasized that strengthening the referral mechanism is essential to ensure that mediation serves not merely as an alternative, but as an effective and meaningful pathway for dispute resolution.

Madhya Pradesh SLSA Conducts State-Level Training For Referral Judges Under 'Mediation For Nation Campaign 2.0'

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