Today President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the National Judicial Conference on Mediation and Information Technology organised by the High Court of Gujarat at Kevadia, Gujarat.
Highlights of speech of President at Kevadia
Among many objectives of the switch to ICT, the topmost has to be the improvement of access to justice. What we are aiming at is not change for sake of change, but change for sake of a better world.
In South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi had a highly successful career, but he preferred the way of mediation above all. The first time he succeeded in bringing two parties to resolve their dispute, he felt “boundless joy”.
All stakeholders have recognised mediation as an effective tool for dispute resolution and encouraged it. As several legal luminaries have observed, most of the cases pending in the courts between individuals in respect to civil rights are such that they do not need adjudication.
I used to practise at the Delhi High Court and later at the Supreme Court, and during those years, one of the issues that occupied my mind was ‘access to justice’. I wondered how access to justice can be improved for all. It has remained one of the issues close to my heart.
I am glad that this deliberation is going to take place at a site that commemorates the life and work of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the greatest sons of India.
Union law minister Kiren Rijiju, Gujarat chef minister Bhupendra patel , Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat were present on the dias among other dignitaries.
