Kathmandu, April 29

Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana said mediation should be encouraged as it helps create a just and peaceful society.

Addressing the inaugural programme of second national conference of mediators here today, CJ Rana said mediation should be encouraged as it facilitates resolution of disputes in a short time without requiring the parties to spend much resources to get justice.

“If people are sensitised about the mediation process before they file their cases in the court, that would help increase people’s access to justice, besides ensuring their ownership of the process,” he added.

Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bhanubhakta Dhakal said mediation, which was an alternative way of settling disputes, could be more effective mainly because the verdicts delivered through regular court procedures were not being executed in time. Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration Lalbabu Pandit said if cases were settled through mediation that would help courts reduce their workload.

Chair of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Bhawani Rana said there was need of collaboration between the judiciary and the corporate sector to promote mediation for settling corporate cases.

Chairperson of Mediation Council Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada said mediation could be more effective if people were sensitised about its significance before they filed cases in the court. He added that there was a need to enhance ability and skills of mediators in order to make their role effective in settling cases through mediation.

A total of 153 participants, including coordinators of local judicial committees, community mediators and court appointed mediators, are participating in the programme.