Med-Arb not merely an idealistic inspiration: Justice BR Gavai at Commonwealth Med-Arb Conference

The hybrid dispute resolution mechanism known as Mediation-Arbitration (Med-Arb) is not just an ideal, but a workable option to resolve disputes through collaboration observed Justice BR Gavai of the Supreme Court recently. .Justice Gavai made the comment during his keynote address at the Commonwealth Med-Arb Conference 2024, hosted by the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC), Hyderabad in collaboration with the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA).“Med-Arb is not merely an idealistic inspiration. It is a pragmatic blueprint for turning adversarial litigation into collaborative problem-solving," Justice Gavai said..Justice Gavai also highlighted the need for institutional alternative dispute resolution to ensure swift access to justice.Encouraging the adoption of modern technology, Justice Gavai appreciated that the dispute resolution space has taken strides in this regard through the adoption of real-time transcription and hybrid hearings to ensure quick and effective justice.Stressing on the need for innovation, Justice Gavai further stated that with the collaboration of the government and the Judiciary, the best of Mediation and Arbitration can be blended to provide the people with the best dispute resolution mechanisms that are not just efficient but also accessible for diverse sections of society..The Conference spotlighted India’s growing prominence in the realm of Med-Arb, a hybrid dispute resolution model. The dignitaries who attended the event also included Chief Minister of Telangana, Anumula Revanth Reddy Garu and Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Justice AHMD Nawaz..Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy congratulated the IAMC Hyderabad and the CLA on organising the conference. He added that he wished to see more conferences like these which can focus on helping the weaker sections of society using ADR mechanisms.The President of CLA, Dr Peter D Maynard KC, called the Med-Arb dispute mechanism as one of the most “innovative methods” to resolve disputes. He added that it is important to ensure that the dialogue between parties is facilitated with empathy and emotional intelligence in order to truly resolve conflicts with ease.Justice Nawaz of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court made an appreciative note of the collaboration between various stakeholders in the legal community, including advocates, the government and the judiciary. Highlighting the phenomenal growth of arbitration, he discussed the importance of having more discourse to further develop the dispute resolution landscape.Chief Justice Alok Aradhe of the Telangana High Court highlighted India’s cultural preference for Med-Arb, emphasizing on how the process bridges mediation’s amicable resolution with arbitration’s enforceable outcomes, thereby offering time and cost efficiencies.The discussions also explored how countries of the Commonwealth can take inspiration from the best practices of other nations to build and develop their frameworks.