'More meditation centres required to clear judicial backlog'

"We need to set up more mediation centres. There is a need also to make mediation centres an integral part of our legal system," Dikshit said at a function here.

Delhi government had set up eight such centres wherein 4,000 petty cases have been settled in the last two years, she said.

The centres were set up to help parties resolve their disputes amicably, economically and quickly and ease pressure on city courts, which are reeling under the burden of over 12 lakh cases.

Officials said two more centres would be commissioned during this year. The government had set a target of setting up 20 such centres. The centres are being run by Delhi Dispute Resolution Society (DDRS) in collaboration with the Law department of Delhi government.

The function was organised to hand over certificates to 40 trained co-mediators.

The function was attended by Supreme Court Justice M B Lokur and Delhi High Court judge Justice M L Mehta.

Both Justices Lokur and Mehta appreciated the Delhi government for commissioning the mediation centres.

Pre-litigation disputes like employment-related malpractices, problems in workplaces, property cases, cases relating to accidental compensation and dishonour of cheques are taken up by the meditation centres.

Post-litigation cases, including cases of consumer courts, family disputes and land-related cases, are also taken up by such centres.