Draft bill to provide speedy mediation, conciliation in pending arbitration cases approved in J-K

The Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday approved a draft bill that seeks to provide for speedy mediation and conciliation in pending arbitration matters before the court.

The draft 'Jammu and Kashmir Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018' was approved at a meeting of the state administrative council chaired by Governor Satya Pal Malik here.

The Bill seeks to provide for speedy disposal of the arbitration matters and for providing mediation and conciliation in pending arbitration matters before the court, an official spokesman said.

There is no provision in the Jammu & Kashmir Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1997 for mediation or conciliation during pendency of petitions under section 9 or section 11 of the Act or during the proceedings for setting aside of award or pendency of appeal, he said.

"New sections are being inserted to refer the pending matters to mediation or conciliation with the consent of both the parties and prescribing time-limits in arbitration proceedings. This will be an alternate way of dispute resolution and will speed up the conciliation and arbitration proceedings," the spokesman added.