{"id":77565,"date":"2025-12-12T17:11:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=77565"},"modified":"2025-12-12T17:11:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:41:32","slug":"mediation-act-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/mediation-act-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Mediation Act 2023, Objectives, Features, Role, and Functions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Mediation Act, 2023 is a key reform aimed at promoting voluntary, time-bound, and cost-effective resolution of civil and commercial disputes in India. It establishes a legal framework for institutional mediation, ensures the enforceability of mediated settlement agreements, and encourages parties to resolve conflicts outside traditional courts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act seeks to reduce the burden on the judiciary and make dispute resolution more efficient, transparent, and accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Mediation Act, 2023 Objectives<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Mediation Act, 2023 was introduced with the purpose of strengthening the culture of alternative dispute resolution in India. Its major objectives include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promote mediation as the first step<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in dispute resolution to reduce unnecessary litigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ensure time-bound mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, generally completing the process within <\/span><b>120 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, extendable by another 60 days.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Provide legal recognition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to mediated settlement agreements, making them legally enforceable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Encourage institutional mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through accredited institutions and the Mediation Council of India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ensure confidentiality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, transparency, and ethical standards during the mediation process.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promote online mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to widen access and reduce costs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Mediation Act, 2023 Features<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Mediation Act, 2023<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> creates a strong and uniform law for mediation in India, making the entire process clear, structured, and easy to use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It makes <\/span><b>pre-litigation mediation mandatory<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for many civil and commercial disputes, so people must try settling the matter before going to court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act sets up the <\/span><b>Mediation Council of India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which will regulate mediators, register mediation institutions, set standards, and promote mediation across the country.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It allows <\/span><b>online mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>community mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>institutional mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, giving people many options to resolve disputes quickly and conveniently.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act ensures <\/span><b>confidentiality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Anything said or shared during mediation cannot be used later in court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mediated Settlement Agreements (MSAs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> now have the <\/span><b>same power as a court order<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making them legally enforceable without delay.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act provides <\/span><b>very limited grounds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for challenging an MSA. Challenges are allowed only for serious issues such as:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fraud<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">corruption<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">impersonation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">coercion<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">major procedural defects<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any challenge to an MSA must be made within a <\/span><b>strict timeline of 90 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can be extended by another <\/span><b>90 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> only if the court finds valid reasons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act gives a <\/span><b>broad definition of mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, bringing different methods like mediation, conciliation, online mediation, and community mediation under one single legal category.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Role and Functions of the Mediation Council of India<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Registers and regulates mediation service providers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as mediation centres and institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Accredits mediators<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and sets standards for their training, qualifications, and professional conduct.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Maintains a national panel\/list of qualified mediators<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ensuring transparency and public access.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Frames rules, regulations, and guidelines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for mediation procedures across the country.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promotes awareness about mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through campaigns, workshops, and educational programs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ensures ethical conduct<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of mediators and addresses complaints or misconduct cases.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Monitors the quality of mediation services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and ensures institutions follow the standards set under the Act.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Develops training modules and certification programs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to improve mediator skills and professionalism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Encourages research and innovation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supports the growth of online mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by issuing guidelines for technology use and digital processes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Disputes Excluded from the Purview of the Mediation Act<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Criminal offences<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that are <\/span><b>non-compoundable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as serious crimes involving violence or major public harm.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Disputes involving minors, persons of unsound mind, or individuals requiring legal guardianship<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where court supervision is necessary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cases affecting the rights of third parties<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who are not part of the mediation process.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tax matters<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including income tax, <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/goods-and-services-tax\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>GST<\/strong><\/a>, customs, and other fiscal disputes connected to government revenue.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Matters involving the sovereign functions of the government<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as defence, foreign affairs, atomic energy, and national security.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public interest issues<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including cases where the outcome affects society at large and cannot be negotiated privately.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Disputes under specific special laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that explicitly prohibit mediation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cases involving allegations of serious fraud<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, fabrications, or actions that require formal court investigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Matters requiring urgent court intervention<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as emergency injunctions or orders to prevent immediate harm.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Any dispute the Central Government notifies as non-mediable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the interest of public order or policy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Challenges and Concerns Related to the Act<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Shortage of trained mediators<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India currently has <\/span><b>fewer than 10,000 professionally trained mediators<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is insufficient for a population of over 140 crore.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rapid expansion of mandatory pre-litigation mediation may face practical hurdles.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Possible delays due to mandatory pre-litigation mediation<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the Act aims for quick resolution, mandatory mediation may add an <\/span><b>extra 120\u2013180 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before parties can approach courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In time-sensitive cases, this may increase, not decrease, delays.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Low awareness and acceptance among citizens<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surveys by <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/niti-aayog\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>NITI Aayog<\/strong><\/a> show that <\/span><b>over 65% of litigants are unaware<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of mediation as an option.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people still prefer court litigation over negotiation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Digital divide affecting online mediation<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around <\/span><b>49% of rural households lack regular internet access<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (NFHS-5 data).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online mediation may become inaccessible for rural and low-income participants.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Implementation capacity varies across states<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">States with limited mediation centres or trained staff may struggle to meet the Act\u2019s requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban areas may benefit more than rural\/remote regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Comparison with Global Mediation Frameworks<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>U.S. Model of Mediation<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The U.S. follows a <\/span><b>highly decentralized<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> mediation system, where each state has its own mediation rules and programs.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>Court-annexed mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is common. Many U.S. courts require parties to attempt mediation before trial.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The U.S. promotes <\/span><b>private mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through trained professionals and specialised mediation firms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mediation is widely used in <\/span><b>family disputes, workplace conflicts, commercial matters, and community cases<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The system encourages settlement by allowing courts to <\/span><b>penalize parties who refuse mediation without valid reasons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>U.K. Model of Mediation<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The U.K. strongly encourages mediation as part of its civil justice system, especially after the <\/span><b>Woolf Reforms (1999)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Courts can impose <\/span><b>cost penalties<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on parties who refuse to consider mediation during disputes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The U.K. uses <\/span><b>Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for family cases, making pre-mediation consultation mandatory.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a mature network of <\/span><b>accredited mediators<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> regulated by bodies like the Civil Mediation Council.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mediation is promoted by the government as an effective way to reduce litigation pressure on courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Businesses widely use mediation for commercial disputes, supported by trusted institutions like <\/span><b>CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Singapore Model of Mediation<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Singapore is considered a <\/span><b>global leader<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in mediation due to its strong legal framework and international focus.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The country has established world-class institutions like the <\/span><b>Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Singapore offers a <\/span><b>hybrid dispute resolution model<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, combining mediation with arbitration (called <\/span><b>Arb-Med-Arb model<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), used widely in commercial disputes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Singapore Convention on Mediation (2019)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> allows international mediated settlements to be enforced across signatory countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mediation is supported by efficient court processes, including <\/span><b>mandatory mediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for certain cases.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Impact of the Mediation Act on Indian Judicial System<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Reduces Court Backlog<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has over 4.4 crore pending cases (National Judicial Data Grid, 2025).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diverting civil and commercial disputes to mediation can significantly lighten the load on courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Faster Resolution of Disputes<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mediation is time-bound: 120 days, extendable by 60 days.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides quicker settlements compared to traditional litigation, which can take 5\u201310 years in some courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Cost-Effective Justice<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoids high court fees and lengthy lawyer expenses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beneficial for individuals and MSMEs, making justice more affordable.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Enhances Commercial Confidence<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confidential and speedy dispute resolution strengthens business relationships.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supports India\u2019s ease of doing business rankings by providing a reliable ADR mechanism.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Promotes Collaborative Culture and ADR<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourages amicable settlements rather than adversarial litigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helps preserve family, community, and business relationships while reducing dependence on courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mediation Act, 2023 promotes time-bound, affordable dispute resolution in India with enforceable settlements, mandatory pre-litigation mediation, and a strong legal framework.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":77612,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[4174],"class_list":{"0":"post-77565","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-mediation-act","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77565"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77565\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}