Alternate Dispute Resolution Practice
Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) refers to a range of methods that can be used to resolve disputes outside of the traditional court system. These methods are used to resolve disputes in a more cost-effective, efficient and timely manner, and can include mediation, arbitration, negotiation, and conciliation.
Mediation involves the use of a neutral third party to facilitate discussions and negotiations between parties in conflict. Mediation is less formal than other methods and is often used to resolve disputes involving family or workplace conflicts.
Arbitration involves a neutral third party who acts as a judge and makes a binding decision on the case after hearing evidence and arguments from both parties. This method is often used in commercial disputes.
Negotiation is a process where parties in conflict come to an agreement without the involvement of a neutral third party. Negotiation can be done informally or through lawyers.
Conciliation is similar to mediation but involves a third party who actively intervenes to resolve the dispute. Conciliation can be used in disputes that are more complex and involve multiple parties.
ADR offers a viable alternative to the traditional court system and can be used in situations where parties are willing to engage in a collaborative process to resolve their disputes. These methods are often faster, less adversarial, and less expensive than going to court.
Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a mechanism that provides an alternative or supplementary way of resolving disputes outside the traditional court process. It is mainly used to resolve disputes or conflicts with the help of a neutral third party, without resorting to the formal court system. ADR includes various methods like mediation, conciliation, arbitration, negotiation, and statutory tribunals.
In India, ADR has gained immense popularity in recent years due to the increasing burden of pending cases and the high cost and time involved in resolving disputes through the formal court system. The Indian Parliament has enacted several laws such as the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which facilitate ADR methods for resolving disputes.
The Indian judiciary has also shown support for ADR methods by mandating mediation in certain disputes, constituting statutory tribunals for specific disputes, and encouraging parties to resort to ADR methods before initiating formal court proceedings. The Supreme Court of India has also made efforts to promote ADR by establishing the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee and recommending the introduction of a pre-litigation mediation process in certain cases.
ADR has several advantages over traditional court proceedings, including faster resolution of disputes, lower costs, greater flexibility, confidentiality, and the possibility of maintaining existing relationships between parties. It also promotes the party's autonomy and decision-making power.
However, ADR methods may not be suitable for all types of disputes, and some parties might prefer to resolve disputes through the formal court system. Therefore, ADR methods should be used as an alternative option to resolve disputes and not as a replacement for traditional court proceedings.