The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s Mediation Centre has intensified its focus on amicable dispute resolution, actively promoting the nationwide “Mediation for the Nation” Campaign on and around July 8, 2025. The initiative, spearheaded by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court, is a major push to clear judicial backlogs and offer litigants a faster, less expensive alternative to traditional litigation within the states of Punjab and Haryana.
๐ฏ A 90-Day Drive to Clear Judicial Backlog
The “Mediation for the Nation” Campaign is a high-stakes, 90-day intensive drive running from July to September 2025. The primary goal for the Punjab and Haryana High Court is to aggressively identify and refer pending cases with a high potential for settlement to its Mediation Centre.
The High Court has adopted a proactive strategy, including:
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Case Identification: The period from July 1st to July 31st is dedicated to identifying suitable cases, informing the parties involved, and formally referring them to trained mediators.
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New Cause List Category: Starting July 8th, all eligible casesโranging from matrimonial disputes, accident claims, cheque bounce cases, commercial disputes, and service mattersโare being listed under a new category: “For Referral to the Special Mediation Drive – Mediation ‘For the Nation’ List.”
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Judicial Proactiveness: High Court Judges, including those sitting in Division Benches, are requested to dedicate time to take up these referral matters, demonstrating the judiciary’s commitment to the campaign.
๐ก Why Mediation Matters for Citizens
The campaign emphasizes that mediation is not just a mechanism for the courts to reduce pendency but a superior option for citizens in Haryana and Punjab:
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Speed and Cost: Mediation is significantly faster and less expensive than years of protracted litigation.
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Control and Mutuality: Parties retain control over the outcome, crafting mutually satisfactory and customized agreements that a judge cannot legally impose.
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Relationship Preservation: It is particularly effective in sensitive areas like family and commercial disputes, helping to preserve future relationships.
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Confidentiality: The process is confidential, unlike public courtroom battles, protecting the privacy and reputation of the parties involved.
The concerted effort by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which has a special significance in this nationwide campaign, aims to usher in a new era of access to justice characterized by cooperation and amicable resolution.
