The Union Cabinet on Wednesday voted to make changes to the mediation bill which will make mediation voluntary instead of compulsory.
"The bill, seeking to provide statutory backing to mediation, was sent to parliamentary standing committee on law which had recommended reducing the time limit by half and also making it voluntary for parties."
The Cabinet accepted the recommendations and the amendments will be moved through Parliament.
"The bill has been conceived as a help for unclogging courts reeling under massive pendency of cases by providing an institutional mechanism to promote mediation before a dispute is taken to the court. It will help in resolution of both civil and commercial cases."
The new mediation law once past will provide statutory recognition to mediation and enable a culture of amicable settlement of disputes, out of court
Source: The Times of India 20 July 2023
