ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION FOR EFFICIENT JUSTICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN INDIA

Abstract

The Indian judicial system faces a significant backlog of cases and slow delivery of justice due to a lack of infrastructure and inadequate staff. As a response to this challenge, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) approaches such as arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and Lok Adalats have emerged as an imperative mechanism of dispute resolution. ADR provides a non-adversarial and cost-effective approach to resolving disputes outside of traditional court proceedings. The main objective of ADR is to expedite the process of resolution and to maintain positive relationships between parties. ADR fosters a culture of dispute resolution that is timely, efficient, and fair, thereby reducing the burden on the traditional court system. This paper highlights the need for a new mechanism of dispute resolution in India and discusses the historical background and advantages of ADR compared to traditional court proceedings. The paper concludes by emphasizing the benefits of ADR in alleviating the backlog of cases and re-establishing the trust of people in the justice system.