Serve society by means of Mediation Centres

New Delhi, Jun 15 (UNI) Mediation Centres, established by the Delhi Government, are providing a unique opportunity to people who want to serve the society by way of resolution of those disputes which have been lying in courts for years together.

In this initiative, taken up by Delhi Dispute Resolution Society (DDRS) in the Department of Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs of the Delhi government, not only lawyers are involved but members of various Resident Welfare Associations, retired
officials, bureaucrats, social workers and socially spirited people are also enrolling themselves.

''All respectable citizens can become the mediators by undertaking prescribed training by the DDRS,'' Principal Secretary (Law, Justice and LA) M L Mehta told mediapersons today. He added that interested people could also join the Society in spreading awareness about the programme.

Various non-governmental organisations (NGO) and other organisations which have been dealing in consumer affairs and/or family disputes have also approached the Society to workout mechanism for resolving the pre-litigative disputes, Mr Mehta
informed.

In regards to lawyers, those who have undergone training as prescribed by Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court and have got the certificate of trained mediator, are eligible to become the mediator.

At present, there are three such centres working in three different districts of the national capital located at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Patparganj and IP Estate. Four other centres are coming up at Parliament Street, Rohini, Nand Nagri and Rajpur Road.

In addition, sub-centres will also be set up in public places like hospitals and markets.

The kind of cases enlisted in the rule-book of such centres include neighbourhood issues, family disputes, student issues, commercial complaints and other miscellaneous like human rights, cross-cultural and religious disputes, police, petty crime, disabilities, charitable, among others.

Within last three months, altogether 97 cases have been resolved by these centres, Mr Mehta said.

''Cases that had been lying pending in the courts for more than ten years were resolved at these centres within 45 minutes,'' he added.