Tamil Nadu lags behind in alternative dispute resolution: Panel chief Justice V Dhanapalan

MADURAI: Though Tamil Nadu was a pioneer in establishing mediation and conciliation centres, Lok Adalat and arbitration system, it ranked 17th in settling cases through them, according to Justice V Dhanapalan, Chairman of the Mediation and Conciliation Centre here.

Inaugurating an advanced training programme for Mediators and Awareness Programme for Judicial Officers, he said states like Karnataka, Gujarat and Delhi were ahead of Tamil Nadu in settling issues out of court.

Throughout the country about 12 crore cases were pending in various courts and only the alternative solutions to the long drawn legal battles would reduce the numbers.

There were huge vacancies that was also responsible for increasing number of cases pending in various courts.

For example there were 300 vacancies in various high courts in the country and 2,000 vacancies in subordinate courts in Tamil Nadu. That was the main reason why the courts were interested in promoting mediation and conciliation, he said.