President Droupadi Murmu has emphasised that the dispute resolution mechanism under the Mediation Act should be effectively extended to rural areas so that the Panchayats are legally empowered to mediate and resolve the conflicts in villages. The president said that social harmony in villages is an essential prerequisite for making the nation strong. The President made these remarks at the launch of the Mediation Association of India and the inauguration of the 1st National Mediation Conference 2025 at Bharat Mandapam.

The president said that mediation is an essential part of the delivery of justice, which is at the heart of the Constitution of India. She added that mediation can speed up the delivery of justice, not only in the specific case under consideration but also in other cases by reducing the burden on courts of a large number of litigations. The president mentioned that it can make the overall judicial system much more efficient and also enhance both the ease of doing business and the ease of living. The president remarked that mediation, when we see it this way, becomes a key instrument to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The president said that mediation fosters dialogue, understanding and collaboration.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, said that over the last two decades, mediation has played a critical role in resolving disputes. He informed that between 2016 and early 2025, over seven lakh 57 thousand cases were settled through mediation. He said, despite this achievement, mediation is yet to reach homes and villages, as it is still at the periphery.

Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the central government has implemented Mediation 2023, through which a dedicated and structured ecosystem was put in place for the resolution of disputes through mediation.

The conference was also attended by Supreme Court Judge, Justice B.R. Gavai and Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani, among others.

The Mediation Association of India (MAI) is a pioneering national institution established to support India’s transition toward a mediation-centric culture. It serves as a platform to unify mediators, legal professionals, institutions, and communities under a shared vision of collaborative conflict resolution.