Context:
The increasing burden of pending cases on the Indian judiciary has not only affected institutional efficiency but also made access to justice challenging for ordinary citizens. In this backdrop, the “Mediation for Nation” campaign, starting from 1st July 2025, is a commendable initiative aimed at resolving pending cases swiftly and amicably through mediation. The campaign will run till 30th September 2025 and is being jointly implemented by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC).

Objectives of the Campaign

The core objective of this campaign is to identify suitable pending cases in courts and guide them towards resolution through mediation. The initiative will be implemented from the lower courts to the High Courts across the country. A key aspect of the campaign is to build public trust in mediation as an effective, speedy, cost-efficient, and reliable legal mechanism.

Types of Cases Covered

Under this campaign, categories of cases eligible for mediation include:

• Matrimonial disputes
• Accident claims
• Domestic violence
• Cheque bounce cases
• Commercial disputes
• Service and consumer disputes
• Debt recovery
• Property disputes
• Eviction matters
• Land acquisition cases
  ...and other suitable civil matters.

Significance of the Campaign

1.       Governance and Judicial Reforms: This campaign promotes the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, which enhances transparency and efficiency within the judicial system and helps reduce case backlogs.

2.      Social Impact: Citizens, especially from rural and weaker sections, will benefit from faster, respectful, and affordable dispute resolution.

3.      Policy Relevance: The initiative sends a clear message to policymakers about the need to strengthen parallel dispute resolution mechanisms like mediation alongside traditional courts.

Why Is This Campaign Needed?

India's judicial processes are often slow, technical, and expensive, causing delays of several years in delivering justice. According to the India Justice Report 2025:

• Over 3 crore cases are pending in lower courts
• Around 60 lakh in High Courts
• More than 70,000 in the Supreme Court

Additionally, resolving minor disputes — such as family, property, or service-related issues — can result in high financial and emotional stress. Mediation offers a dialogue-based, affordable, and less stressful alternative for dispute resolution.

Constitutional Relevance

Article 39A of the Indian Constitution emphasizes equal and accessible justice for all. For people in rural areas and marginalized communities, mediation serves as a powerful tool to obtain justice in a cost-effective, timely, and dignified manner.

Conclusion

The “Mediation for Nation” campaign is a practical, humane, and justice-oriented approach that strengthens India’s legal system. It not only helps reduce the burden on courts but also ensures timely, participatory, and respectful justice for all citizens.