FICCI ties up with Delhi agency to promote mediation

NEW DELHI - With crores of rupees locked up in commercial disputes, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Saturday said that it has teamed up with the Delhi Dispute Resolution Society (DDRS) to popularise mediation.

The tie-up is aimed at creating awareness among corporations so that they opt for mediation instead of litigation to ensure speedy resolution of disputes.

At a seminar on “Resolving disputes through mediation: A win-win approach for business”, DDRS chairman and Delhi High Court Judge M.L. Mehta said corporates could incorporate in their partnership or joint venture agreements the clause that in the event of a dispute the matter would be referred to arbitration or mediation.

According to Justice Mehta, at a time when the entire world was looking at India as an investment destination, the only thing holding them back was the fear of protracted litigation and the administration of justice through the courts.

He acknowledged the role of FICCI in propagating the mediation concept.

Mehta said the justice system was clogged due to pending cases and that it would take 320 long years to clear the backlog of cases pending in various courts in the country.

The DDRS is a society of the Delhi government. It is in the process of establishing mediation centres in different parts of the city for settling disputes relating to neighbourhood, family, consumer issues, cheque bounce and government departments.