Lok Sabha Question No. 2475 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Aditya Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2475 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 13 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION MECHANISMS

## 2475. SHRI ADITYA YADAV:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has assessed the usage and effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including Lok Adalats, mediation Centres and pre-litigation settlement forums in Budaun district of Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the actions taken by the Government to promote dispute resolution through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, reduce the burden of cases on courts and encourage the speedy resolution of disputes at the district level; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a)  to  (c): No such assessment has been carried out by the Government especially with respect to Budaun District of Uttar Pradesh. The Government however continues to promote alternate  dispute  resolution  (ADR)  mechanisms  including  arbitration  and  mediation  in  the country,  as  these  mechanisms  are  less  adversarial  and  are  capable  of  providing  a  better substitute to the conventional methods of resolving disputes. The Government is further taking policy  and  legislative  interventions,  to  strengthen  these  mechanisms  and  make  them  more efficacious and expeditious.

The major initiatives, steps and measures taken by the Central Government over the years in this regard include with respect to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 which has been progressively  amended  in  the  years  2015,  2019  and  2020  to  keep  pace  with  current developments  in  the  arbitration  landscape  and  to  enable  arbitration  as  a  viable  dispute resolution mechanism. The amendments are aimed at ensuring timely conclusion of arbitration

proceedings, neutrality of arbitrators, minimizing judicial intervention in the arbitral process, efficacious enforcement of arbitral awards and promotion of institutional arbitration

The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 was also amended in the year 2018 to provide inter-alia for Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement (PIMS) mechanism. Under this mechanism, where a commercial  dispute  of  specified  value  does  not  contemplate  any  urgent  interim  relief,  the parties have to first exhaust the mandatory remedy of PIMS before approaching the Court. This is aimed at providing an opportunity to the parties to resolve the commercial disputes through mediation.

The  India  International  Arbitration  Centre  Act,  2019,  was  enacted  to  provide  for  the establishment  of  the  India  International Arbitration  Centre  for  the  purpose  of  creating  an independent, autonomous and world class body for facilitating institutional arbitration and to declare  the  Centre  to  be  an  institution  of  national  importance.  The  Centre  has  since  been established and aims to inspire confidence amongst parties, both domestic and international, by  providing  a  neutral  dispute  resolution  platform  for  resolution  of  commercial  disputes through arbitration.

The Mediation Act, 2023, lays down the legislative framework for mediation to be adopted by disputing parties, especially under the aegis of institutional mediation. The Mediation Act, 2023 is also expected to be a pivotal legislative intervention towards providing standalone law on mediation and enabling the growth of a culture of amicable settlement of disputes out of court.

Lok Adalats  are  organised  across  the  country  as  per  the  provisions  of  the  Legal  Services Authorities  Act,  1987  read  with  the  National  Legal  Services  Authority  (Lok  Adalats) Regulations, 2009 for the subject matters as prescribed under the said Act and Regulations in the Courts and Tribunals as defined under Section 2 (aaa) of the said Act.  In Lok Adalats, the disputes  or  cases  pending  in  the  court  or  at  pre-litigation  stage  are  attempted  to  be  settled amicably.  The Lok Adalat has been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act,  1987,  recognizing  its  efficacy  as  an  expeditious,  less  costly  and  speedier  system  of administration of justice.  The award made by Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal lies against the Award before any court.

****