Special mediation drive begins, over 1k cases referred already

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, July 16, 2025

Tripura State Legal Services Authority Member Secretary Jhuma Datta Choudhury on Tuesday asserted that the 90-day special mediation drive has been launched in the state keeping parity with the National Legal Services Authority. So far, over 1,000 cases had been referred to nine mediation centres set up across the state, she said.

Briefing the media on Tuesday, Choudhury said the initiative, which began on July 1, is part of a national campaign launched by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Supreme Court’s Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee to reduce the backlog of court cases through amicable settlement.

“In Tripura, we have issued notifications urging courts to refer eligible cases—such as matrimonial disputes, motor accident claims, consumer complaints, business conflicts, inheritance issues, debt recovery and eviction matters—to mediation centres. As of July 15, more than a thousand such cases have already been sent for mediation,” she informed.

Highlighting the distinct nature of mediation, Choudhury explained that the process is voluntary, confidential, and non-binding unless a mutual agreement is reached. “Mediators facilitate dialogue and help disputing parties reach a consensus. They don’t pass orders like judges. The settlement is entirely based on mutual agreement,” she added.

In a significant shift, Tripura has expanded the pool of mediators beyond legal professionals. “For the first time, community leaders, religious figures, and individuals from various fields have been trained in mediation. A special 40-hour training programme was conducted to equip them with the required skills,” Choudhury said.

Tripura now has over 200 trained mediators, with 75 individuals receiving certification in April this year alone. The special mediation drive will continue until the end of September 30, 2025.

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