Manipur’s first E/online mediation held

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 14: The Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority organised the State’s first E/online mediation today at the office of MASLSA, ADR Centre, Lamphelpat.
Golmei Gaiphulshillu, co-ordinator, Mediation Centre/Member Secretary, MASLSA conducted the said E/online mediation through Cisco Webex Platform.
In today’s E/online mediation, one case of the Family Court, Manipur was put up. After the matter was thoroughly discussed with the parties, the next date of sitting is fixed on October 16.
The E/online mediation is organized with the aim to generate awareness to the public regarding this new approach to settle disputes through online mechanism and other electronic means. The concept of online mediation has been necessitated due to various restrictions in the normal functioning of all the institutions in the country due to COVID-19 pandemic, Golmei said.
Introduction of online mediation will give new momentum to disposal of cases through mediation in India. However, the crucial challenge lies in popularizing the idea of online mediation at the grass-root level. It is thus requested to the media to give wider dissemination of the concept of online mediation as well as availability of legal services and Legal Services Institutions in general so that access to justice is enabled for all, she said.
It may be mentioned here that India’s first five days online 20 hrs refresher course on mediation for 21 Advocate Mediators of Manipur was successfully conducted by Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) in collaboration with Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee, Supreme Court of India (MCPC).