India is well-positioned to emerge as an international center for dispute resolution as its economy expands and its legal infrastructure modernizes, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said on Friday. Speaking at the inauguration of the International ADR Conference 2026, the Chief Justice highlighted the country’s growing institutional capacity to manage complex, cross-border commercial disputes.
Statutory Framework and Economic Growth
The Chief Justice noted that the Mediation Act of 2023 established India’s first standalone statutory framework for alternative dispute resolution. Supported by court-annexed mediation centers and sustained judicial support, domestic institutions are increasingly capable of handling cross-border cases with the same confidence and efficiency as established international commercial dispute hubs.
High Settlement Compliance Rates
Highlighting the effectiveness of mediation over traditional litigation and arbitration, Chief Justice Kant pointed to data showing a voluntary compliance rate of up to 90 percent for mediated settlements. He explained that unlike court adjudication, mediation addresses the underlying psychological aspects of conflict by helping disputing parties determine mutually acceptable solutions they can build upon.
Institutional and Technological Shift
The Chief Justice also outlined the evolution of Indian mediation from informal, coercive compromises to a structured, highly professionalized discipline. Today, certified specialists handle commercial, corporate, and family disputes within institutional systems equipped with dedicated case managers, encrypted digital records, and rapid authentication procedures that finalize agreements within hours rather than weeks. Additionally, online dispute resolution platforms now enable parties across different continents to mediate effectively.
Call to Legal Community
The conference was organized by the Maadhyam International Council for Conflict Resolution. Chief Justice Kant urged the legal fraternity to continue strengthening the nation’s alternative dispute resolution framework to help India secure a leading position among global dispute resolution centers.
