Shahi Masjid in Public Gardens to host a mediation centre
The Shahi Masjid in Public Gardens, which witnesses hundreds of the devout each day engaged in prayer and contemplation, will soon host a mediation centre in a bid to provide accessible dispute resolution services to the public.
'The initiative is supported by the Telangana State Legal Services Authority (TSLSA). The idea is to give free and impartial mediation for disputes to people, irrespective of the faith to which they belong,' Shahi Masjid Khateeb Maulana Ahsan bin Mohammed al-Hamoomi told The Hindu.
Ifadah Community Mediation Centre, as it will be known, will be inaugurated on this Saturday.
Explaining the genesis of the idea, Maulana Hamoomi said that a conversation with a police officer brought to his attention several issues families and individuals were grappling with. 'On one side of the masjid, not too far away, is the criminal court. On the other is the Central Crime Station. A policeman once came to me and said how lives were being ruined because of petty disputes. That is how the idea came about. The Centre will follow the Mediation Act, 2023,' he said, adding that timely guidance of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority has been sought, which includes training sessions.
The Shahi Masjid, also hosts a legal cell that began in 2018. Manned by two experienced lawyers, services here were initiated so as to offer second opinions on legal matters and help people resolve disputes outside the courtroom. Advice to hundreds of beneficiaries were given, Maulana Hamoomi said.
The Ifadah Community Mediation Centre, he explained, will follow all rules, and regulations. He clarified that the facility would not function as a Darul Qaza. Per stipulations, utmost confidentiality would be maintained, and services would be given free of charge, he said. The Centre will have its doors open on all working days, with dedicated mediation and conciliation sessions scheduled for every Saturday.
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The Hindu
23-05-2025
- The Hindu
Shahi Masjid in Public Gardens to host a mediation centre
The Shahi Masjid in Public Gardens, which witnesses hundreds of the devout each day engaged in prayer and contemplation, will soon host a mediation centre in a bid to provide accessible dispute resolution services to the public. 'The initiative is supported by the Telangana State Legal Services Authority (TSLSA). The idea is to give free and impartial mediation for disputes to people, irrespective of the faith to which they belong,' Shahi Masjid Khateeb Maulana Ahsan bin Mohammed al-Hamoomi told The Hindu. Ifadah Community Mediation Centre, as it will be known, will be inaugurated on this Saturday. Explaining the genesis of the idea, Maulana Hamoomi said that a conversation with a police officer brought to his attention several issues families and individuals were grappling with. 'On one side of the masjid, not too far away, is the criminal court. On the other is the Central Crime Station. A policeman once came to me and said how lives were being ruined because of petty disputes. That is how the idea came about. The Centre will follow the Mediation Act, 2023,' he said, adding that timely guidance of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority has been sought, which includes training sessions. The Shahi Masjid, also hosts a legal cell that began in 2018. Manned by two experienced lawyers, services here were initiated so as to offer second opinions on legal matters and help people resolve disputes outside the courtroom. Advice to hundreds of beneficiaries were given, Maulana Hamoomi said. The Ifadah Community Mediation Centre, he explained, will follow all rules, and regulations. He clarified that the facility would not function as a Darul Qaza. Per stipulations, utmost confidentiality would be maintained, and services would be given free of charge, he said. The Centre will have its doors open on all working days, with dedicated mediation and conciliation sessions scheduled for every Saturday.
India Gazette
10-05-2025
- India Gazette
Justice Manmohan calls for agile legal framework to support trade, tech and trust
New Delhi [India], May 10 (ANI): The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), in collaboration with the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) and the Indian National Association of Legal Professionals (INALP), on Saturday successfully hosted the International Legal Conference 2025 on the theme 'India's Legal and Regulatory Framework: Navigating International Trade Opportunities.' The conference brought together leading voices from the legal, policy, regulatory, and corporate sectors. The event was attended by Justice Manmohan, Judge of Supreme Court, as Chief Guest. Speaking at the inaugural session, Justice Manmohan said, 'At times, the complexities of international law and the constantly shifting regulatory environment can feel like navigating through a storm--unpredictable, fast-changing, and demanding sharp legal foresight. Today's global challenges--from cross-border intellectual property enforcement to fintech innovation, data privacy, cybersecurity, and the rise of artificial intelligence--require legal systems to be far more agile, interoperable, and forward-thinking. Yet even amid this turbulence, our constitutional values provide a steady vessel, and the rule of law remains our most reliable compass.' He further added, 'India's judiciary is committed to ensuring that the legal framework evolves in step with technological transformation and global trade dynamics. Initiatives like the e-Courts project and the Mediation Act represent a conscious shift toward greater efficiency, accessibility, and adaptability in the justice delivery system. By fostering legal innovation while preserving fairness and predictability, we can enable a regulatory ecosystem that not only upholds justice but also empowers sustainable economic growth in an interconnected world.'. Presenting the introductory remarks, Dr Lalit Bhasin, Chairperson- Conference and President, SILF said, 'The Conference has been organised by Services Export Promotion Council to explore avenues of exporting India's legal services overseas and also to welcome more collaboration and cooperation with the foreign legal fraternity. The Conference has explored India's evolving legal frameworks and their impact on international business, focusing on sectors such as Energy, Technology, Finance and Infrastructure. Experts have also discussed how to integrate ESG into the business model. Presentations were also made on the most topical issue today regarding Techno-Legal Regulations: AI, Data Privacy and Cybersecurity.' He further added, 'The Dispute Resolution mechanism in India, which is far from satisfactory, was also discussed and the recent steps taken by the Government of India to promote mediation were welcomed. It was also felt that there is an immediate need to liberalise India's legal market by deleting stringent conditions regarding advertising, etc.' Prominent dignitaries present at the conference included Dr Anju Rathi Rana, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice, Dr. Lalit Bhasin, Chairperson- Conference and President, SILF; Dr Upasana Arora, Vice President, SEPC; Dr. Shardul S Shroff, Founder and Executive Chairman, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. and senior representatives from the Bar, Bench, top law firms, academia, industry, and regulatory bodies. The conference also paid tribute to the brave personnel of the Indian Armed Forces and offered heartfelt homage to those who lost their lives in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Against the backdrop of heightened cross-border tensions, participants stood in solidarity with the families of the fallen and reaffirmed their collective commitment to the principles of justice, national unity, and the rule of law. (ANI)
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Time of India
Courtrooms have winners & losers, but mediation's healing: CJI
NEW DELHI: CJI Sanjiv Khanna on Saturday said courtroom adjudication is grim and shallow, as it results in a winner and a loser - a process that fails to heal strained relationships between parties. He contrasted this with mediation, which, he said, seeks to provide a holistic solution that restores relationships. Speaking at the first National Mediation Conference inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu, CJI Khanna said ' community mediation ' provision in the Mediation Act, 2023 is salutary as this can be an effective tool to resolve disputes that are likely to affect peace, harmony and tranquility among residents or families in a specific area or locality. "This is an important step forward," he said. Justice Khanna said unfortunately mediation, which is ingrained in our civilisational history, is not mainstreamed and not first choice of parties to a dispute even though modern mediation tools can provide solution to litigants, which is unavailable in courtrooms. "In courtroom adjudication, one party is right, the other is wrong. In this way, courtroom litigation and adjudication are grim and shallow. At times, the root cause remains unaddressed, and the ailment and pain remain. The relationships are strained, if not broken. There is a winner, there is a loser," he said. In contrast, mediation seeks to identify and remedy the root cause with a process that delves deeper into the issue, the cause of the misunderstanding between the parties and attempts a holistic solution without getting mired in legal procedures to restore the relationship between parties, he added. "Because process is voluntary and participatory, solution reached is less traumatic, more humane and acceptable," Justice Khanna said, adding that between 2016 and early 2025, a staggering 7,57,173 cases were settled using mediation. Comparing the courtroom justice delivery mechanism and the mediation crafted resolution, CJI Khanna said while a judge attempts to find whois at fault among the litigants who advance their case through argumentative lawyers, a mediator goes beyond the binaries and attempts to resolve misunderstandings, which is often the mother of most litigations. He said, "Mediation offers space by undoing complexity. It does not involve legal and procedural complexities. It is flexible and personalised, not bound by rigid procedure. And above all, it is empathetic - aiming not to win over the other side, but to bring together." Mediator's neutrality is crucial to achieve resolution of a dispute, said Justrice Khanna, adding that "a skilled mediator senses not only what is being said, but what lies beneath the words."
