Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday outlined his vision for a “multi-door courthouse,” where courts serve as comprehensive centres for dispute resolution rather than merely venues for trials. Speaking at the inaugural session of the Bar Council of India’s National Conference and Symposium on Mediation in South Goa, he emphasized the need for a greater number of trained mediators at all levels, from district courts to the Supreme Court.

CJI Kant highlighted that mediation, which can help reduce judicial backlogs, is not a sign of legal weakness but represents the law’s highest evolution. “As we look to the future, I envision courts transforming into multi-door courthouses, offering mediation, arbitration, and litigation, depending on the nature of the grievance,” he said. He also acknowledged that certain disputes will still require traditional litigation, but the judicial system should always be prepared to provide fair trials.

Describing mediation as empowering for litigants, the CJI explained that while litigation often examines a failed relationship, mediation acts as a remedy that preserves ongoing connections. He stressed that effective mediation requires understanding the local language, dialect, cultural expressions, and idioms of the parties involved.

Noting the shortage of mediators, he said India currently has 39,000 trained mediators, but over 2,50,000 are needed to implement mediation effectively across all judicial levels. Training mediators, he added, requires attention to temperament, compassion, commitment, and dedication, not just technical skills.

CJI Kant also highlighted the “Mediation for Nation” campaign launched in July, aimed at reducing judicial pendency by resolving disputes including matrimonial, commercial, and motor accident cases. He called its initial results highly encouraging and expressed confidence that expanding mediation at all levels would lead to significant achievements. Reiterating the value of mediation, he said it represents a shift from a culture of adjudication to one of participation, fostering harmony.

The event was attended by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Supreme Court judges including Justices J.K. Maheshwari, P.S. Narasimha, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, N. Kotiswar Singh, Ujjal Bhuyan, Prashant Kumar Mishra, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Justice S. Chandrasekhar, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, and Goa Advocate General Devidas Pangam. It was held at the India International University of Legal Education and Research in South Goa. The CJI participated in a “Mediation Awareness” walk near Kala Academy in Panaji, noting that mediation is increasingly recognized as a cost-effective, win-win solution for dispute resolution.