Mediation Act 2023 · Community mediation

Section 43 · Community mediation

43. (1) Any dispute likely to affect peace, harmony and tranquillity amongst the residents or families of any area or locality may be settled through community mediation with prior mutual consent of the parties to the dispute.

(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), any of the parties shall make an application before the concerned Authority constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 or District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate in areas where no such Authority has been constituted, for referring the dispute to mediation.

(3) In order to facilitate settlement of a dispute for which an application has been received under sub-section (2), the concerned Authority constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 or the District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate, as the case may be, shall constitute panel of three community mediators.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the Authority or District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, as the case may be, shall notify a permanent panel of community mediators, which may be revised from time to time.

(5) The following persons may be included in the panel referred to in sub-section (4)—

(a) person of standing and integrity who are respectable in the community;

(b) any local person whose contribution to the society has been recognised;

(c) representative of area or resident welfare associations;

(d) person having experience in the field of mediation; and

(e) any other person deemed appropriate.

(6) While making panel referred to in sub-section (4) the representation of women or any other class or category of persons may be considered.

Mediation Act, 2023 — original Gazette · 15 September 2023; assent 14 September 2023 · Source PDF pages: 15

Section 44 · Procedure for community mediation

44. (1) Any community mediation shall be conducted by the panel of three community mediators referred to in sub-section (3) of section 43 who shall devise suitable procedure for the purpose of resolving the dispute.

(2) The community mediators shall endeavour to resolve disputes through community mediation and provide assistance to parties for resolving disputes amicably.

(3) In every case where a settlement agreement is arrived at through community mediation under this Act, the same may be reduced into writing with the signature of the parties and authenticated by the community mediators, a copy of which be provided to the parties and in cases where no settlement agreement is arrived at, a non-settlement report may be submitted by the community mediators to the Authority or the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, as the case may be, and to the parties.

(4) Any settlement agreement arrived at under this Chapter shall be for the purpose of maintaining the peace, harmony and tranquillity amongst the residents or families of any area or locality but shall not be enforceable as a judgment or decree of a civil court.

(5) The provisions of section 20 shall, mutatis mutandis apply, in relation to the registration of mediated settlement agreement under this section.

Mediation Act, 2023 — original Gazette · 15 September 2023; assent 14 September 2023 · Source PDF pages: 15, 16