Training for judges: Importance of alternate dispute resolution highlighted
Two-week training initiated at tht Federal Judicial Academy.
Time has come to adopt efficacious alternate dispute resolution techniques so that pending cases may be decided within a reasonable span of time, says Justice Arif.
The importance of alternate dispute resolution was discussed in administration of speedy justice was discussed at the inauguration of a training course for judges.
The time has come to adopt efficacious alternate dispute resolution techniques so that pending cases may be decided within a reasonable span of time stated Supreme Court Justice Khilji Arif Hussain.
He expressed these views at the inaugural ceremony of a one-week training course on “Skill-based Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR), Legal Writing and New Laws” for civill judges and judicial magistrates at the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) on Monday.
Shedding light on the ADR mechanisms, Justice Khilji said, “This new concept of deciding the cases by a way of settlement is very important and it has been very successful in countries such as the UK and Candida but unfortunately, it has not been very successful in Pakistan, perhaps, due to lack of knowledge about the ADR techniques and also, in my personal view, due to cheap litigation.”
Like other countries, there is no cost of litigation with a decree of court, which creates fear among litigants. However, without adopting ADR tactics, it’s impossible for judges to decide cases in a reasonable span of time, he added.
By adopting ADR techniques such as arbitration and mediation, commercial organisations not only save their resources but also keep their relationships intact, he said.
Earlier, FJA Director General Parvaiz Ali Chawla highlighted the objective of the training and importance of the new subjects and laws such as cyber crime and intellectual property rights.
He also spoke about the future prospectus of the academy as a university of Law and Judicial Administration.
Hashim Abro, spokesman for FJA, said that 20 judicial officers from across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir are attending the one-week training at the academy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.