Indian Institute of Arbitration and Conciliation Celebrates National ODR Day

Mahesh Dhoundiyal - Delhi

"Redefining ADR: New Opportunities for Justice and Innovation"

Event Overview

On 1 December 2024, National ODR Day 2024 was organized by the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Conciliation (IIAM) at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The event was anchored by Mr. Anil Xavier (President, IIAM) and Ms. Iram Majid (Director, IIAM). The National ODR Day conference brought together legal experts, ADR practitioners, scholars and industry leaders to discuss the changing landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in India and globally.

Inaugural Session

The conference commenced with the lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest, Shri Justice Surya Kant (Judge, Supreme Court of India), Shri Chetan Sharma (ASG), Shri Rajiv Mani (Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice), Shri Anil Xavier (President, IIAM) and Ms Iram Majid (Director, IIAM). Several initiatives were officially launched at the conference, including PeaceGate (an online dispute resolution platform), Mediators Council of India, Gateway to Justice Project (G2J) and India International Centre for Advanced ADR Research (IICAAR). Also, PeaceGate, an online dispute resolution platform, was showcased.

Launch of several key initiatives

The conference saw the official launch of several key initiatives:

PEACEGATE: An AI-powered online dispute resolution (ODR) platform, which provides tools for negotiation, mediation and arbitration. The live demo showcased its innovative features such as the AI ??assistant called “Peegee” which guides users towards resolution.

MEDIATORS COUNCIL OF INDIA:

A platform that brings together mediators under one professional body to foster a strong mediation culture.

Gateway to Justice (G2J): An initiative to transform law schools into justice delivery centres, providing students with practical training and experience in ADR.

India International Centre for Advanced ADR Research (IICAAR): Dedicated to promoting research in ADR and shaping global best practices.

Panel Discussion

Panel 1: Reforms in Mediation – Measures to Enhance Efficiency and Effectiveness

Hon’ble Shri Justice K.V. Vishwanathan (Chairman) initiated the panel discussion and took the topic forward in an interesting manner. Other prominent personalities such as Mr. Tejas Karya (Partner and Head of Arbitration, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas), Mr. Siddharth Sethi (AOR, Supreme Court of India), Mr. Amit George (Advocate, Delhi High Court), Mr. Mohit Dubey (Deputy Director, Ministry of Defence), and Ms. Iram Majid (Moderator) deliberated on the reforms required to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of arbitration in India.

Their discussion included an in-depth analysis on the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the recent CORE judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of India. The discussion also focused on the need to accelerate the arbitration process using technology and the need for robust frameworks to ensure fairness and neutrality.

Panel 2: Mediation as a Tool for Social Justice – How the Mediation Act and Global Standards are Empowering Communities

This session explained the role of the “Arbitration Act, 2023” and the relevance of arbitration in India. The discussion was led by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anish Dayal (Judge, Delhi High Court) (Chairman). Other eminent speakers included Mr. J.P. Sengh (Senior Advocate, Delhi High Court & Arbitrator), Mr. Avneet Singh Arora (Director, Ministry of Law & Justice), Mr. Ajit Mishra (Arbitrator & General Manager, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd.), Ms. Manini Brar (Independent Practitioner/Arbitrator, Abridge Chambers), and Ms. Iram Majid (Director, IIAM) (Moderator).

The speakers took the discussion forward and emphasized that mediation cannot be limited to family matters only but its scope should be expanded to include other disputes such as industrial contracts, property contracts, intellectual property, etc. The speakers also shared effective examples of resolving disputes through mediation and its role in promoting social harmony.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing Ceremony

A significant milestone was the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Central Law College Salem, Alliance School of Law, Lloyd Law College, School of Law Manav Rachna University, GD Goenka University and School of Law Christ (Deemed to be University) Pune under the Gateway to Justice initiative. The project aims to transform law schools into centres of accessible dispute resolution, as well as provide students with practical experience of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practices.

PeaceGate Demo

Finally, Mr. Anil Xavier gave a live demonstration of PeaceGate, an AI-powered online dispute resolution (ODR) platform that provides tools for negotiation, mediation and arbitration. The live demo showcased its innovative features, such as an AI assistant called “Peegee” that guides users through resolution methods. ODR Day 2024 marked an important milestone in redefining the future of dispute resolution in India. With the launch of innovative initiatives, it demonstrated its commitment to promoting innovation and use of technology in ADR and ODR practices.