Jabalpur, June 22, 2026: In a significant step towards strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms and promoting mediation as a preferred mode of dispute settlement, the Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (MPSLSA) and Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday and jointly launched a three-month Certificate Course titled “Mediation: Transforming Conflict into Consensus.”
The programme was inaugurated by Justice Vivek Rusia, Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The event was also attended by Justice Anand Pathak and Justice Vivek Agarwal, Judges of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Addressing the gathering, Justice Vivek Rusia highlighted the transformative role of mediation in reducing litigation and empowering citizens to resolve disputes through dialogue and consensus. He described the initiative as an important step towards integrating mediation into legal education and everyday dispute resolution.
Justice Anand Pathak emphasized the human-centric nature of mediation, observing that it preserves relationships and dignity while offering a more humane and sustainable path to justice than adversarial litigation. Justice Vivek Agarwal encouraged legal professionals to adopt mediation as a first resort for conflict resolution and stressed the need to cultivate a culture of consensual dispute settlement.
Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellor of DNLU, reiterated the University’s commitment to imparting practical ADR skills to students and professionals. He expressed confidence that the programme would contribute to the development of a skilled pool of mediators capable of serving courts, institutions, and communities.
Earlier, Ms. Suman Shrivastava, Member Secretary, MPSLSA, welcomed the dignitaries and participants and underscored the importance of mediation in making justice more participatory, accessible, and citizen-centric.
The MoU was formally signed by Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha and Ms. Suman Shrivastava in the presence of distinguished guests. The agreement establishes a collaborative framework for promoting mediation as an effective and community-oriented mechanism for peaceful dispute resolution.
A notable feature of the event was the presentation of “Canvas of Consensus,” a collection of paintings on mediation created by law interns of MPSLSA, symbolising harmony, dialogue, and reconciliation.
The newly launched Certificate Course has received formal recognition from the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court of India. The programme comprises 240 hours of training over three months, including theoretical instruction, practical simulations, role-play exercises, and field exposure to mediation proceedings.
The curriculum covers key areas such as the Mediation Act, 2023, psychology of conflict, communication and negotiation skills, and professional ethics. Participants will also undergo a 40-hour specialised mediation training programme conducted by MCPC Trainers and Senior Trainers deputed by the Supreme Court’s Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee.
The course will be offered in a blended mode combining online and offline learning, ensuring wider accessibility. It is proposed to be conducted three times annually, with the inaugural batch scheduled to commence in August 2026.
The programme is open to advocates, judicial officers, law students, social workers, NGOs, public servants, administrative officers, and other interested individuals. Upon successful completion, participants may become eligible for empanelment with legal services institutions and contribute to mediation proceedings, thereby supporting efforts to reduce case pendency and promote amicable settlement of disputes.
Among those present at the event were Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellor, DNLU; Shri Dharmindar Singh, Registrar General, High Court of Madhya Pradesh; Shri Krishnamurthy Mishra, Principal District & Sessions Judge, Jabalpur; Shri Umesh Pandav, Director, MP State Judicial Academy; officers of MPSLSA, faculty members of DNLU, District Legal Aid Officers, and law interns. Judicial officers, legal aid functionaries, and stakeholders from across Madhya Pradesh joined the programme virtually.
The session was conducted by Shri Aniruddha Jain, Deputy Secretary, MPSLSA, while Dr. Praveen Tripathi, Registrar, DNLU, delivered the vote of thanks.
The programme was also live-streamed on YouTube, enabling participation by Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) and stakeholders associated with District Legal Services Authorities throughout the State.
Both MPSLSA and DNLU expressed confidence that the collaboration and the Certificate Course would play a significant role in strengthening the culture of mediation, enhancing access to justice, and developing a cadre of trained mediation professionals across Madhya Pradesh and beyond.