ADR and courts must work together on family disputes: SC judge

Justice Nagarathna, who heads the Supreme Court's Committee for Family Court Matters, said on Saturday that adjudication and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) should complement rather than compete with each other in delivering justice in family cases.

Addressing the inaugural session of a regional conference on ADR and adjudication in family disputes, the judge questioned whether the conference theme itself implied conflict between the two mechanisms. "Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are not meant to supplant courts. Rather, the two should ideally aid in delivery of justice, with ADR mechanisms offering speed, privacy and confidentiality in family matters," she said.

Justice Nagarathna emphasised that while efficiency in dispute resolution is important, it cannot be achieved at the expense of meaningful and just outcomes. The two-day eastern zone regional conference was organised by the Supreme Court's Committee for Family Court Matters in association with the Gauhati High Court.

The remarks underscore the judiciary's evolving approach to family law, where courts increasingly recognise the value of ADR methods such as mediation and conciliation in handling sensitive personal disputes. The judge's comments suggest that rather than viewing courts and ADR mechanisms as competing systems, the Indian legal system should leverage the strengths of both to achieve fairer and more expeditious resolution of family matters.