Kolkata, January 22:
The 49th International Kolkata Book Fair commenced on January 22 at Central Park, Karunamoyee, Salt Lake, and will continue till February 3. Book lovers from across the city and beyond are thronging the fair, exploring a vast collection of national and international publications.
One of the major attractions this year is the stall of the Calcutta High Court Mediation and Conciliation Committee, located near Gate No. 5 at Stall No. 325. The stall has been witnessing a steady influx of visitors every day, keen to understand the role of mediation in resolving legal disputes.
Through books, leaflets and direct interaction, members of the Mediation Committee are explaining how, under the directions of the Supreme Court, mediation has emerged as an effective mechanism in reducing the burden of pending cases. Visitors are being sensitised about how disputes can be resolved amicably through confidentiality, neutrality and mutual consent.
Mediation Office staff members Mohammad Naushad, Supriya Banik, Suman Das and Sayan Chatterjee are actively distributing informational leaflets and books on mediation to fair-goers, creating awareness about alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
The Mediation Committee functions under the guidance of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Justice Sujoy Paul, with Justice Arijit Banerjee providing leadership and Member Secretary Sudip Banerjee overseeing its operations. The committee remains active throughout the year across the state.
Dr. Subhashis Mukherjee, Registrar (Insolvency) of the Calcutta High Court and Officer-in-Charge of the Mediation Committee, stated, “The committee has been functioning since 2009. Our panel of mediators includes retired Chief Justices, retired judges, former IPS officers, lawyers, architects, journalists and professionals from various fields.”
It is learnt that mediation services are not limited to the Calcutta High Court alone. Across West Bengal, 72 ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Centres are operational, where numerous cases are being resolved through mediation.
According to Dr. Mukherjee, the objective of setting up the stall at the book fair is to spread awareness among the general public about how disputes can be resolved efficiently through mediation, ensuring confidentiality, impartiality and harmony between the parties involved.
