Published Paper Details:

India's civil justice system is also plagued by chronic pendency, procedural lags, and the mounting cost of litigation . This article examines how compulsory Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, especially mediation, can transform India's civil justice system. Learning from comparative experiences in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, the paper analyses legislative models, institutional frameworks, and judicial initiatives facilitating compulsory or court-annexed ADR . The research examines Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), the Commercial Courts Act, and the Mediation Act, 2023, against their limitations . Using the comparative analysis, it suggests a reform agenda balancing party autonomy and efficiency, judicial oversight, and setting accreditation standards for mediators. The results indicate that calibrated obligatory ADR has the potential to improve access to justice, decongest courts, and bring India's delivery of justice up to international best practices.