Gandhinagar, July 5 (IANS) Gujarat High Court’s Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal on Saturday called for greater use of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to strengthen the judicial process and ensure faster disposal of pending cases, while laying the foundation stone for a new judicial and advocates’ complex at Kalol in Gandhinagar district.

The Chief Justice made the remarks during the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of an advanced Taluka Court and Advocates’ Complex, which will be built at a cost of more than Rs 49 crore.

The ceremony was held in the presence of the Minister of State for Law and Justice, Kaushik Vekariya.

Addressing members of the legal fraternity, Justice Agarwal appealed to nearly 450 advocates of the Kalol Bar Association to work with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) so that more lawyers receive specialised mediation training at the High Court level.

“Every taluka should have a fully functional mediation centre to help litigants avoid prolonged court proceedings and resolve disputes through alternative means,” she said.

She emphasised that the new judicial complex would include a dedicated mediation centre along with a filing centre, public facilities, a conference hall, a library and advocates’ chambers.

According to the High Court’s model plan, the project comprises a G+6 main judicial complex and a separate six-storey advocates’ building with parking facilities.

Justice Agarwal said that while modern court infrastructure is important, “true justice lies not merely in grand buildings but in a dynamic and effective judicial system.”

She announced that under a policy decision taken by the Gujarat High Court, every new court building constructed in the state will henceforth include a separate advocates’ building to provide lawyers with adequate and dignified working space.

She also thanked Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Gujarat Law Minister Harsh Sanghavi for extending prompt support to judicial infrastructure proposals submitted by the High Court.

“The government has always given priority and timely approval to infrastructure proposals sent by the High Court, due to which Gujarat today has the best judicial infrastructure in the country,” she said.

Referring to Kalol’s industrial and agricultural significance, Justice Agarwal said: “The town, known for the country’s first urea plant and its contribution to oil extraction, required an equally strong judicial system to support its continued development. The judiciary contributes significantly to economic growth and industrial progress through its judicial decisions.”

Minister Vekariya said the ceremony marked more than the beginning of a construction project, describing it as a reaffirmation of public faith in the judiciary.

“Today we are laying not only the foundation of a new building but also the foundation of the trust that crores of citizens place in one of the strongest pillars of democracy,” he said.

He said the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, remained committed to providing quality infrastructure and public facilities, including within the judicial system.

“The stronger the judiciary, the stronger and more enduring our democracy becomes,” he said.

Vekariya said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has consistently emphasised that justice should be affordable, accessible and delivered in a timely manner to every citizen.

“Just as strong roads bring development, strong judicial institutions create confidence in society,” he said, adding that the new technology-enabled judicial complex and separate advocates’ building would improve the efficiency of court operations.

The minister also praised Justice Agarwal’s efforts to improve access to justice across Gujarat, saying her emphasis on mediation and speedy settlement of disputes had helped address difficulties faced by litigants.

–IANS

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