PRESENTATION OF PROJECT SOHARTHM TO CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA AND PANCHAYATI RAJ MINISTER Date : 17-07-2007
Project Soharthm (Social Harmony through Mediation) conceived by Legal Assistance Forum (LAF) aims for ensuring social harmony in neighborhoods by using the simple mode of mediation/ conciliation for dispute resolution. It is a project to empower, educate, train and motivate members of the local self governing bodies (Panchayat and Municipality) in dispute resolution through mediation and conciliation within existing legal framework, either without or with minimum involvement of the Courts. This can be achieved by educating, training and guiding members of these self governing bodies.
Project Soharthm was presented to Hon’ble Mr. Justice K G Balakrishanan, Chief Justice of India and Mr. Mani Shankar Iyer, Minister for Panchayati Raj, Government of India in a special meeting convened for this purpose by a visual presentation. In the presentation Mr. Justice A.R. Lakshmanan, Chairman, Law Commission of India, Hon'ble Dr. Justice Shivraj V. Patil, Member, National Human Rights Commission, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Madan B. Lokur, Judge, Delhi High Court, Mrs. Meenakshi Dutta Gosh, Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Panchayatiraj, Mr. Kamlesh Kumar, Secretary, National Legal Services Authority were also present. All the dignitaries viewed the presentation with interest and gave suggestions.
Hon'ble Chief Justice of India was of the view that the Project needs to be implemented on priority basis through out the country as apart from brining social harmony, it would also reduce work load on Courts.
The Hon'ble Minister for Panchayatiraj also expressed similar views and stated his Ministry is already considering a proposal for Nyaya Panchayat at village level under which the panchayat members would have powers of dispute resolution of minor disputes. The Minister said that the present project fits into the said proposal and assured support to the project on trial basis in one district of 3 States.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.R. Lakshmanan remembered his interaction with the panchayath representatives during the inaugural session of the pilot project at Dehradun and noted that the enthusiastic response received from them during the pilot project was quite inspiring. He hoped that Project Sohathm will transform into a national level system for ADR with the aid of the Panchayatiraj Ministry and the able guidance of the Chief Justice.
Hon'ble Dr. Justice Shivraj V. Patil, who announced the project for the first time in the 2nd Annual all India seminar of Legal Assistance Forum, expressed his happiness over the successful launching of the pilot project and the presentation. He said the project is progressing in the right direction with the coordinated effort of the members of the Forum.
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Madan B. Lokur opined that the project is an innovative effort in the direction of addressing the issue of pendency of cases in the courts by reducing the institution of new cases.
Mrs. Meenakshi Dutta Gosh, Secretary, Pachayati Raj Ministry extended all possible support of the ministry to the Forum in streamlining the project as per the requirement of each regional unit.
The Forum’s team comprised of Shri Vijay Hansaria, President, Mr.P.I.Jose, Secretary, Mr.K.S.Bhati, Treasurer, Ms Ritu Bhardwaj, Mr. Jagdev, Mr. Rakesh Bhatnagar, Mr.Anupam Mishra, Ms Sneha Kalita and Mr. Jayesh K.U., Members, Executive Committee, LAF.
The Forum has accordingly submitted a proposal to the Panchayati Raj Ministry for implementation of the project in Ernakulam District of State of Kerala. The project has already been forwarded by the National Legal Services Authority to the Government of India for implementation through out the country.
