JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Under the patronage of Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Arun Palli, the Mediation and Conciliation Committee (MCC) of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh today inaugurated three day training programme ‘Conduct of Mediation- Advanced Course (Capsule Course), Training of Trainers Programme’, simultaneously at Jammu and Srinagar campuses of J&K Judicial Academy (JKJA).
The course is being held in collaboration with Jammu & Kashmir Judicial Academy and J&K Legal Services Authority and is scheduled from December 29 to 31, 2025. This 20-hour advanced mediation training course is aimed at enhancing the skills of mediators across the union territory.
At the Jammu campus, the inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Director J&K Judicial Academy, Naseer Ahmad Dar, who highlighted the growing importance of mediation in strengthening the justice delivery system. He emphasized that advanced and practice-oriented mediation training plays a crucial role in equipping mediators with the skills required for effective conflict resolution. During his address, the Director also introduced the resource person and welcomed participants to the three-day programme.
At the Srinagar campus, the programme opened with a welcome address by Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Srinagar, Tabasum Qadir Parray, who underscored the relevance of mediation training in enhancing dispute resolution mechanisms. She encouraged participants to actively engage with the course content and practical exercises. The inaugural session at Srinagar was also attended by Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Anantnag, Mir Sayeem Qayoom.
The inaugural day featured Rita Das Mouzumdar, Advocate, Gauhati High Court, Assam, as the Resource Person at the Srinagar Campus, and Suman Sharma, Advocate, Gauhati High Court, Assam, along with Balbir Kour, Advocate, Punjab & Haryana High Court, as the Resource Persons at the Jammu Campus. All the Resource Persons are accredited Mediation Trainers with the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court of India.
As per the course curriculum, the first day included structured theoretical and practical modules focusing on advanced mediation concepts.
Session I dealt with Understanding Conflict and Conflict Resolution, covering the perception of conflict, causes of disputes, and resolution mechanisms. This session included a Role Play Exercise followed by group discussion and reflection.
Session II focused on Mediation, including its definition, components, and the role of the mediator, with emphasis on core mediation principles. Session III addressed Conduct of Mediation, covering joint sessions, individual sessions, techniques to break deadlocks, and methods of closing mediation proceedings. The session provided participants with a comprehensive, start-to- finish overview of the mediation process. The sessions combined lectures, role-plays, and interactive discussions, enabling participants to apply theoretical principles to practical mediation scenarios.
The three-day advanced course aims to deepen participants’ understanding of mediation processes, enhance practical skills, and strengthen the capacity of trained mediators across the Union Territory.
Across both centres, participants appreciated the hands-on, simulation-based approach, noting that the structured role-plays offered practical clarity on how mediation tools can be integrated into everyday work. The simultaneous conduct of the programme at Jammu and Srinagar reflects the on-going efforts of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh to broaden mediation awareness and strengthen ADR capacity across the Union Territory.