Japan hands over Mediation Centers

The ambassador of Japan to Nepal Masamichi Saigo today handed over three mediation centers, one at the Patan High Court, and one each at Lalitpur District Court and Bhaktapur District Court, for the improvement of the efficiency of legal assistance in urban areas.
The Project for the ‘Establishment of Mediation Centers in the urban cities of Nepal’ is funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Government of Japan. The grant assistance amounts to $38,388 (approximately Rs 3.9 million), according to a press note issued by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu.
In the increasingly populated urban cities in Nepal, people sometimes have to wait for several months to receive legal services from the courts, it reads, adding that the mediation centers that have been established next to the courts will offer legal consultations by professional lawyers so that simple civil cases can be solved before going to court. “In this way, both the courts and citizens can find efficient solutions for issues.”
The Nepal Bar Association, established in 1956, has been offering trainings and education related to legal matters, and conducting activities to promote justice and human rights.
The Embassy of Japan hopes that this project will strengthen the bilateral relationship between Japan and Nepal.

Experts suggest private sector settle disputes outside courts

Experts have suggested private sector to settle dispute outside courts to save time, labour and money, whereas private sector will also benefit from commercial mediation.
Commercial entities will benefit from commercial mediation as the conflicting parties do not have to go through court procedures while settling their disputes and save time, labour and money, according to the private sector.
"Commercial entities will benefit from commercial mediation as the conflicting parties do not have to go through court procedures while settling their disputes," FNCCI president Bhawani Rana said addressing an interaction on the importance and challenges of mediation in commerce and the industrial sector organised by Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in Kathmandu today.
"The cost as well as time will be saved if such disputes are settled outside the court,” she said, adding that the event had been organised to raise awareness among stakeholders regarding the importance of commercial mediation.
The Mediation Act came into effect in 2014.
Discussing on a working paper on ‘Commercial Mediation in the field of Commerce and Industry: Its Importance and Challenges’ presented on the occasion, they said that the mediation has become effective in commercial sector.
Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee said that mediation has become practically effective in the commercial sector. "It has been accepted as the latest concept of alternative justice system after 1970s,” he said, adding that  law relating to mediation has been implemented with an aim at solving misunderstandings and conflicts without hampering time, labour and tools. "It has increased people’s access to justice."
Similarly, Justice Anil Kumar Sinha, on the occasion, suggested that the FNCCI proceed with organisational commercial mediation.
A mediation expert Matrika Niraula also said that mediation is very important and effective medium to settle commercial disputes as court procedures are time consuming and very expensive.