The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting need for social distancing measures have exacerbated the existing problem of backlogs in the Indian judicial system. There is a growing understanding that the best path forward is to use technology to transform the dispute resolution ecosystem to adapt to the changing demands of justice.

The JALDI (Justice, Access and Lowering Delays in India) Initiative at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy has released a new paper titled ‘ODR: The Future of Dispute Resolution in India’ which argues that the future of dispute resolution lies in mainstreaming Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in India. It also suggests strengthening alternate dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms in the country as a prerequisite for a robust ODR framework. Further, the paper recommends a phased modular strategy for strengthening ADR and mainstreaming ODR in India.

From the overview:

“In this paper, the broad features of ODR are discussed along with an examination of the present framework and its suitability for ODR. Also mapped are the prerequisites for mainstreaming both court annexed and private ODR in India. The paper also delves into an overview of the principles framework which any ODR platform should satisfy to gain and maintain trust in the system.”

You can read the paper here:
https://vidhilegalpolicy.in/research/the-future-of-dispute-resolution-in-india/