On his final day donning the Chief Justice’s robe, Sanjiv Khanna didn’t just sign off with goodbyes—he left behind a blueprint for a more humane and digitally connected justice system. Inside the quiet corridors of the Supreme Court Administrative Complex, a new chapter unfolded: a cutting-edge mediation center, complete with virtual access and a room specially crafted for children navigating the tremors of legal disputes.
Gathered around him were his fellow justices—Surya Kant, Prashant Mishra, Abhay S. Oka, B.R. Gavai, and N.K. Singh—marking not just an inauguration, but a shift in how the highest court sees conflict resolution. The new facility, housed under the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), makes it possible for parties from far-flung towns or those confined by circumstance to engage in mediation from wherever they are, thanks to seamless virtual access.
But this isn’t just about wires and Wi-Fi. Tucked within the space is something rare for any legal institution: a dedicated children’s room. Designed with care, it offers a haven for minors swept into family disputes—because in the eyes of this justice model, the emotional landscape matters just as much as the legal one.
The facility isn’t a standalone gesture. It echoes the spirit of the Mediation Act, 2023, which aims to nudge people away from courtrooms and into dialogue—streamlined, tech-enabled, and less adversarial. And with the court already rolling out online mediation training via its alliance with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC), this new center is less an outlier and more the new normal.
With over 4 crore cases stacked high in the nation’s courts, this is more than a nod to innovation. It’s a survival move—one that prioritizes dignity, flexibility, and a gentler route to resolution. In short: justice, redesigned.
