A squabble from meeting of minds gives birth to friction. With an objective of peaceful
settlement of conflicts, V M Salgaocar College of Law, Panjim (VMSCL) has been
the first of its kind in India to promote vociferously the concept of Alternate
Dispute Resolution Mechanism at the global level by networking with World
Mediation Organisation (WMO) to resonate the wave of ‘Win Win’ and to focus on
building relations with the parties in discord.
For the last three years, the college has been consistent in building
the edifice of mediation and negotiation to structure the pyramid of
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) all over the world. This is channelised by
the institution by setting a competitive sphere at the international level,
titled as ‘Lex Infinitum’.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
ADR has been a gaining ground in India in the present times. Lex
Infinitum provides a unique medium for law students to showcase and test their
negotiating and mediating skills against top teams from India and abroad.
Additionally, the event allows Goan students to witness a unique international
mediation competition.
The event was held from January 10 to 13, 2018. On January 9, a
prelude to Lex Infinitum 2018, ‘Mediation Musings: Settling Disputes Outside
Courts – The Win – Win Way’ was hosted by VMSCL at the International Centre
Goa. Musings sensitised the common man about the need to open up the options of
conflict resolution in family relation, commercial transactions, social
relations or legal disputes, without resorting to court. More than 120 people
attended the event that boasted of four renowned ADR experts as speakers,
namely Dr Roland Wilson, Adv E O Mendes, Thomas Valenti and Dr M R K Prasad.
During the course of ‘Lex Infinitum 2018’, accredited mediators
and experts from the international arena engaged thought provoking delegate
sessions on myriad topics relating to ADR. The sessions were attended by
research scholars, lawyers and students from various colleges across India and
abroad.
One of the wow factors of Lex Infinitum was ‘The Great Debate’
between the international experts, conducted at college premises on January 13,
on topic ‘The Role of Mediator is Overrated’. The more than an hour long debate
enticed the audience over the propositions and the rebuttals set across the
forum.
The dispute resolution competition brought 24 teams to the
mediation table. Its final round was conducted at Maquinez Palace, Panjim.
Finally, the four days of rigorous activity, hard work and
jollification came to an end on January 13 with the valedictory ceremony held
at Goa Marriott Resort & Spa, Miramar. Justice Nutan D Sardessai, Judge at
the High Court of Bombay at Goa, who was the Chief Guest at the event,
addressed the audience that comprised Indian and international lawyers,
scholars and law students.
Justice Sardessai said: “Mediation was a mere flicker of light
in the Indian legal system but it is now growing and becoming more prominent.”
Comparing the results of mediation with that of litigation, she expressed that
unlike producing one winner and one loser through the process of courts,
mediation gives rise to a win-win situation and provides great solace to
litigants who await and yearn for court decisions.
The winners of the International competition were honoured at
the hands of Justice Sardessai. The Best Mediator award was bagged by School of
Law, Christ University, Bangalore followed by Maharashtra National Law
University, Mumbai as the Runners up. The Best Negotiating Team award went to
the University of Kent, UK followed by Government Law College, Mumbai as
Runners up.
The
long anticipated Lex Infinitum 2018 Special Awards were bagged by various
participating colleges which included Special Award for Negotiating Team
(Preliminary Round) to School of Law, University of Kashmir; Special Award for
Mediator (Preliminary Round) to NUJS, Kolkota; Special Award for Negotiating
Team (Second Round) to RMNLU, Lucknow; Special Award for Mediator (Second
Round) to Riara Law School, Kenya; Upcoming Negotiating Team to Maharashtra
National Law University, Mumbai; Upcoming Mediator to Riara Law School, Kenya;
Best Mediation Plan to NUS, Singapore and the Spirit of Lex to School of Law,
Christ University Bangalore.
