The Mediation Division of the Supreme Court was officially inaugurated yesterday in presence of the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP. This division is situated on the 7th Floor of the Happy World House, Sir William Newton Street, Port Louis.
The Chief Justice, Mr Y. K. J. Sik Yuen, the Attorney General, Mr Y. Varma, the CEO of Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF), Mr Omari Issa, and members of the legal and judiciary sector were present at the ceremony.
Mediation can be a swift and practical solution to resolve disputes by reducing undue delays, said the Prime Minister in his address. He added that mediation is an important tool to resolve cases, particularly business cases, which in turn help to create a proper investment environment and this further helps to consolidate Mauritius’ position as a business and investment friendly country.
Dr Navin Ramgoolam pointed out that this government has brought about many changes so as to spearhead the modernisation of the Judiciary and the Supreme Court. He said that e-judiciary should be a reality by September this year.
The Chief Justice for his part said that the Mediation Division along with the forthcoming reforms in the Judiciary System in view of modernising the legal system will help Mauritius to be a good place to do business.
The Supreme Court is empowered, following an amendment brought to the legislation in 2009, to conduct mediation in civil cases that may be brought and may be pending before the Supreme Court. The Mediation Division actually started sitting as from January 2011 on the premises of the Supreme Court before moving to its new premises in May 2011. Some 154 cases have been heard till date.
The primary purpose of mediation is for the parties, in all good faith, to submit themselves to mediation and to dispose of the civil suit, action, cause or matter by a common agreement, or to narrow down the issues in dispute.
Mediation aims to reduce the costs involved in the case, reduce any undue delays in litigation and facilitate a fair and just resolution of the dispute. Mediation is to be proceeded and concluded within the time allocated by the Mediation Judge.
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