Message from the Vice-Chancellor

Dear Colleagues, Students, and Friends of Legal Academia,

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to the Centre for Mediation and Negotiation at National Law University Odisha and to introduce you to the NLUO Mediation Chronicle. As someone who has dedicated over four decades to legal education and has witnessed the transformative power of alternative dispute resolution, I am deeply committed to advancing the field of mediation and negotiation in India.

Throughout my academic journey, beginning from my introduction to juvenile delinquency in 1978 to my extensive work in judicial training and restorative justice, I have observed how effective communication, understanding, and peaceful resolution of conflicts can transform lives and communities. The establishment of the NLUO Mediation Chronicle represents our institutional commitment to these principles.

Our Centre for Mediation and Negotiation was conceived with a vision to become India's premier institution for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). We recognize that in our increasingly complex legal landscape, traditional adversarial approaches must be complemented by collaborative, restorative methods that focus on healing relationships and finding mutually beneficial solutions.

The NLUO Mediation Cell, India's first mediation cell operated by a higher education institution, exemplifies our commitment to practical application of these principles. By providing free mediation services to the community, we bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world impact, while training the next generation of mediators and legal professionals.

My experience as the first woman academic to head the Delhi Judicial Academy (2009-2011) taught me the importance of innovative teaching methods and participatory learning. The Village Immersion Programme for Judicial Officers, which I pioneered, exposed judges to grassroots social issues – an approach we continue to embrace in our mediation training programs.

Through the NLUO Mediation Chronicle, we aim to create a vibrant intellectual community where practitioners, academics, students, and policymakers can engage in meaningful dialogue about mediation, negotiation, and restorative justice. Our publication will serve as a platform for sharing research, best practices, and innovative approaches to conflict resolution.

I am particularly proud of our commitment to making quality legal education and resources accessible to all. Just as I introduced the "Andragogy – the Art of Teaching Adults" course to improve legal education, we believe that knowledge about peaceful dispute resolution should be democratized and made available to everyone who seeks to understand and contribute to this vital field.

As we advance towards achieving SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – I encourage all members of our community to actively participate in this intellectual endeavor. Submit your research, share your experiences, engage with our content, and help us build a repository of knowledge that will benefit generations of legal professionals and society at large.

The challenges facing dispute resolution today – from the implementation of the Mediation Act 2023 to the integration of technology in ODR platforms – require collaborative solutions and innovative thinking. Through our Centre and the Mediation Chronicle, we hope to foster the kind of interdisciplinary dialogue that will drive meaningful progress in creating a more just and peaceful society.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated faculty, distinguished advisory board members, contributing authors, and readers who make this initiative possible. Together, we are not just documenting the evolution of mediation and negotiation; we are actively participating in shaping a future where conflicts are resolved with dignity, understanding, and mutual respect.

With warm regards and best wishes for your academic and professional pursuits,