Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) inaugurated the 40 hours (Five Days) Mandatory Mediation Training Programme for the advocates of Ladakh at the conference hall of the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR) on October 15.

The training programme was organised by the Mediation & Conciliation Committee High Court Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh under the aegis of Mediation & Conciliation Project Committee Supreme Court of India and Ladakh Legal Services Authority.

Justice Tashi Rabstan, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, and Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson were also present.

Terming the training programme relevant for the smooth functioning of the judiciary, the L- G, while recalling luminaries in the field of law/justice such as Syed Abdul Nazeer, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India and the incumbent Governor of Andhra Pradesh, highlighted the importance of following Dharma in the judiciary. He stated that Dharma has 10 elements, viz. fortitude, forgiveness, sans vanity, non-stealing, cleanliness of mind and heart, control over the senses, empathy, discriminative knowledge, truthfulness, and freedom from anger.

Stating that mediation saves time and money, he stated that justice works as an ‘ointment on wounds’ in which mediation plays the best role in providing justice to the needy. Complimenting the organisers for holding the training programme, the LG stated that attitude and psychology are the two important tools for mediators and highlighted the importance of effective communication by the mediator.

 He also shared the golden rules for mediators and stated that the mediators should demonstrate their legal knowledge at every stage to gain the confidence of the parties through proper case preparation. Terming litigation as an aberration, the LG asked that attempts should be made to dispose of all pending cases in Ladakh.

Justice Tashi Rabstan stated that mediation has become an important tool in the judicial system.

CEC, Leh thanked the organisers for holding the training programme as the programme is relevant for a place like Ladakh.

Coordinator, Mediation and Conciliation Centre, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Rajinder Sapru and Member Secretary, MCPC, Supreme Court of India, Mezivolu T Therieh also spoke on the occasion.

ADGP, Ladakh Police, Dr SD Singh Jamwal; Principal District & Sessions Judge, Leh, Yashpal Sharma; Principal District & Sessions Judge, Kargil, Iqbal Ahmad Masoodi; Secretary, Law, Fayaz Ahmed Sheikh; Member Secretary, Ladakh Legal Services Authority, Spalzes Angmo; Resource persons- AG Jawat and Neerja Bhatia; members of District Legal Services Authority and Bar Association from Leh and Kargil; advocates from Leh and Kargil; heads of religious organisations, representatives from NGOs and other officials were present during the inaugural session of the training programme.