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I. INTRODUCTION:
The historical development of any system
envisages its growth, existence and slow development since the aeon of
evolution. The history exposes the existence of the things, human races and
other animate and inanimate in the past. The history may sets forth past
experience to the successors. In the same way, the legal research may
trace out and expose historical background of legal system, development
and expansion of law including working methodology and legal
administrative set up of country at particular point of time. The roots of
present day human institutions lie deeply buried in the past. The same is
true of country's law, legal system and its institutions established and
changed from time to time according to the suitability of Sovereign and its
Subjects^
The legal system of any country at given point of
time is not the creation of one man or of one day. It represents the
cumulative fruits of endeavour, experience, thoughtful planning and patient
about large number of people through generations. In this backdrop, it is
necessary to acquire background knowledge and the course of its grov^rth
including development with variations from time to time in order to
comprehend, understand and appreciate the present legal system
adequately. One has to penetrate deep into the past and take cognizance of
the factors, stresses, and strains to explain 'why it is so', that have moulded
and shaped the legal development. To understand 'how it is so' one must
appreciate the problems and pitfalls, which the administrators had to face in
the past and the manner in which they sought to deal with them. India has a
62
Historical background of Alternative Dispute Resolution System and its Origin
known history for its adjudicatory system over 5000 years in one or other
form. There were the Hindus and the IVIuslims periods before British regime.
But the process for development of legal institutions in India started
especially with the establishment of British regime during 1600^. The history
of the Alternative Dispute Resolution System [ADR] may not be traceable in
direct forms adopted since the evolution of legal system.
The method of dispute resolution through law
Courts established under the Sovereign authority of State or the King is late
development. The kings were not law makers but law enforcers. There was
no established judicial authority at rudimentary stage. The Shastras laid
down the duties of the king in minute detail. The detailed rules were laid
down by these Shastras for the guidance of the king in the performance of
his duties. Because the administration of justice was his another important
function as such the King was also known as the fountain of justice and the
Court of ultimate resort^. Besides Kings Court, Dharmashastras exposes
the system of dispute resolution between members of a particular clan or
occupation or between members of a particular locality. First is Kulas, which
refers the assembly of the members of a clan. It was composed of relations
by blood or marriage. Second, refers to Srenis, which were composed of the
guilds or members of a particular occupation or of the same trade, business
or calling. Third was Pugas consisting of fellow townsmen, the
neighborhood or assemblies of fellow villagers. It was a local Court. The
Pugas and Srenis were the people's Courts and both these Courts worked
without any basis of class or caste. All the three Courts were of original
jurisdiction. The decisions of these Courts could be rectified in appeals to
higher Courts. The appeals ultimately rest in the king's Court. The Kings
Court enjoyed discretion to hear and decide any case. It is pertinent to
mention that there was no separation between judiciary and executive at
higher level'*. The people in the course of social interaction and business life
2 Ibid.
^ See, Dr. P.N.Sen, The General Principles of Hindu Jurisprudence, Reprint
[1984], p-17.
* Ibid
63
Historical background of Alternative Dispute Resolution System and its Origin
had been deciding their disputes with the help of senior man in the tribe or
community. The dispute may be between blood relations, neight>orhood or
traders, all the disputes were settled through compromise, negotiation,
mediation and conciliation by those senior members of the community who
have had earned credible reputation amongst the people in the community.
The conciliatory approach is not new. It has traditional roots in several parts
of the world. The informal dispute resolution through compromise or
negotiation in the world societies is dating back to ^2^ century especially in
China, England and America^. The negotiation and conciliation did not only
settled the dispute between conflicting parties but that also served the
healthy purpose of community maintaining peace and harmony among
them. The ADR System in legal world is running with the ages but without
proper recourse and recognition. The Indian legal system for dispute
resolution also recognizes ADR system outside the legal world. These
disputes were always decided by the intervention of seniors and elders and
with aid of learned men. The Naya Panchayats were prevalent at the grass
root level before the advent of British Justice System in order to decide the
disputes without legal formalities and outside the Judicial Courts^. The
decision of the 'Ranch' and 'Panchayat' in conventional forms means the
'Arbitrator' and 'Arbitration'. The Arbitrator and Arbitration simply means that
in the event of any problem, the decision of five persons on any issue was
accepted as a guideline to make permanent settlement of controversy^.
But as the society progressed and made
advancement, these old methods of the dispute resolution were put to
disuse owing to creation of modern judicial system. These traditional
methods of dispute resolution by the Family Heads, Tribal Chiefs,
Panchayats or the Kings would have been proved to be efficacious,
workable and more successful in the present era of litigation producing
plethora of cases in different sphere of life. The dispute resolution by
5 See, P.C.Rao & William Sheffield, Alternative Dispute Resolution: What it is and
How it Worl<s, Reprint, 2002, 79.
6 Ibid, at pp, 79-80.
7 See, Devendra Nath Mishra, Arbitration as a Mode of Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR) - Its Necessity and Implications, A.I.R. 2001, Journal, p-250.
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further and say that it prevails in all ranks of life to a much greater extent
than is the case of England. To refer matter to a 'panch' Is one of the natural
ways of deciding many a disputes in India. It may be that in some cases the
panch resembles a judicial Court because the 'panch' may intervene on the
complaint of one party and not necessarily on the agreement of both, i.e. in
caste matters but there are many cases where the decision is given by
agreement between the parties. The decision of Kula or Kinsmen is subject
to revision by Sreni, which again could be revised by Puga. From the
decisions of the Puga, appeal was maintainable to Pradvivaca and finally to
the Sovereign Prince"^'*.
[ii] Alternative Dispute Resolution during Medieval
India:
Islam came to India in the form of a political
conquest but it did not lead to intellectual, moral and religious subversion of
the Indian people. The old Indian traditions and faiths were deeply
entrenched in the Indian soil and they were firm and strong enough to resist
successfully the new influences. The rulers like Shershah Suri and Akbar
were wise enough and they made some tangible efforts to bring about some
appreciable changes in the administrative set-up of the Kingdom under their
control. But the Muslim rulers either from avarice or indolence did not
concern themselves with the change or improvements in civil laws, which
they found prevailing in the land in their subjugation. Their governments
were mostly tax taking and not a law making. It has been observed that
notwithstanding the mighty political revolution brought about by
Mohammedan in India, the Hindu idea of law and rules, which regulated
their domestic life, remained unruffled and unmodified. There was no
change in the prevailing Panchayat system and the system remained almost
as it was in existence^^.
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in the cause. No appeal could be made except for the reason with credible
evidence of misconduct, partiality and corruption of arbitrators^".
The next Regulation relating to the
administration of justice was passed during the year 1787. The Regulation
of 1787 empowered the Court to refer suits to arbitration with the consent of
parties. But the Regulation contained deficiency, as it made no provisions
as to what was to happen if there was difference of the opinion among the
arbitrators. The Regulation also lacks sufficient provisions to regulate the
arbitration proceedings^^ The Regulation of 1793 provided that 'the Court
was authorized to promote the references of dispute to arbitration'. It was
confined to deal with the cases and suits pertaining to disputed accounts,
partnership, debts, doubtful or contested bargain, the non-performance of
contract and where the value of suit did not exceed Rs. 200. The Regulation
XVI of 1793 was brought on statute book to promote references of certain
disputes for arbitration. It further laid down procedure for conducting the
proceedings^. The Regulation XVI of 1793 was extended to Benaras by
Regulation XV of 1795. The Regulation XXI of 1803 extended its operation
to the territories ceded by the Nawab Wazir. But the disputes pertaining to
immovable property could not be referred to arbitration under these
Regulations. During the year 1803, for the first time, the Regulation
provided for extension of the ambit of the Regulation XVI of 1793 and made
it applicable to suits with respect to rights over the lands. But the Regulation
contained restriction upon the advocates to appear or act as arbitrator for
the parites. The Regulation XXVII of 1814 removed the restriction imposed
upon Vakils - Advocates to act as Arbitrators. The Regulation VII of 1822
authorized Revenue Officers to refer rent cases and revenue disputes to
arbitrators for adjudication. The Bengal Regulation IX of 1883 empowered
Settlement Officers to refer disputes to arbitrators and exercise control over
them. In Madras Presidency, the Regulation VII of 1816 empowered the
District Munsifs to convene District Panchayats for the administration of civil
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suits for real and personal property. This regulation was repealed by Act VII
of 1870 2^
The Regulation VII of 1827 provided for
arbitration in the Presidency of Bombay. It was enacted to facilitate
amicable adjustment of present or future dispute of civil nature. The
Regulation provided that the disputes could be referred to arbitration by an
agreement between the parties and made in writing. The Regulation further
provided that the name of the Arbitrator and time limit for making award had
to be prescribed as and when the dispute is referred for adjudication. These
provisions were not directory but mandatory. The omission to fix time frame
for making the award was fatal as such it was a mistake incurable and could
not be set right by proof of agreement of the parties before the Arbitrators^'*.
(b) Post legislation period :
The Legislative Council for India was established
in 1834 by Charter Act of 1833 and that led to passing of Act 9 of 1840. The
Act of 1833 was designed to amend the laws relating to arbitration and
Arbitrators, damages, and interested witnesses. It was decided to extend
certain provision of Charter Act of 1833 to certain areas. The Statutes 3 and
4 were made applicable to the territories of the East India Company and
applied to Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. Thereafter, the Act VIM of 1859
was placed on the Statute book. The Statue regulated procedure of Civil
Courts and Sections 312 to 327 regulated the procedure with respect to law
arbitration. The Section 312 of the Statute permitted references to
arbitration in pending suits. The Section 313 to 325 of the Statute of 1859
regulated the procedure with respect to the arbitration proceedings. The
Section 326 and Section 327 of the Act provided for Arbitration without the
intervention of the Court. This Act was repealed by Act X of 1877. But
repealing Act did not effect any change in the law relating to arbitration^^.
The Code of Civil Procedure was again revised in the year 1882 (Act XIV of
1882) and provisions relating to arbitration were borrowed from enactment
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^^ See, Fazal Bhai Vs The Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation, 20 Bom, p- 282
^^ See, N.D.Basu, Law of Arbitration and Conciliation, (2003), p-50.
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and it was later on done and extended accordingly to the areas beyond
Presidencies^^.
III. THE ORIGIN OF ARBITRATION ACT, 1940 :
The Civil Procedure Code revised by the Special
Justice Committee, 1925 [Presided over by Sir Earl Richards] transferred all
the provisions relating to arbitration to the end of the Code in the form of
Second Schedule. The President of the Committee had observed that 'We
are of opinion that the best course could undoubtedly be to eliminate from
the Code all the clauses as to arbitration and place them in a new and
comprehensive Arbitration Act. There are perhaps difficulties as to this at
present. We have determined, therefore, to leave the arbitration clauses as
much as they are in the present Code. We have placed them in a schedule
in the hope that at no distant date, they may be transferred into a
comprehensive Arbitration Act'^^.
The Honb'le Mr Justice Rankin who presided
over the Civil Justice Committee had also said that 'this hope has not been
fulfilled and it is certainly a pity. But it is an important to observe that what is
required is not so much that the whole of the law, on the subject, should be
put into one Act, as that the law should be made more workable'^". On the
other hand the Judges were not satisfied with the law of arbitration. They
deplored the unsatisfactory state of condition of law of Arbitration. The
Bombay High Court in a case of Dinkar Rai Laxmi Prasad V Yeshwanth Rai
Hari Prasad^^ has observed that
"this case is one more illustration of the state of doubt and
uncertainty in which the law of arbitration undoubtedly lies.
The framers of the Code in dealing with section 89 observed
that the provision of the Code of 1882 relating to arbitration
had been transferred with certain modification to separate
schedule in the hope that at no distant date they may be
72
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^^ See, Dinkar Rai Laxmi Prasad V Yeshwanth Rai Hari Prasad, A.I.R 1930 Bom
[HC]p-98, alios.
33 Supra Note 30.
^ Supra Note 8, p-34.
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written versions and reply thereof settle the issues for determination of suit,
which are based on a material proposition of the fact or law affirmed by the
one party and denied by the other party'*^. The Presiding Officer under
Order XIV, Rule 1, Sub-Rule 5 of the CPC, ascertain upon what material
propositions of fact or law the parties are at variance and thereupon shall
proceed to frame and record the issues on which the right decision of the
case would appear to be depending on"*"*.
[g] Summoning and attendance of Witnesses :
After the parties have been examined and cross
examined by the Court, then comes the stage for examination and
recording of statements of their witnesses. Each party produces their
evidences in order to authenticate and corroborate their statements of
allegations either deposed or submitted in the written forms. Each party
under Order XVI submits the long list of their witnesses. The Court, for this
purpose appoints a day, but it should not be beyond the period fifteen days
after the date on which the issues are settled, for submission of list of
witnesses whom the parties propose to call either to give evidence or to
produce documents. The Court issues the process of summons to all the
witnesses to appear in the Court for recording of their statements'*^.
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'•''Id, S.33.
^^ Id. Order XX, Rule 1.
49
See, I.P.Massey, Administrative Law, (1995), p-207.
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Code from original decree to the liigher Court autliorized to hear such
appeals from the lower Court or Court of original jurisdiction as the case
may be^°. The CPC under Order XLI also prescribes form of a
memorandum and other documents to be presented before the Appellate
Court duly signed by the appellant or his pleader. In this way in most of the
cases appeal goes to the level of Supreme Court. The litigants are never
oblivious of their rights and frequently exercising these options under Article
136 of the Constitution. The Constitution grants discretion under Article 136
to the Supreme Court to entertain the appeal from any Court or Tribunal^\
Keeping in view the entire process and other
procedural technicalities up to appellate level the dispensation of justice
have become so lengthy that the original litigant gets nothing worth of the
cost during his life time. The residuary appellate jurisdiction of Supreme
Court under Article 136 of the Constitution are also being frequently invoked
in criminal cases ^^. It has also been observed that where the party after
filling appeal under Article 136 intends to withdraw the case, the Supreme
Court has refused to allow withdrawal on the ground of inadequate and
invalid reasons^^.
[k] Revision and review of Judgements :
The resort to indiscriminate use of revisional
jurisdiction of the High Court under section 115 CPC not only adds to the
arrears in the High Court but also affect the working of subordinate Courts
adversely. The High Court under Section 115 of CPC may call on different
grounds for the record of any case, which has been decided by any Court
subordinate to it and in which no appeal lies under the section. Long
arguments and prolix judgements even in exercise of revisional jurisdiction
contribute lot to the accumulation of arrears in the various High Courts in
the country^.
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upon the merits of the suit whereby the defendant is completely refrained
from assertion of his right in perpetuity^®.
These injunctions are regulated by the CPC.
The Order XXXIX, Rule 1 of CPC provides that the temporary injunction is
granted where in any suit it is proved by an affidavit; or otherwise that any
property in dispute is in danger of being wrongfully wasted, damaged or
alienated by any party to the suit or wrongfully sold in execution of a decree.
The Order XXXIX, Rule 1(b) depicts that the injunction can be obtained if
the defendant threatens or intends to remove or dispose of his property with
a view to defrauding his creditors. In case the defendant threatens to
dispossess the plaintiff or othenwise cause injury to the plaintiff in relation to
any property in dispute in the suit, the Court may order and grant an
injunction against the defendant restraining him from proceeding ahead^^.
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Procedure deals with arbitration outside the operation and scope of the
1899 Act. It relates for the most part to arbitration in suits, though arbitration
without intervention of a Court. This schedule also contains an alternative
method whereby the parties to a dispute or any of them may file their
arbitration agreement before a Court, which after a certain procedure, refers
the matter to an Arbitrator.
2. The question of amending and consolidating this
law is not new. The Civil Justice Committee in 1925 recommended several
changes in the arbitration law. The Act of 1899 was based largely on the
then English law, to which several substantial amendments have been
effected by an amending Act of Parliament in 1934. In 1938 the Central
Government placed an officer on special duty to examine the question and
the present bill is the outcome of this examination. The existing law, the
amended English law, and the recommendations of the Civil Justice
Committee, have been scrutinized together and the present Bill, which
seeks to consolidate and standardize the law relating to arbitration
throughout British India, in its detailed extract from the sources referred to
those principles of law which, it is considered, are most suitable to British
India" ^°.
[b] Pitfall In the Arbitration Act,1940 :
The scheme of Arbitration Act, 1940 had been
providing a domestic forum for speedy and substantial justice without
following the legal technicalities by a person in whom the parties have full
faith and confidence. This Act with the passage of time was found to have
involved many pitfalls and procrastination. The delays, which were found to
have occurred before regular Courts, also found to have got reflected in the
arbitration proceedings under the Act of 1940. The global interaction in the
commercial business world had become valuable and growing at faster
speed. It became necessary to find out an easy mechanism by which legal
problem arisen out of domestic and international transaction / contracts
would serve in a better manner. The problems were being faced by the
judiciary apart from numbers suggestions from every corner to replace the
Arbitration Act of 1940 and ultimately resulted in the promulgation of the
Arbitration and Conciliation Ordinance, 1996^\
VI. THE ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION ACT, 1996 -
SOURCE AND ORIGIN :
The Arbitration law has been transplanted from
the English to the Indian Soil. The Indian Arbitration Act of 1889 was based
on the English Arbitration Act o^ 1889 and the \nd\an ArbWraWon Act of 1940
was based on the English Act of 1934. But the operation of Arbitration laws
in British India and during later legislation period, little attention has been
paid to it as the arbitration laws grown and flourished gradually at slow pace
in Hindu or Muslim India^^. The English arbitration law are statutes,
international conventions and the common law. The United Nations
Commission on International Trade Law [UINCITRAL] produced a Model
Law on International Commercial Arbitration in 1985. In 1989 the
Departmental Advisory Committee on Arbitration Law recommended that
instead of England, Wales and Northern Ireland adopting the UNCITRAL
Model Law, there should be enacted a new Act to embody both the existing
statutory law on arbitration and the relevant Common Law principles. The
Committee also recommended that the new Act should follow, as for as
possible, the structure and language of the UNCITRAL Model Law. After the
gap of seven years of this recommendation it could be implemented in the
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996^^.
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1958], the Arbitration Act, 1979, which abolished the 'case stated' procedure
and replaced it with a limited right of appeal on points of law and the
Consumer Arbitration Agreements Act, 1988. It consolidates earlier
enactments, codified principles established by recent case law, introduce
changes designed to improve the fairness, speed and cost effectiveness of
arbitration and incorporates certain provisions of the UNCITRAL Model Law.
In consequence, any work on the English law of arbitration is dominated by
the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, with which this
title is primarily concemed^. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
under Part III consists of commendable features of Conciliation for dispute
resolution. Before the commencement of the Act of 1996, the provisions and
mechanism of conciliation for disputes resolution contained under Industrial
Dispute Act, 1947^^, Section 23 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and Order 32
A, Rule 3 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. But under the Act of 1996
separate Chapter of Conciliation distinct from Arbitration has been
incorporated with a view to bolster up the Mechanism of ADR System in
India. The Conciliation has got statutory recognition and become an
effective instrument for dispute resolution.
64 Ibid.
^^ See, Industrial Dispute Act, 1947, S. 12.
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66
Supra Note 34, p-80-81.
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1854, for the first time, the U.S Supreme Court in a case has observed the
right of an arbitrator to issue binding judgements and held that
"Arbitrators are judges chosen by the parties to decide
the matter submitted to them, finally and without appeal.
As a mode of settling disputes, it should receive every
encouragement from the Court of equity"®''.
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to implement a civil justice expense and delay reduction plan and make use
of mechanism of ADR system increasingly. In 1994, 'opt-out' program has
been introduced in the District Courts, whereby the Courts notify the litigants
that the arbitration and other ADR programs are available. It places all
eligible cases in the arbitration program^". The mechanism of ADR system
is v\/orking in all the States of America especially at California, Minnesota,
New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas. The Texas ADR Act provides a
comprehensive framework for voluntary, non-binding ADR process. The
growth and development of ADR mechanisms has resulted from initiatives
at all level and from all branches of government, executive, legislature and
judiciary including many corner of the private sector, communicity
organization, corporation and the bar. The US has introduced numberous
judicial reforms with provisions of sufficient funds and increased use of ADR
to work at domestic and international level^^
[b] The Alternative Dispute Resolution in England :
The ADR system in the form of arbitration has
ancient roots in England. The system has been adopted and long practised
by the merchants and traders for dispute resolution in matters connected to
accounts and trading differences. The persons were specially selected for
this purpose. The arbitration initially applied for dispute resolution in the
cases of personal chattels or personal wrongs. But gradually its horizon
extended to the disputes relating to real estate and other matters also. The
practice was governed by the Common law till the passing of the Arbitration
Act, 1697''^. The Common law applicable to arbitration was not satisfactory
and the deficiency in the law necessitated amplification leading to
enactment of the Arbitration Act, 1697. The main object behind this
enactment was to render a submission to arbitration as binding upon the
parties and make award easily enforceable. The advantage of arbitration, as
a means for dispute resolution was recognized by providing for Statutory
Arbitration in the different Acts of Parliament. It was governed by the Special
^°/rf, at pp-110-111.
'^ See, http://www4. worldbank. org/legal/leglr/judicialreform.html.
12
Supra Note 62, p-7.
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Act. There developed two classes of arbitration, parallel to each other viz. (i)
Statutory Arbitration and (ii) Common law Arbitration. The Statutory
Arbitration was concerned and applied to the subject matter under the
Special Act. Whereas the Common law arbitration applied to the subject
matter covered under general laws. During 1889, it was considered
advisable to codify the general law as it had been scattered in several
statutes and decided cases. In this backdrop the Arbitration Act of 1889 was
enacted in England. The Arbitration Act of 1889 repealed all the existing
statutes and re-enacted most of their provisions with some amendments. It
regulated all arbitration in England except arbitration arising out of oral
submission. In the case of statutory arbitration, the Act applied except to
where it found to be inconsistent with the provision of that statute^^.
The Arbitration Act, 1934 introduced some
important amendments to the law of arbitration. The amendment is based
on the recommendations made by the Committee during 1927 constituted
for the purpose. After the gap of 16 years with the changed business
scenario the arbitration rules again felt amplification to be modified
accordingly. The Arbitration Act of 1950 was enacted. This Act applied to all
arbitration commenced aiter that date, including cases where the arbitration
agreement was made earlier. The Arbitration Act, 1950 repealed all the
existing Acts and re-enactment was in a consolidated form^'*. There is
statutory arbitration in England. A statute may provide that disputes of a
particular class shall be determined by arbitration of a particular sort, either
in every case or upon certain steps being taken by the parties. The
Arbitration Act, 1950 applies to arbitration under other statutes, unless
excluded by the other statute concerned. It is now fashionable for public Act
to exclude the Arbitration Act when making provisions for statutory
arbitration. The Act applies, where not excluded, to statutory arbitration as if
the arbitration were pursuant to an arbitration agreement an^^.
^^ Ibid, at p-9.
''Id.
" See, Russell on The Law of Arbitration, (1982), p-10.
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(v) between any two or more registered branches of any society or branch
or any officer thereof respectively''^.
V. Industrial and Provident Societies Act,
1965 contained a provisions analogous to the Friendly Societies Act
governing in particular disputes between societies and their members.
vi. The Housing Act, 1957 contained various
provisions for the payment of compensation for compulsory acquisition,
extinguishment of easements and demolition of obstructive building. But
now disputes of compensation are dealt with by the Land Tribunals under
the Land Compensation Act, 1961.
vii. The Public Health Act, 1936 provided for
arbitration of various types of disputes relating to public health etc.
viii. The Public Utilities Street Works Act
1950 also provided for the reference of several sorts of dispute to single
Arbitrator who is to be appointed in defaults of agreement, by the President
of the Institute of Civil Engineers.^^
ix. The Arbitration (International
^^/ib/cf, atp-17.
" / d , at PP--14-21.
^^/cf. at pp-20-21.
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90
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®^ See, Prof. Paras Diwan, Justice at the Door Step of People: The Lok Adalat
system, A.I.R. Journal, 1991, p-86.
91
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^^ See, M.K.Gandhi, The Law and the Lawyer, Reprint, (2001), p-258.
®^ See, Prof. Anurag K.Aggarwal, Strengthening 'Lok Adalat' Movement in India,
A.I.R. Journal, 2006, P-35.
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Authority Act, 1987. The Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 contains
various provisions of settlement of disputes through Lok Adalats. It casts
duty upon the Central, State, District and Taluk Legal Services Authorities to
organize Lok Adalats for dispute resolution^^.
The Parliament during 2002 further amended the
Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 whereby the provisions has been made
for the establishment of Permanent Lok Adalats in Indian territory on
uniform basis. These Lok Adalats can be approached by any party for
resolution of disputes involving 'public utility services' as defined in the
Legal Services Authority Act, 1987®®. The system of Lok Adalat is working
well in the country and various law Commission and High Court's Arrears
Committee has recommended to strengthen the system successfully
especially to settle the disputes relation to family and matrimonial matters
including those of MACT claims®^. The various provisions of Legal Services
Authority Act, 1987 has been discussed in the Chapter relates to the
Legislative Provisions.
X. CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE, SECTION 89
It is first time in the Indian history that there has
been statutory recognition to ADR in the Code of Civil Procedure. The
provisions of conciliation were also available in the Code of Civil Procedure,
1908. But Section 89 is a unique, which has been reinserted to the CPC^®
by the amendment Act, 46 of 1999. The section provides for settlement of
dispute outside the Court. The enactment of these provisions under Section
89 are based on the recommendations made by the Law Commission of
India and the Mallimath Committee®^. The Law Commission has
emphasized the desirability of the Courts being empowered to compel
parties to a private litigation to resort to arbitration, conciliation or
''' Ibid.
^^ See, The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, Ss. 19, 20, 21.
^^ Ibid. Ss. 22A, 22B, 22C.
^'^ See, The Law Commission of India, 12^" Report.
^^ The Section was repealed by Act 10 of 1940 and has been again inserted by Act
46 of 1999 and came into force w.e.f. 1^' July, 2002.
^^ See, The High Court Arrears Committee Report, 1989-90.
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Historical background of Alternative Dispute Resolution System and its Origin
^ See, The Law Commission of India, 129^^ Report [on Urban Litigation].
^^ See, Supra Note, 59, Section 89.
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