Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu emphasises need for adopting new technology, ADR mechanisms to make justice more accessible

Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed that ‘Ease of Justice’ system ensures the delivery of timely justice to the victims and also emphasised that mediation and arbitration play a key role in this system.

Mr. Naidu was speaking during the National Mediation Conference organised jointly by Asian Centre for International Arbitration and Mediation (ACIAM), Trilegal, National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU), in Visakhapatnan, on Friday (September 5, 2025).

During his address, Mr. Naidu stressed the need for adopting new technology and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to make justice more accessible and ensure quicker and more efficient outcomes. He noted that mediation is not new to India and said it has existed for generations.

“In the Indian Mythology, Lord Krishna himself acted as an effective mediator. Even in the past, our ancestors and village elders skillfully handled mediation processes,” he said, also remembering that his father, though uneducated, but acted as a mediator, for his problem solving skills and common sense, for about 10 villages.

Mr. Naidu also noted that earlier, there was a stigma associated with approaching the courts, but that has changed significantly now. “Many courts have been established, and technology has played a crucial role in transforming the judicial process. Now, we have virtual hearings, e-filing of cases, mobile filing options, and even multi-lingual tools to assist litigants,” he said, stressing the need for more innovative solutions should continue to emerge to further improve access to justice.

Expressing happiness for organising the programme in the city, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said that judiciary is a key builder of the constitution, protecting democracy and the rule of law. He said India’s judicial system is known for its credibility, transparency and strong commitment to justice. “While there may be some delays at times, justice was always delivered,” he said, adding that people have immense faith on judiciary system, not just as an institution of law, but as a pillar of justice and constitutional values.

Mr. Naidu also highlighted that the country is rapidly implementing reforms and also noted that Andhra Pradesh has attracted huge investments over the past year. “With prestigious institutions and companies setting up operations, alternative dispute resolution systems such as mediation must be made more accessible to handle emerging disputes,” he said.

Judges from Supreme Court of India, Justice, P.S. Narasimha, Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Justice D.S. Thakur, organising secretary, Vice-Chancellor, NLIU, Bhopal, Prof. Surya Prakash and others were present.