Chief Justice of India Justice N.V. Ramana urged judges of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Courts to construct an arbitration and mediation centre in Hyderabad for litigants and work towards making it the best arbitration centre in Asia.

In his inaugural address at India’s first International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC) in Hyderabad in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Justice Ramana said: “Instead of sending litigants to some faraway locations, the arbitration centre will ensure cost effective and efficient resolution of disputes of the local litigants and I am sure that the centre will lead the way for arbitration and mediation in the country and will become the primary centre not only in India but across Asia and the world.”

He said, hopefully, everyone would work hard to make the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre dream come true.

Earlier, CJI Ramana said the arbitration centre will look into the disputes of the ordinary citizens to streamline the process of justice delivery and not confine itself to settling commercial disputes only.

He said: “Arbitration and Mediation have a long history in India. Recently, they have acquired prominence across the world as methods of dispute resolution.”

CJI Ramana noted the arbitration centres have earlier too been set up but domestic and international parties still appear to prefer the foreign arbitration centers.

The centre will initially start functioning in temporary accommodation at Madhapur while a permanent building will be constructed at Puppalaguda, Telangana. It will not only deal with cases from India but also from other Asian countries. Those who empanel the centre include internationally acclaimed arbitrators and mediators from countries such as Singapore and the United Kingdom.

CJI Ramana along with other dignitaries inspected the arrangements and infrastructure of IACM. Supreme Court judges Justice Hima Kohli, Justice Lavu Nageshwar Rao, retired Supreme Court judge Justice RV Raveendran, Telangana High Court Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, Telangana IT and Industries Minister K. Taraka Rama Rao, Telangana Law Minister Indra Karan Reddy, Telangana Home Minister Mahmood Ali and Tourism Minister Srinivas Goud were among the dignitaries.

Read CJI Ramana’s full speech below