The Punjab government has established the Punjab Alternative Dispute Resolution Authority (ADRA) under an ordinance to expedite the settlement of disputes outside courts, enabling the public, government departments and other parties to resolve their differences through mutual consultation at reduced cost and within a shorter timeframe.
The establishment of the authority is aimed at reducing the burden of pending cases on the judicial system and providing an alternative mechanism for resolving disputes without lengthy legal proceedings. Under the new arrangement, the Punjab chief minister will serve as the chairperson of the authority, while a director general and experts from various fields will be appointed as members. The chairperson will make these appointments, and their terms may also be extended.
The authority will include retired judges of the high courts, the Supreme Court and subordinate judiciary, former government officials, and specialists in criminal and civil law, taxation, corporate affairs and other relevant fields.
The forum will consider disputes between the government and the public, among private individuals, and between corporate entities. It will facilitate the resolution of disputes through mutual consultation, helping the parties avoid protracted litigation and reduce the time and expense involved in legal proceedings.
The authority will also be empowered to issue licences to experts from different fields to enable them to participate in the dispute resolution process. Settlements reached through the forum will be formally notified by the authority.
The initiative is intended to provide an efficient, accessible and cost-effective mechanism for settling disputes outside the conventional court system while easing the pressure on courts dealing with a heavy backlog of cases.
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