I am more gladiator than mediator: AG Venkataramani calls for mediation push

Attorney General (AG) for India R Venkataramani on Sunday described himself as “more a gladiator than a mediator” in his constitutional role, even as he urged the legal fraternity to embrace mediation as a national mission..Speaking at the Mission Mediation Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, he said that although his office often places him in adversarial spaces, he has sought to “mediate between government and the Court… sometimes successfully, sometimes with a lot of dissatisfaction.".Venkataramani said mediation requires consciously moving beyond a litigation-first mindset:“The learning process means how do you tune your mind to understand what exactly you need to do, what exactly everyone around you needs to do… that is the art of mediation.”.Recalling his early days as a legal aid lawyer in Pondicherry, he questioned why mediation was undervalued even though it served vulnerable litigants effectively. “If you are going to spend your whole time mediating, why is that not good? If it is going to be good for the nation, let it be good for each and every one,” he said..Venkataramani said that the adversarial legal system must eventually yield if India is to advance.“The adversarial system which has caught on us for a long time must slowly yield because it cannot hold on for long. It must yield. And as soon as it yields, I think, good for all of us.".He revealed that soon after taking office, he had expressed keenness to create awards recognising mediators, though the “official dharma has its own ways of doing and not doing.".Calling for India to lead mediation globally, the AG said,“India should become the headquarters of an international global mediation association,”adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “quietly nodded” when the idea was floated..Addressing the valedictory, Delhi High Court Justice Tejas Karia stressed that judges must identify commercial disputes suited for consensual resolution. Noting his recent transition from Bar to Bench, he said that the Bench “must see from both perspectives,” a shift that mirrors the role of a mediator..Justice Karia said that mediation is increasingly proving effective for commercial disagreements, noting that awareness has improved significantly among litigants owing to judicial encouragement. He recalled that earlier in the day, during a “Justice for All” walkathon at the Supreme Court, CJI-designate Justice Surya Kant had described mediation as the only means to ensure justice for all..Emphasising that mediation nurtures business continuity, he said,“It is a win-win; nobody loses in mediation.".Justice Karia underlined that the judge’s role is facilitative rather than coercive:“Judges must open the door, not push the parties through it…A settlement achieved under pressure is no different from a judgment imposed.".Justice Karia highlighted the rising demand for mediators with sector-specific expertise — in technology, infrastructure and financial services — since they understand the vocabulary and can communicate in language that parties appreciate. Specialised rosters of mediators would therefore improve outcomes, he said.He also called for institutional strengthening, including training, capacity-building and structured data on referral trends, settlement rates and time-savings.“A judiciary that learns from its own data is one which grows with precision,” he said..Spotlight speaker Ganesh Chandru (Partner, Dua Associates) emphasised that mediation for commercial disputes must be treated as a viable professional service:“While the cause of Mediation is to be cherished, it should not be mistaken as charitable work; rather, it has to be treated as a commercially viable mechanism for settlement of business disputes.”He also urged a shift from a mediator-centric narrative to one that recognises the lawyer’s role at the mediation table, saying the profession would “only begin to taste success in private commercial mediation” once this change occurs..The conclave featured case-based discussions on commercial mediation practice. Speakers included Ekta Bahl, Dinesh Pardasani, Sahil Narang, Vikash Kumar Jha, Varuna Bhanrale, Arjun Doshi and Shobhana Rana.Former judges Justice Kurian Joseph, Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Mohan Lal Mehta also addressed the gathering.Hosted by Dua Associates, Samvad Partners and The PACT, the conclave spotlighted first-hand experiences — “the good, the bad and the ugly” — of commercial mediation in India and encouraged greater institutional development to deepen mediation culture..The conclave marked the culmination of the 3rd Edition of the Mediation Championship India (MCI 2025), held from November 7–9 in partnership with Manav Rachna University, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and the Prem Tara Foundation. The championship involved training and competitive rounds simulating real-world mediation scenarios — from convening sessions to negotiating and drafting settlement agreements.The National Mediation Champion title was awarded to Navya Pandey (RMLNLU). Aayush Khanna and Kartikey Tripathi (RGNUL) were named Mediation Counsel Champions..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.