Araiyawali village in the state of Rajasthan is the first legal dispute-free village in the country. Its secret is a community mediation centre. All local disputes, including those related to land and irrigation, have been amicably settled because a culture of mediation has been established within the community. Any dispute is first referred to mediation.
Mediation is increasingly being used in the Indian context. The recent referral by the Supreme Court of the historic Babri Masjid dispute for mediation is only the most famous case. Others in the business domain include the Shroff brothers in the famous Amarchand Mangaldas law firm dispute as well as the Ambani brothers, whose mother played the mediator.
