Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi has stated that the number of civil cases pertaining to businesses are increasing as the country's economy continues to flourish.
Inaugurating the three-day conference on 'Judicial Exchange on Alternative Dispute Resolution', Judge Didi said the country is in need of an 'Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)' system, which refers to a variety of processes that help parties resolve disputes without a trial.
The Chief Judge said an ADR system would be beneficial both to those filing lawsuits as well the citizens. Such a system would expedite the resolutions for issues at hand, and legal fees can be minimized, in addition to keeping the exposure of the case minimal, said the judge.
'Even in civil cases, the presiding judge will rule in favor of one party. In this case, sometimes, the party which suffers defeat is not satisfied with the outcome. Due to this, the issue escalates further. However, an ADR system would resolve such grievances effectively', he said.
Emphasizing the importance of an ADR system, Judge Didi said the Arbitration Center must prioritize the implementation of an ADR system under the Arbitration Law, through which the judicial system of the Maldives can be further developed.
Although the Arbitration Law came into effect in 2013, it took six years to establish an Arbitration Center under the law, highlighted Judge Didi. However, the board of the center was recently formed, with Ahmed Shahudy appointed as the Chairperson and Hussain Siraj as the Vice Chairperson. Praising both individuals, Judge Didi said the formation of the center is a great success for the Judiciary.
The 'Judicial Exchange on Alternative Dispute Resolution' is organized by the Arbitration Center, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and USA's Deartment of Commercial Law with the assistance of US State Department. 15 judges are taking part in the congress, including two judges from the Supreme Court, six judges from the High Court and seven judges from the Civil Court.
Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi
