Court Directs Mediation for 170 Pending Cases Involving Membership, Loan, and Inheritance Issues
In a significant move to expedite the resolution of long-pending disputes involving cooperative societies, the Delhi High Court has directed a comprehensive mediation drive. On April 16, 2026, a bench comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Madhu Jain mandated the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) to collaborate with the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre to conduct mediation sessions for 170 identified cases.
The decision comes in the wake of the Court's observation that numerous disputes related to cooperative societies, such as membership issues, loan recoveries, and inheritance matters, have been languishing in the judicial system for years. In an effort to alleviate the backlog and provide a more amicable resolution mechanism, the Court suggested mediation as a viable alternative.
During the hearing, the Court acknowledged a status report submitted by the RCS, which highlighted successful preliminary meetings with the DHC Mediation Centre. This collaborative effort has led to the identification of cases suitable for mediation, following a protocol similar to the Supreme Court-directed Special Mediation Drive.
The Court's order emphasizes the need for consent from all parties involved and has instructed the listing of cases on a daily basis before Joint Registrars (Judicial) for referral to mediation. The DHC Mediation Centre has already identified 40 mediators ready to facilitate this process.
The mediation sessions are scheduled to commence in May, with detailed scheduling to be coordinated by the Mediation Centre. The Court has set May 25, 2026, as the date for further compliance reporting, indicating its commitment to ensuring the effectiveness of this initiative.
This proactive approach is expected to significantly reduce the judicial burden and provide swift resolutions to affected parties, fostering a more efficient legal process for cooperative society-related disputes.
Statutory provision(s): Disputes in Cooperative Societies.
