Chief Justice of the Maldives Ahmed Muthasim Adnan has highlighted the efficacy of mediation in expediting case resolutions without the need for hearings. He made the remarks while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Judicial Conference 2024 held at the Supreme Court of the Maldives.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Justice Muthasim explained that the mediation system was introduced in Maldivian courts in the early 2000s, particularly in the Civil Court, where it has been employed to address family issues. He shared statistics indicating that out of 22,987 cases filed in the Civil Court between 2015 and 2021, 17,101 cases underwent mediation before proceeding to a hearing. Notably, he said that approximately 62% of these cases were successfully resolved through mediation alone.
Chief Justice Muthasim welcomed Chief Justice of Bangladesh Obaidul Hassan as an honored guest at the ceremony, highlighting the strong relations between Bangladesh and the Maldives since the establishment of political ties in 1978. Chief Justice Obaidul praised the Maldives for recent judicial advancements, citing the formulation of laws related to civil procedure, child protection, and evidence.
The Judicial Conference is held to address various challenges faced by judges and will focus on three key areas this year. It includes mediation, laws of civil procedure, and laws of evidence. The conference aims to foster discussions and propose solutions for the upcoming year.