Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Inaugurates SILF's New Building, Hails New Dispute Resolution Centre As A Global Legal Hub

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Inaugurates SILF's New Building, Hails New Dispute Resolution Centre As A Global Legal Hub

On April 29, 2024, New Delhi witnessed a momentous occasion as the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) celebrated a major milestone. The grand inauguration of its new building, alongside the unveiling of the highly awaited Dispute Solutions Centre. Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, honored the event as the chief guest, commemorating the historic occasion through a video screening at Bharat Mandapam.

Among the distinguished guests and esteemed members of the legal fraternity in attendance were Dr. Lalit Bhasin, President of SILF, Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, spouse of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Shri Shardul Shroff, Senior Vice-President of SILF, Shri Jyoti Sagar, Associate President of SILF, and Dr. Bina Modi, Chairperson of Modi Enterprises.

In acknowledgment of its social and professional duties, SILF has announced to establish the Dispute Solutions Centre within its new premises at Rouse Avenue, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). This state-of-the-art Center is poised to become a symbol of legal excellence and advancement, prioritizing research, legal education, and mediation initiatives to expedite dispute resolution processes and promote a culture of amicable settlements.

During his welcome address, Dr. Lalit Bhasin, President of SILF, emphasized, “SILF is conscious of its social and professional responsibilities, and it is seized of the problem of the laws delays facing the country with over five crore cases pending. Our citizens are entitled to secure to themselves JUSTICE – SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL. With this huge pendency of cases our citizens do not get easy, quick, inexpensive, and expeditious disposal of their cases. The government of India, in the last ten years, has taken effective steps to reduce this pendency of cases and certain other steps like simplification and rationalisation of laws are in the pipeline. However, SILF feels that it is not just the responsibility of the government or the judiciary to bring down the pendency of cases. We as professionals also have a professional social responsibility to do our bit and to minimise disputes.”

He further added, “With this objective in view, SILF has decided to set up a Dispute Solutions Centre which will provide for research and continued legal learning with the objective of promoting settlement of disputes. SILF firmly believes that Mediation can bring about a revolutionary change in the system of administration of justice. The Parliament has recently passed a law regarding Mediation and it is in furtherance of that the Centre will provide for avenues for resolving disputes.”

In his address, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Hon’ble Vice President of India, stated, “The centre can be an epicentre of much-needed affirmative change in legal technology. India's institutions are catalysing the nation's rise, and recent legislative reforms have unshackled our legal system. Our law firms now have global recognition, and it's time to converge efforts for effective dispute resolution. India's economic growth is undeniable, and collaboration among stakeholders is crucial for our global legal presence. We must recognise the significance of a robust dispute resolution mechanism in fostering harmony and economic growth. With India's exponential economic upsurge, commercial disputes are inevitable, and it's imperative that we approach arbitration as a means to preserve relationships and foster business opportunities. The inauguration of the new SILF building marks a monumental step in our legal landscape, providing a state-of-the-art facility to further our objectives. This new institution, combined with our commitment to arbitration, will solidify India's position as a global legal hub.”

The newly constructed building symbolizes a monumental leap forward for SILF and the legal fraternity as a whole. More than just a physical structure, this edifice embodies SILF's unwavering dedication to addressing the pressing issue of judicial delays and enhancing access to justice for all citizens.

The inauguration ceremony concluded on a note of optimism and renewed determination to uphold the principles of justice and fairness. SILF looks forward to leveraging the resources of the new building and the Dispute Solutions Centre to serve the legal community and society at large.