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On Friday, Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, expressed concerns regarding the reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) for online mediation. He pointed out that while AI can mimic human voices, it lacks the ability to convey 'human empathy and forgiveness.' Addressing the inaugural session of the Commonwealth Peace Mediation Conference 2026 in Jaipur, he emphasized that trained mediators should primarily conduct online mediation.

He welcomed the practical approach of utilizing technology and online dispute resolution (ODR) to extend mediation services to remote areas of the Commonwealth, but insisted that human intervention remains essential.

The Chief Justice remarked, 'I appreciate this practical thought, but it must be approached with caution, ensuring it is effectively managed through software systems. Online mediation should not be entirely dependent on AI-based software.' He reiterated that while AI systems can simulate human voices, they cannot exhibit genuine human empathy and forgiveness, advocating for mediation to be led by trained professionals.

Justice Chandrachud stated that mediation should no longer be viewed as a lesser alternative to litigation, which merely waits for its turn in court. He noted that through persistent efforts and the legal backing of the Mediation Act, mediation has achieved parity with the court system. 'Both are not competitors but rather complementary to each other,' he added.

Clarifying the relationship between courts and mediation, Justice Chandrachud explained, 'When all options fail, the court provides us with certainty, precedents, and final decisions. Mediation allows us to write our own endings before the final word is spoken.' He emphasized that peace and the rule of law should not be seen as opposing concepts.

He stated, 'Peace is not the absence of law; rather, it is one of the greatest achievements of law.' The Chief Justice highlighted that mediation is applicable in various disputes, from neighborhood conflicts to international issues, yet its core principles remain unchanged. 'One must listen more than speak,' he advised.

He further explained that anger must be transformed into interests, and those interests into options that both parties can accept. Justice Chandrachud remarked that mediation is not an easy skill; it is one of the most challenging skills to learn in the legal profession, requiring rigorous training and self-acquired experience. Reflecting on his childhood in a village in Haryana, he noted that communities resolved disputes through dialogue long before the concept of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) was widely recognized.

He reminisced, 'When two families had a dispute, they would sit under a tree with the village elders and negotiate until the matter was resolved. Back then, no one referred to it as 'alternative dispute resolution.' We called it a panchayat. It was mediation before the term became popular.'

Justice Chandrachud asserted that the true test of peace is not merely signing documents but whether relationships endure after disputes are resolved. 'In my view, this is the truest test of any peace. It is not about whether paperwork is completed, but whether neighbors can sit together for tea the next morning,' he stated.

He mentioned that the conference would cover topics such as family, workplace, commerce, infrastructure, criminal justice, community, environment, and climate mediation, along with global peacebuilding. He expressed hope that the proposed 'Jaipur Declaration' would serve as a practical document guiding legal professionals and mediators across various jurisdictions.

The event also featured the presence of Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Law and Justice, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and Justice Abha Nair Patel of the Supreme Court of Zambia. The three-day conference, aimed at promoting mediation as an effective means of dispute resolution, will conclude on August 2, organized by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA).

Representatives from 52 Commonwealth countries are participating in the conference.