IIAM successfully hosted the Community Mediation Conclave 2026 on March 28 in Goa, in what proved to be a landmark day for the mediation community, a celebration of what many in the room described as the rebirth of mediation in Goa. The Conclave was organised by the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation (IIAM) in collaboration with the Mediators’ Council of India and Beyond Barriers – Towards Hope, the conclave was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashwin D. Bhobe, Judge, Bombay High Court, in the presence of Shri Devidas J. Pangam, Advocate General of Goa, and other distinguished guests. The inaugural session was elevated by a vibrant Goan cultural performance that wove the spirit of the land into the occasion and at its core lies the idea that justice is not merely delivered in courtrooms, but cultivated through dialogue, trust, and collective understanding within communities.
The first panel discussion, of the theme “Community Mediation – Building Peaceful Communities: The Transformative Model for Mediation in Goa,” was chaired by Advocate General Shri Devidas J. Pangam and moderated by Adv. Zyfern Dias, Treasurer of Beyond Barriers – Towards Hope. The panel featured Dr. Abhishek Mishra of IULER Goa, Dr. Chirag Balyan of D.Y. Patil University, Dr. Saba V.M. Da Silva, and Adv. Eric Correia. The session explored practical and institutional models for integrating mediation into community structures and public systems, with Adv. Pangam drawing attention to Goa’s deep-rooted tradition of village panchayat councils as a natural foundation for community-based dispute resolution, expressing confidence that Goa holds the potential to emerge as a national mediation hub. The panellists examined the gaps between formal legal systems and everyday community disputes, the conditions necessary for mediation to take root at the grassroots, and the critical role of social trust and local ownership themes that laid a strong intellectual foundation for the rest of the day.
The second panel, titled “Strengthening Grassroots Justice Through Community Mediation,” proved to be the highlight of the conclave. The Session introduced a new variation of Panel discussion, chaired by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Advait Manish Sethna, Judge, Bombay High Court, and moderated by Adv. Iram Majid, Central Government Standing Counsel and Executive Director of APCAM, the panel featured Senior Advocate Anil Xavier, President of IIAM and Chairman of APCAM, Prof. Dr. Karuna Akshay Malviya, Director of the School of Law at D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Dr. B.S. Patil, and Adv. Albertina Almeida, advocate and human rights activist. Justice Sethna opened the session not with a textbook definition but with a reflection drawn from genuine conviction, immediately connecting with the room. The session reached its most compelling moment when the moderator introduced a structured debate on a question central to the field, should community mediation settlement agreements be legally enforceable? Sr. Adv. Anil Xavier and Prof. Dr. Karuna Akshay Malviya argued against enforceability, contending that legal bindingness would erode the very essence of community mediation and its orientation toward harmony and relationship preservation, while Dr. B.S. Patil and Adv. Albertina Almeida argued in favour, bringing the weight of accountability and real-world practicality to the floor. The session was enriched when the delegates joined in with questions and counterpoints, making it a rare post-lunch session that held the room’s complete attention and when the vote was called, the audience sided clearly with those who argued that legal enforceability would defeat the very purpose of community mediation. Justice Sethna’s closing remark, “Judgment Reserved,” drew knowing smiles and captured the spirit of the debate perfectly.
The session was followed by the recitation of the Mediation Pledge, a collective affirmation by all participants of their commitment to dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution. Adding both melody and meaning to the day, the Mediation Song by Track Second in English and Regional Language, Konkani, was performed, filling the hall with a sense of shared purpose that stayed with the audience well beyond the session. The formal launch of the Goa Chapter of the Mediators’ Council of India marked the day’s most celebrated institutional milestone, met with wide applause and a collective sense that something enduring had just begun for mediation in the State. The valedictory session, presided over by Hon’ble Mr Justice Ashish Sahadev Chavan, brought the day to a graceful and purposeful close. With its Goan cultural colour, judicial gravitas, spirited debate, the Community Mediation Conclave – Goa 2026 did not merely discuss the promise of mediation, it embodied it. Goa, with its unique heritage of community harmony and its newly launched institutional infrastructure, now stands ready to lead India’s next chapter in accessible, people-centred justice.
