ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN LAND DISPUTE RESOLUTION: LEGAL FRAMEWORK, JUDICIAL TRENDS, AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

AUTHOR – ADV. SANSKRUTI ANITA SURYAKANT GAWALI,

LLM STUDENT AT DES NAVALMAL FIRODIA LAW COLLEGE & PARLIAMENTARY AND LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ASSOCIATE TO THE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, RESEARCH HEAD FOR AN NGO [CONSUMER PROTECTION]

BEST CITATION – ADV. SANSKRUTI ANITA SURYAKANT GAWALI, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN LAND DISPUTE RESOLUTION: LEGAL FRAMEWORK, JUDICIAL TRENDS, AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 849-856, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

Land disputes constitute one of the most pervasive and contentious categories of civil litigation in India, burdening an already overwhelmed judiciary with prolonged proceedings, escalating costs, and uncertain outcomes. This article examines the role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms — namely arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and Lok Adalats — in addressing land-related conflicts, including boundary disputes, title contests, family partition suits, landlord-tenant disagreements, and compensation disputes arising out of compulsory land acquisition. The article traces the statutory framework underpinning ADR in India, analyses landmark and recent judicial pronouncements, surveys the transformative impact of the Mediation Act, 2023, and identifies contemporary challenges and the trajectory of reforms. It concludes that a robust, institutionalised, and context-sensitive ADR ecosystem is essential to delivering timely, equitable, and lasting resolution of land disputes in India.

Keywords: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Land Disputes, Mediation Act 2023, Arbitration, Lok Adalats, Land Acquisition, Section 89 CPC, Judicial Trends.