\\\'ADR system can help rapid settlement of disputes\\\'

Law Minister Anisul Huq has said greater use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system can help rapid settlement of disputes and ease the load of huge pending cases, reports UNB.

"People have the right to get justice in short time and at a low cost," he told a training course on the system.

The training was jointly organised by Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) and Bangladesh Investment Climate Fund at BIAM in the city Sunday.

Law and Justice Division Secretary Abu Saleh SK Md Zahirul Haque presided over the session. Joint Secretary of the division Abu Ahmed Jamader and JATI director (training) Osman Haider also spoke at the programme.

Calling for creating greater awareness about the usefulness of ADR system, the minister  urged judges and lawyers to be more active in making the system successful.

Mr Huq said 2.3 million cases have been pending with lower courts across the country.

Outside his speech he replied to some questions from reporters.

Asked about growing number of false cases he attributed it to lack of enforcement of the relevant provision in the penal code. The provision provides for punishment for filing false cases, he said.

Asked if the government will appoint more judges to handle backlog of cases, he said, "It takes time to appoint judges. Besides, we have to think about financial problem."

Replying to another question on the dispute among prosecutors of International Crimes Tribunals trying war crime cases, Anisul Huq said steps would be taken to resolve it.