Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) - The Need of the Hour and Cure for Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

Abstract

Now the pandemic has mandated several adjustments which are adaptive and innovative including in the arena of dispute resolution. One of the primary aspects of society is justice delivery and ADR has been an alternative solution for delayed justice but due to pandemic even it sets back. So, the interplay of technology and using certain technological mechanisms to help dispute resolution could greatly take the burden of the courts. Especially, during the pandemic period but even as a longerterm policy in mind with all the advances we are seeing on an innovation basis as well as the complete openness of the judiciary to use technology to its fullest, this is the right time for something like online dispute resolution to take place wholly. Often ODR is confused with virtual courts Interchangeably but worldwide the way ODR is evolving indicates that it is totally different from virtual courts. One of the main tenets of ODR is that it is happening outside of the public court system and given that it is still at the very nascent stage, there is no fixed definition of ODR. As cases are clogging our judicial system, ODR will prevent the cases from clogging but the mood question is how do we unlock or unmask the potential of ODR is the major question that comes into dispute. Which is why the NITI Aayog has released a report for ODR to deal with its concepts. The key element is that there should be some usage of ICT tools towards dispute resolution and this could range from simple to complex tools. Considering pandemic and everything as in online, ODR is considered as need of the hour and it will be the best cure for Justice delayed is justice denied.