HPNLU Inaugurates 4th Samanvay International Mediation Competition

Shimla, 26 September 2026

Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla, under the leadership of the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Priti Saxena, hosted the inaugural ceremony of the 4th Samanvay International Mediation Competition on 26 September 2026, bringing together law students and distinguished professionals from the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and mediation.

In her Presidential Address, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Priti Saxena welcomed the participating teams, mediators and experts to the 4th Samanvay International Mediation Competition. She highlighted the growing significance of mediation and other Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms in ensuring accessible, efficient and amicable resolution of disputes. Emphasising the importance of practical legal education, she encouraged students to actively engage with the competition as a platform for developing negotiation, communication and problem-solving skills that are essential for the contemporary legal profession. She also appreciated the efforts of the ADR Cell and the Clinical Legal Education Centre in fostering a culture of dialogue, consensus-building and peaceful dispute resolution among future legal professionals.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by eminent personalities from the legal and ADR fraternity. Mr. Rajiv Shankar Dwivedi, Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India and an accredited Arbitrator, addressed the participants on the growing relevance of mediation in contemporary legal practice. He highlighted mediation as an emerging and promising career avenue and emphasized its increasing significance as a preferred mode of dispute resolution.

Ld. Senior Advocate Vijay Kumar Arora, a registered foreign lawyer before the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC), shared valuable insights into the practical dimensions of mediation and other ADR mechanisms. He explained how mediation is a party-centric and mutually beneficial process that enables efficient and collaborative resolution of disputes while preserving relationships.

The gathering also received a special virtual address from Mr. Corrado Mora, International Mediator, ADR Consultant and Trainer based in Italy. Congratulating the organisers and participants, he elaborated on the advantages of mediation and arbitration in resolving cross-border disputes and highlighted the growing importance of consensual dispute resolution mechanisms in the global legal landscape.

The presence of distinguished professionals from India and abroad added an international dimension to the inaugural ceremony and underscored the growing importance of mediation and consensual dispute resolution in modern legal systems.

The 4th Samanvay International Mediation Competition seeks to provide participating students with an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills in mediation, negotiation, communication and conflict resolution while engaging with experienced practitioners and experts from the ADR fraternity. The competition has attracted participation from 38 teams from across India, including international teams from Singapore.

The online rounds of the competition will be conducted from 27 to 29 September 2026, while the advanced rounds are scheduled to be held from 1 to 3 November 2026 at the HPNLU campus.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Cell (ADR Cell), HPNLU, Shimla, functions under the Clinical Legal Education Centre (CLEC) of the University under the directorship of Prof. (Dr.) Grijesh Shukla. The event was organized by Dr. Ruchi Gupta, Chairperson, ADRC, HPNLU, Shimla and team