Arbitration Tribunal Adjunction And Alternative Dispute Resolution

Ad-hoc arbitration is a form of arbitration where the parties agree to resolve their dispute without institutional support. Its key features include:
No Institutional Rules: It is not administered by any permanent arbitration institution.
Party Autonomy: Parties have freedom to decide the procedure, number of arbitrators, and other aspects.
Flexibility: Procedures are tailor-made by the parties, allowing more informality.
Cost-Effectiveness: Often less expensive due to absence of institutional fees.
Enforceability: Awards are enforceable under laws such as the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Risk of Delay or Complexity: Lack of institutional oversight may lead to delays or procedural disputes.

An arbitral award and a court judgement or order both resolve disputes, but they differ in several ways.
Similarities:
Both are binding decisions on the parties involved.
Both aim to settle disputes and provide a final determination on the matter.
Both can be enforced legally under respective laws.
Differences:
Authority: Court judgements are delivered by state-appointed judges, while arbitral awards are given by private arbitrators agreed upon by parties.
Procedure: Court proceedings follow strict procedural and evidentiary laws; arbitration is generally more flexible and informal.
Appealability: Court judgements can often be appealed to higher courts; arbitral awards have limited grounds for challenge.
Confidentiality: Arbitration is usually private and confidential, whereas court proceedings are generally public.

According to the Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. vs. Cherian Varley Construction Co. ruling, mediation is generally not applicable for disputes involving criminal offenses because such cases require formal legal proceedings and cannot be resolved through alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation. Mediation is more suited for civil disputes such as commercial contracts, matrimonial issues, and consumer disputes.
Option (A) Commercial contract disputes can be mediated.
Option (B) Matrimonial and custody issues are often resolved through mediation.
Option (C) Criminal offenses are excluded from mediation due to their serious legal nature.
Option (D) Consumer disputes can be subject to mediation.

Lok Adalats are an alternative dispute resolution mechanism in India designed to provide speedy and amicable settlement of disputes. They are informal forums where procedural laws are relaxed, and parties can interact directly with judges or conciliators to resolve issues without the complexities of formal court procedures.
Mediation and Conciliation are also alternative dispute mechanisms but generally do not involve judges directly.
Tribunals are formal quasi-judicial bodies that follow procedural laws more strictly than Lok Adalats. Lok Adalat’s informal nature and direct interaction with judges make it unique and advantageous.