How legal tech startup Jupitice helping deliver justice online

Everything is online except justice. The idea that justice is not just a sovereign function, but should be treated as a service just like other factors where it all started and now stands as a reality in the form of Jupitice.com. Jupitice is the world's first justice technology company that has given birth to a new space in the technology sector called 'JusTech.' Jupitice has designed and developed the world's first next generation justice technology platform to deliver justice services online. It is remarkable that Mediation Bill is soon going to be a legislation. "The mediation process is non-adversarial and informal," says Raman Aggarwal, founder & CEO, Jupitice.com, in an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz

There is no mechanism or initiatives by government or civil society organizations to develop, promote and create awareness with regard to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism. Legal community has also misconceptions of losing their legal practice with the introduction of ADR mechanisms. Therefore, recommending litigation mechanism over ADR mechanism to their clients is also one of the major reasons that MSMEs lack knowledge around the private justice system

Jupitice has also aggregated world's first 'online justice services marketplace' to connect disputants with the dispute resolution professionals across the globe. Anyone, whether an individual or businesses or government, can create their account on the platform, hire the arbitrator or conciliator or mediator, and execute the dispute resolution process, from drafting through filing to decision, end-to-end on a single platform

What is the critical role of online dispute resolution? Does it work for cross border disputes also?

Online dispute resolution (ODR) has removed the geographical barriers, cultural barriers and made the dispute resolution process intelligent and automated. ODR particularly a mechanism conceived by United Nation has been particularly developed to resolve cross border disputes.

In India, the company said it has resolved financial disputes of several MSMEs thus helping them to release cash to meet their financial commitments. How many cases have been resolved to date?

In a very brief period of time, Jupitice has resolved over 300 cases out of the 8000 cases filed within the platform so far.

Still, a large section of MSMEs are not using the platform because of a lack of awareness of the private justice system. What is the reason?

There is no mechanism or initiatives by government or civil society organizations to develop, promote and create awareness with regard to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism. Legal community has also misconceptions of losing their legal practice with the introduction of ADR mechanisms. Therefore, recommending litigation mechanism over ADR mechanism to their clients is also one of the major reasons that MSMEs lack knowledge around the private justice system.

As a technology company, these are third-generation tools that are much more efficient compared to legacy tools used by traditional ODR platforms. Your views?

Yes, third generation tools drive more efficiency due to high level of automation through algorithm and AI besides minimal asymmetry of information.

What is your stand on the Mediation Bill?

It is remarkable that Mediation Bill is soon going to be a legislation. The mediation process is non-adversarial and informal. It does not involve any complex procedures. The key advantage of Mediation Bill will be granting the status of court decree to settlement reached out of mediation.

How will the mediation bill change the current judiciary system? What changes can we see after the implementation of the Mediation Bill?

The power of Judicial System lies in the enforceability of their decision. The Mediation Bill will also grant the same power to the settlement agreement that would be court enforceable.

Please tell us about the Jupitice & How does it work?

Jupitice is the world's first justice technology company that has given birth to a new space in the technology sector called 'JusTech.' Jupitice has designed and developed the world's first next generation justice technology platform to deliver justice services online. Jupitice has also aggregated world's first 'online justice services marketplace' to connect disputants with the dispute resolution professionals across the globe. Anyone, whether an individual or businesses or government, can create their account on the platform, hire the arbitrator or conciliator or mediator, and execute the dispute resolution process, from drafting through filing to decision, end-to-end on a single platform.

What was the idea behind Jupitice.com? When you say one-stop solution than what kind of solution is offered by Jupitice?

Everything is online except justice. The idea that justice is not just a sovereign function, but should be treated as a service just like other actors was where it all started and now stands as a reality in the form of Jupitice.

When it comes to resolving disputes under ADR mechanism, an individual needs a neutral, a designated place to perform the dispute resolution process, case managers, set of procedural rules, and a mode of payment among others. When we say that Jupitice is one-stop solution, it means we provide all the above-mentioned services on a single platform.

Unlike the commonly-held belief that the legal processes are very complex, how is the alternate dispute resolution procedure simpler?

Undoubtedly, the ADR procedures are way simpler than the legal processes. Unlike the formal Judicial System, when a person opts for resolving disputes through ADR mechanisms, he is provided with the choice to appoint a judge (after mutual agreement), choose a place for execution of the process, schedule a date and time, and the set of procedural rules. In simple words, the ADR mechanism provides you with number of ways to settle your disputes amicably than adjudication, which is more complex and formal way of resolving disputes.

Keeping a note of the ever-increasing disputes worldwide and the widening justice gap (5 billion people without any access to justice). How much Jupitice is helpful?

Jupitice understands the worldwide justice gap, which has been taking a toll on people, judiciaries and governments across the globe. Ever since its inception, Jupitice has been working towards filling the justice gap through three key initiatives: 1) Jupitice has brought the justice online 2) It has treated the justice as service and 3) It has been promoting moving the dispute resolution from litigation to settlement.

Since it's a digital platform, without any physical contact so how are such platforms becoming the need of the hour?

In the context of the pandemic, use of a digital platform for justice delivery was not just a vision but a necessity. Undoubtedly, digital technology not only drives high level of efficiency but also enhances access to justice from anywhere, any device and anytime. Elimination of redundant processes in the traditional methods and utilization of digital skills has led to realization of the unconceivable concepts to ensure faster, efficient, secure and transparent delivery of justice services online.

What are the expansion plans of Jupitice?

We are planning to open our satellite offices in the top 15 economies in the next two years for the purpose of making strategic tie-ups to introduce this platform across the globe. New York, San Francisco, Brazil, London, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong are some of our preferred locations.