{ "schema_version": "qanun-law-text/1", "id": "punjab-code-52643a0fe862756a", "title": "PUNJAB ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ACT 2019", "source_collection": "Punjab", "content_kind": "stored_law_text", "content_extent": null, "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/U2sFNAo~ATI-", "version": null, "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T16:51:13Z", "legal_status": "not independently verified", "text_quality": "Complete stored UTF-8 TXT file recovered byte-for-byte from owned Drive. Source transcription retained verbatim; legal completeness, OCR accuracy and current consolidation unverified.", "text_sha256": "cf56e0132a35f9a791a2e8e6ce064586f88bbe9c2e08811405bdd14fa1c6869a", "source_sha256": "cf56e0132a35f9a791a2e8e6ce064586f88bbe9c2e08811405bdd14fa1c6869a", "text_version_id": "law:punjab-code-52643a0fe862756a:sha256:cf56e0132a35f9a791a2e8e6ce064586f88bbe9c2e08811405bdd14fa1c6869a", "quality_flags": [], "encoding": "UTF-8", "text": "THE PUNJAB ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ACT \r\n2019 \r\n(XVII of 2019) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Reference in civil disputes \r\n4. Reference in criminal disputes \r\n5. Power to record evidence during postponement \r\n6. Power to refer a case to ADR at any time \r\n7. Selection of ADR person \r\n8. Return to court \r\n9. Confidentiality \r\n10. Meaningful offer \r\n11. Who may perform ADR \r\n12. ADR proceedings \r\n13. Failure of ADR \r\n14. Judgement and Decree \r\n15. Appeal and revision barred \r\n16. Savings \r\n17. Application of certain laws \r\n18. Overriding effect \r\n19. Cases pending in appeal or revision \r\n20. Code of Conduct \r\n21. Accreditation Authority \r\n21-A. Director General \r\n22. Costs and fees of ADR \r\n23. Power to make rules \r\n24. Power to amend the Schedules \r\n25. Removal of difficulty \r\n26. Repeal \r\n \r\nSCHEDULE-I \r\n[See section 3(1)] \r\n \r\n \r\nSCHEDULE-II \r\n[See section 3(2)] \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE PUNJAB ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ACT 2019 \r\n(XVII of 2019) \r\n \r\n[11th October, 2019] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto provide for a system of alternate dispute resolution of civil and criminal disputes. \r\nIt is necessary to ensure inexpensive and expeditious justice by means of an alternate \r\ndispute resolution system. \r\nBe it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be cited as the \r\nPunjab Alternate Dispute Resolution Act 2019. \r\n(2) It shall extend to whole of the Punjab. \r\n(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by \r\nnotification in the official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be so appointed for \r\ndifferent areas of the Punjab. \r\n2. Definitions.– In this Act: \r\n(a) “Act” means the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution Act 2019; \r\n(b) “Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)” means a process in which parties’ \r\nresort to resolving a dispute, other than through adjudication by courts, \r\nand includes, but is not limited to, mediation, conciliation and evaluation; \r\n2[(c) “ADR service provider or ADR center” means ADR service provider or \r\nADR center accredited under the Act;] \r\n(d) ‘ADR person’ means a person who may undertake ADR under section \r\n11 of the Act; \r\n3[(dd) “Authority” means the accreditation Authority notified under section 21 \r\nof the Act;] \r\n4[(ddd) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority;] \r\n(e) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898) 5[or, as \r\nthe case may be, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908);] \r\n \r\n1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 19 September 2019; assented to by the Governor of the \r\nPunjab on 10 October 2019; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 11 October 2019, pp.1191-1195. \r\n2Substituted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.2. \r\n3Added by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.2. \r\n4Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.2. \r\n5Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Ga zette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.2. \r\n6[* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ] \r\n(g) ‘court’ means a criminal court or a civil court having original jurisdiction \r\nunder any law for the time being in force. \r\n7[(gg) “Director General” means the Director General of the Authority;] \r\n(h) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; \r\n8[* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ] \r\n(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules made under the Act; \r\n(k) “rules” means the rules made under the Act; and \r\n(l) “settlement” means the agreement reached between the parties as a \r\nresult of successful ADR. \r\n3. Reference in civil disputes .– (1) A court shall refer a case mentioned in \r\nSchedule I of the Act to ADR within thirty days of 9[from the date of filing of written \r\nstatement by the defendant]. \r\n (2) A trial court may refer a case mentioned in Schedule II of the Act to ADR \r\n10[person] at any time or stage where it is of the view that the case is likely to be \r\nresolved through ADR. \r\n(3) The court prior to referring the case to ADR 11[person] shall ask the \r\nparties their opinion as to the referral, and where a reference is made to ADR 12[person] \r\nwith the consent of the parties, the court may formulate the points in issue. \r\n(4) In every case where a reference is made to ADR 13[person], the court \r\nshall provide a time table for completion of ADR proceedings not exceeding 60 days: \r\nProvided that the court on the application of both the parties, may extend the \r\ntime granted for resolution of the case through ADR. \r\nProvided further that the total time granted for completion of ADR proceedings \r\nshall not exceed 14[120 days] in any case. \r\n(5) The trial of a case referred to ADR 15[person] shall be postponed till the \r\ncompletion of the time allotted for ADR proceedings under subsection (4). \r\n \r\n6Omitted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.2. \r\n7Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.2. \r\n8Omitted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 ( III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.2. \r\n9Substituted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.3. \r\n10Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.3. \r\n11Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.3. \r\n12Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the P unjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.3. \r\n13Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.3. \r\n14Substituted for the words “6 months” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published \r\nin the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.3. \r\n15Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.3. \r\n4. Reference in criminal disputes .– (1) A court shall refer a case falling under \r\nsection 345(1) of the Code to ADR 16[person] as follows: \r\n(a) in a case arising out of a police report: \r\n(i) on the application by the concerned public prosecutor with the \r\nconsent of the complainant at any time before framing of the \r\ncharge; or \r\n(ii) on its own within seven days of the framing of the charge; \r\n(b) in a case arising out of a complaint, on its own, within seven days of the \r\nsummoning of the accused \r\n (2) A court may refer a case falling under section 345(2) of the Code to ADR \r\n17[person] as follows: \r\n(a) in a case arising out of a police report, with the agreement of the \r\npublic prosecutor concerned, at any time after framing of charge \r\n(b) in cases arising out of a complaint, with the 18[consent] of the \r\nparties to the case, at any time after framing of the charge \r\n(3) In every case where a reference is made to ADR 19[person] under this \r\nsection, the court shall provide a time period for completion of the ADR proceedings \r\nnot exceeding 20[sixty] days: \r\n Provided that the court may, on application of the parties to the case, extend \r\nthe said time for a further period of 21[sixty] days. \r\n(4) The court which makes a referral to ADR 22[person] under subsection (1) \r\nshall postpone the trial of the case till the completion of the time allotted for ADR \r\nproceedings under subsection (3) unless there are compelling reasons to proceed with \r\nthe trial. \r\n(5) A court which makes a referral under subsection (2) shall proceed with \r\nthe trial in the manner provided by the Code. \r\n5. Power to record evidence during postponement .– (1) Nothing in section 3 \r\nor 4 shall prohibit or restrain the court from recording evidence which is likely to \r\nbecome unavailable due to postponement of trial. \r\n (2) The court may order the recording of evidence of such person on its own \r\nor on the application of any party to the trial including the public prosecutor. \r\n \r\n16Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Ga zette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.4. \r\n17Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.4. \r\n18Substituted for the word “agreement” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published \r\nin the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.4. \r\n19Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Reso lution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.4. \r\n20Substituted for the word “ninety” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published in \r\nthe Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.4. \r\n21Substituted for the word “ninety” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published in \r\nthe Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.4. \r\n22Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.4. \r\n6. Power to refer a case to ADR 23[person] at any time.– (1) Nothing in section \r\n3 or 4 shall prohibit or restrain a court from referring a case to ADR 24[person] at any \r\nstage of the case with the consent of the parties. \r\n (2) Where a referral is made under sub section (1), the court may if it thinks \r\nfit: \r\n(a) fix a time period for completion of ADR; and \r\n(b) postpone the trial during the period given for completion of ADR \r\nproceedings. \r\n7. Selection of ADR person.– 25[(1) The parties to the case may, with their mutual \r\nconsent, select ADR person who shall undertake ADR.] \r\n(2) Where the parties are unable to agree on one or more persons for \r\nconduct of ADR proceedings, the court shall provide a list of accredited ADR service \r\nproviders 26[and] ADR centers to the parties for selection. \r\n(3) Where the parties are unable to arrive at a common decision, the court \r\nshall make a reference to an accredited ADR service provider or ADR center in the \r\nprescribed manner. \r\n27[8. Return to court.- (1) A case referred to ADR person shall be returned to \r\nthe court o n completion of ADR proceedings or on the expiry of the time provided \r\nunder section 3 or 4 of the Act, whichever is earlier, in such manner as may be \r\nprescribed. \r\n (2) An ADR service provider or an ADR center or ADR person shall retain a \r\ncopy of the settlement, award or agreement, notices and any other document or \r\ncorrespondence made in writing during the ADR proceedings.] \r\n9. Confidentiality.– Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the \r\ntime being in force, the person performing ADR and the parties taking part in the ADR \r\nproceedings shall keep all matters confidential relating to such proceedings. \r\n10. Meaningful offer .– Where a meaningful offer is made by a party to a civil \r\ndispute and is rejected by the other, the party which rejects the offer shall not be \r\nentitled to costs for the suit and the other party shall be entitled to costs. \r\nExplanation: A ‘meaningful offer’ is an offer which is substantially the same as \r\nthe decree or order of the court. \r\n11. Who may perform ADR.– (1) ADR under this Act may be undertaken by: \r\n(a) parties directly; \r\n \r\n23Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.5. \r\n24Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.5. \r\n25Substituted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.6. \r\n26Substituted for the word “or” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.6. \r\n27Substituted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.7. \r\n(b) 28[counsels] of parties; \r\n 29\r\n[\r\n30\r\n[(c) mediator judge to be nominated by the Lahore High Court;]] \r\n (d) an accredited ADR service provider; and \r\n (e) an accredited ADR center. \r\n(2) An ADR center shall not be accredited unless it is registered under the \r\nCompanies Act, 2017 (XIX of 2017) \r\n(3) An ADR Center and an ADR 31[service] provider shall be accredited in \r\nthe prescribed manner. \r\n12. ADR proceedings.– (1) The parties to the dispute may take part in the ADR \r\nproceedings in person, through authorized agents or attorneys. \r\n(2) An attorney who has acted for a party in an ADR proceedings shall not \r\nrepresent 32[other] party in the case with regard to the same matter. \r\n13. Failure of ADR.– Where a matter has not been resolved or cannot be resolved \r\nthrough ADR on referral, the court shall proceed to adjudicate the dispute or remaining \r\ndispute in accordance with law. \r\n14. Judgement and Decree.– (1) When the outcome of the ADR is returned to the \r\ncourt and the court finds that the matter has been completely or partially resolved in \r\naccordance with law, the court shall pronounce judgment and in case of a civil dispute \r\npass a decree in terms of the settlement. \r\n(2) Where the outcome of ADR is not clear, the court may ask the ADR \r\nperson to provide the requisite clarification. \r\n15. Appeal and revision barred .– (1) No revision or appeal shall lie from the \r\ndecree or order of the court under this Act 33[*****]. \r\n34[* * * * * * * * * * * * ] \r\n16. Savings.– (1) Save as provided in the Act, the ADR proceedings shall be \r\nprivileged and shall not be admissible in evidence before any court without consent of \r\nthe parties and the person undertaking ADR shall not be required to appear as a \r\nwitness or otherwise in any arbitral or judicial proceedings with respect to the dispute \r\nthat is or has been the subject matter of the ADR but the final settlement, award or \r\n \r\n28Substituted for the word “counsel” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published in \r\nthe Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.8. \r\n29Omitted the “clause (c)” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 202 3), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.8. \r\n30Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, p. 2681, s.2(c). \r\n31Substituted for the word “services” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published \r\nin the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.8. \r\n32Substituted for the word “another” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published in \r\nthe Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.9. \r\n33Omitted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.10. \r\n34Omitted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.10. \r\nagreement, wholly or partly, between the parties shall be admissible in evidence in \r\nany subsequent proceedings between them relating to the same subject matter. \r\n (2) The ADR person shall not act as an agent or attorney of any party to the \r\nADR, in any subsequent proceedings with respect to a dispute that is or has been the \r\nsubject matter of the ADR. \r\n (3) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against an ADR \r\nperson or any other person connected with the ADR proceedings for anything which \r\nis done or intended to be done in good faith under the Act except where the ADR \r\nperson allowed or ordered the commission of an offence in retaliation of an offence \r\nwhich was the subject of ADR proceedings before him. \r\n17. Application of certain laws.– (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act the Oaths \r\nAct, 1873 (X of 1873) and the rules made thereunder shall apply mutatis mutandis to \r\nthe proceedings under the Act. \r\n (2) Save as provided in the Act, the Qanun-e-Shahadat 35[*****], 1984 (P.O. \r\nNo. 10 of 1984) shall not apply to the ADR proceedings under the Act: \r\nProvided that the ADR person may adhere to principles of evidence contained \r\nin the Qanun-e-Shahadat 36[*****], 1984. \r\n18. Overriding effect.– The provisions of the Act shall have effect notwithstanding \r\nanything contained in any other law for the time being in force. \r\n19. Cases pending in appeal or revision.– The provision of the Act shall, with the \r\nconsent of the parties, apply mutatis mutandis to a dispute pending adjudication in an \r\nappeal or revision. \r\n20. Code of Conduct.– (1) The Government shall prescribe a Code of Conduct for \r\nADR service providers and ADR centers accredited under this Act. \r\n(2) An ADR service provider and an ADR center shall comply with and act \r\nin accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct. \r\n(3) An ADR service provider or an ADR center who commits a violation of \r\nthe Code of Conduct shall be removed from the list of accredited service providers or \r\ncenters by the prescribed authority. \r\n37[21. Authority.- (1) The Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department of the \r\nGovernment shall, through a notification to be published in the official Gazette, \r\nnotify the following Authority: \r\n(a) a retired judge of the Lahore High Court \r\nrecommended by the Chief Justice, Lahore High \r\nCourt; \r\nChairperson \r\n(b) Secretary to the Government, Law and \r\nParliamentary Affairs Department or his nominee \r\nnot below the rank of Additional \r\nSecretary/Director; \r\nMember \r\n \r\n35Omitted the word “Order” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.11. \r\n36Omitted the word “Order” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.11. \r\n37Substituted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.12. \r\n(c) Secretary to the Government, Finance \r\nDepartment or his nominee not below the rank of \r\nAdditional Secretary; \r\nMember \r\n(d) Secretary to the Government, Public Prosecution \r\nDepartment or his nominee not below the rank of \r\nAdditional Secretary; \r\nMember \r\n(e) six experts each from Law, Engineering, \r\nAccounting, Banking, Audit and Finance 38[out of \r\nwhich expert from Law shall be nominated by the \r\nChief Justice, Lahore High Court while other \r\nexperts shall be nominated by the Chief Minister]; \r\nand \r\nMembers \r\n(f) Director General. Member/ \r\nSecretary \r\n(2) The Chairperson shall serve for a period of three years from the date \r\nof notification under subsection (1). \r\n(3) The Chairperson shall be entitled to such perks and privileges as may \r\nbe determined by the Government, but such perks and privileges shall not be less \r\nthan those which had lastly been drawn by the incumbent at the time of his \r\nretirement. \r\n(4) The non -official members, provided at clause (e) of subsection 1, \r\nshall be appointed for a period of two years and entitled to such perks and privileges \r\nas may be determined by the Government. \r\n(5) The Chief Minister may, at any time, subject to such reasons and in \r\nsuch manner as may be prescribed, remove the Chairperson and the members \r\nprovided at clauses (e) and (f) of subsect ion (1) after consulting the Chief Justice, \r\nLahore High Court. \r\n(6) If any vacancy occurs in the office of the Chairperson or the members \r\nprovided at clauses (e) and (f) of subsection (1) due to resignation, removal or any \r\nother reason, the Chairperson and the members provided at clauses (e) and (f) of \r\nsubsection (1) shall be appointed for the remaining period. \r\n(7) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority shall be five members \r\nincluding the Chairperson unless the Chairperson decides otherwise. \r\n(8) The Government shall provide requisite funds to the Authority to \r\nperform its functions under the Act and the rules. \r\n(9) The recruitment of the employees of the Authority shall be made on \r\nsuch terms and conditions as may be prescribed. \r\n(10) The Authority shall accredit ADR service providers and ADR centers \r\nin such manner and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.] \r\n \r\n38Substituted for the words “recommended by the Chief Justice, Lahore High Court” by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution \r\n(Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, p. 2681, s.3. \r\n39[21-A. Director General .- 40[(1) The Chief Minister shall appoint Director \r\nGeneral of the Authority from amongst the officers of Pakistan Administrative \r\nService, retired in BPS 20 or above, or from amongst the retired District and \r\nSessions Judges, for a period of two years.] \r\n (2) The Director General shall be entitled to such perks and priv ileges \r\nas may be determined by the Government, 41[* * *]. \r\n (3) The Director General shall also be the Secretary of the Authority \r\nand shall perform such functions as may be assigned to him by the Chairperson or \r\nthe Authority, or as may be prescribed.] \r\n22. Costs and fees of ADR .– The costs and fees of the ADR proceeding, if \r\nrequired, shall be borne by the parties in such proportion as may be mutually agreed \r\nupon by them failing which it shall be determined by the 42[court]. \r\n23. Power to make rules.– (1) The Government may, by notification in the official \r\nGazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act. \r\n (2) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1), the Government may \r\nmake rules: \r\n(a) to provide for ethical conduct in the provision of ADR services by \r\nlicensed ADR service providers and ADR centers; \r\n(b) to provide for accreditation of licensed ADR service providers; \r\n(c) to provide for documentation of decisions; and \r\n(d) to provide for procedures to be adopted during ADR proceedings. \r\n24. Power to amend the Schedules .– The Government may 43[*****] amend the \r\nschedules to the Act, from time to time, so as to add an entry thereto or omit therefrom \r\nor modify any entry therein. \r\n44[24-A. Public servants.– The Chairperson, the non -official members, the Director \r\nGeneral and employees of the Authority acting or purporting to act in pursuance of \r\nany provision of the Act, shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of \r\nsection 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860).] \r\n \r\n39Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.13. \r\n40Substituted the by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, p. 2681, s.4(a). \r\n41Omitted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 5 (III of 2025 ), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, p. 2681, s.4(b). \r\n42Substituted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 2023 (III of 2023), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.14. \r\n43Omitted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Ga zette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.15. \r\n44Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.16. \r\n25. Removal of difficulty.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision \r\nof the Act, the Government may 45[*****] make such order not inconsistent with the \r\nprovisions of the Act as may be necessary to remove the difficulty. \r\n26. Repeal.– Subject to the provisions of section 19 of the Act, section 89-A of the \r\nCode of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) and clause (iii), Rule 1A, Order X in the \r\nFirst Schedule to that Code, to the extent of the Punjab, are hereby repealed. \r\n \r\n \r\n45Omitted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.17. \r\nSCHEDULE-I \r\n[See section 3(1)] \r\n(1) A dispute between a landlord and tenant under the Punjab Rented Premises \r\nAct, 2009 (VII of 2009). \r\n(2) Dispute involving pre-emption under the Punjab Pre -Emption Act, 1991 (IX of \r\n1991). \r\n(3) Disputes relating to 46[ownership and] possession of immovable property. \r\n(4) Family disputes including guardianship and custody of minor children. \r\n(5) Dispute arising out of enforcement of commercial contracts except those that \r\nin fall in schedule II. \r\n(6) Suits for specific performance of contracts except those that fall in schedule II. \r\n(7) Disputes arising out of negotiable instruments under the Negotiable \r\nInstruments Act, 1881 (XXVI of 1881) except those that fall in schedule II. \r\n(8) Suits arising out of Tort except those that fall in schedule II. \r\n(9) Dispute for recovery of movable property or value thereof. \r\n(10) Dispute for separate possession of joint immovable property through partition \r\nor otherwise including claims for mesne profits. \r\n(11) Disputes for rendition of accounts of joint property. \r\n(12) Disputes to remove nuisance. \r\n(13) Disputes involving recovery of money. \r\n(14) Cases relating to inheritance including declaration and succession. \r\n \r\nSCHEDULE-II \r\n[See section 3(2)] \r\n(1) Disputes relating to ownership of immoveable property. \r\n(2) Disputes relating to professional negligence under To rt and those under the \r\nPunjab Consumer Protection Act, 2005 (II of 2005). \r\n(3) Suits under the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 (LVII of 1962). \r\n(4) Disputes involving copy rights and patents under the Copyright Ordinance, \r\n1962 (XXXIV of 1962) and the Patents Ordin ance, 2000 (LXI of 2000) \r\nrespectively. \r\n(5) Disputes involving trademarks under the Trademarks Ordinance, 2001 (XIX of \r\n2001). \r\n(6) Suits for redemption of mortgaged property under the Transfer of Property Act, \r\n1882 (IV of 1882). \r\n(7) Cases relating to Waqf and Trusts under the relevant laws for the time being in \r\nforce. \r\n \r\n46Inserted by the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Act 202 3 (III of 2023) , published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 03 February 2023, pp. 3743-3746, s.18.", "passage_offset_convention": "zero-based Unicode code points and UTF8 bytes; end exclusive", "passages": [ { "passage_id": 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