Kiran Bedi at The Park on Monday. Picture by Pabitra Das

Kiran Bedi was in town this Monday for Sananda’s Kiraner Courtey, a live version of the STAR Plus show Aap Ki Kacheri — Kiran Ke Saath to go on air in October. Aap Ki Kacheri would be the first reality show on Indian television to try and settle out-of court disputes and the person making the tough decisions is Kiran Bedi. t2 caught up with the country’s first woman IPS officer who is really excited to carry forward her “facilitator” role on national television…

What excited you about the concept?

It is an extension of my role which I am voluntarily doing all the time. First as a serving officer and then from my two NGOs and five family counselling centres. Through these forums, we have been solving cases for a long time. So when STAR Plus approached me with Aap Ki Kacheri, it seemed very natural to me. Because more than crime detection, crime prevention has been my goal all my life. And resolution is crime prevention.

Are out-of-court settlements popular?

Whenever there is a facility available, people go. We at the family counselling centres have a busy time. It is a very good initiative from the Central Social Welfare Board. See, everything is not at the ultimate stage of going to the court. They sometimes want to be heard, they want a resolution, they want help to restore harmony. And they don’t want to go to the police which might lead to an arrest. You don’t go to the police for personal matters. You would rather look for shorter answers.

What kind of “entries” did you get for Aap Ki Kacheri?

Lots of family violence, not just husband-wife strife. They were even between women — mother-in-law and daughter-in-law — and between men — father and son. It’s also come from distant relationships, from property issues and from business friends. They would have lived in dispute, in acrimony, in violence had they not had this alternative.

On what basis did you select cases?

Firstly they could not have been sub-judice. Ours is a social alternative and not a legal alternative. It also depends on whether both the parties are willing. Because we are not looking at one side of the story. Both must have a grievance. Something we can cross-check with our efficient research team.

You have already shot 20-odd episodes. Have you been able to resolve a majority of the problems?

A majority, yes! They all need not be. They got heard, that’s it. But by and large it was amazing the way we could resolve their problems. Including a drug addict who comes and admits that he is a druggie and he has been beating up his wife. But he also wants his wife back now. Then we have also got experts on the show to give the larger perspective. Experts in personal law, health… Kacheri inducts specialists when they are needed. I am not an expert in everything.

Which was your most challenging case on the show?

It was a property issue which was lying in the family for six years. There was a lot of family agony, a total disruption between a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law… They were living in the same house but not talking to each other. They had fortunately not gone to court. They came to us and after the Kacheri they said that their problem of nine years was solved in 40 minutes. In the end they signed the agreement and resolved the issue.

Were you comfortable doing a show on television with all the lights and camera?

I would say it took me some time. I just had to put it away and then I got used to it. But I would say it’s not easy, it’s pretty tough. I look forward to the excitement now.