Neutral evaluation or Early neutral evaluation (ENE), also sometimes called case evaluation, is the process of assessing the facts, legal ethics or evidence. It is non- binding dispute resolution method. The primary purpose of neutral evaluation or ENE is to facilitate further negotiations so both the parties involved in the case have an idea of what they can expect in a further hearing/ litigation/ trial. This is a form of ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) in which there is a neutral party, this neutral party usually hears summary and arguments from both sides or parties and gives an opinion.

Neutral evaluation is usually a confidential process. As mentioned before, there is neutral party (third party) and this neutral party is an expert in subject matter that is related to the dispute. This third neutral party hears the case facts, arguments and comes up with the expected outcome of the case. This usually helps in reducing the cost of litigation and cut the time in the litigation process.

This ADR process has its own advantages and its disadvantages. The primary benefit of this process is its quick and if it is successful, it can help cut the costs of litigation. It acts as a neutral guidance on the strength and weakness of the position and may provide for a resolution. But there are also some difficulties in this process. For instance, difficulties can arise if one of the parties is not confident of evaluation; maintaining the confidentiality of the process is a huge difficulty. In the Indian legislature, Section 89 of the Civil Procedure Code provides for the ENE.

Neutral Evaluation may aid in de-customizing an issue by giving customers an open door for purification, subsequently evacuating an at some point real snag to beneficial settlement exchanges. It can likewise help with treating ridiculous desires for the outcome. The nonpartisan evaluator's goal and fair-minded appraisal fill in as a "rude awakening" for the gatherings and their attorneys, finishing silly issues or in a general sense modifying their desires. It brings to the arrangement table genuine and reasonable offers (or rejection of cases) that may, in the end, result in an early settlement. Used as a guard for other debate goals forms, Neutral Evaluation can decrease the danger of not picking the DR procedure that is most appropriate for a specific contest. Nonpartisan Evaluation gives the gatherings the likelihood of investigating all the fitting DR choices after the debate hosts emerged without limiting any get-together ahead of time to any unseemly alternative. It is a protected harbour inside which gatherings who may not generally be amiable to DR can contemplate the possibilities. To that degree, the Indian legal executive should slant themselves to receive ENE to determine the questions at the beginning period, given the slow rise of ADR inside the nation.