JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir State Judicial Academy on Sunday conducted one-day training programme on remedial measures to cut short delays in civil and criminal cases, procedure in complaint cases with special emphasis on complaints under Negotiable Instrument Act and framing of issues for Sub-Judges and Munsiffs of Jammu province.
The programme was organised under the guidance and patronage of Chief Patron of J and K State Judicial Academy, Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Committee of Judges, State Judicial Academy including Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, Chairman and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Member.
Chairman, State Judicial Academy, Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar inaugurated the programme and the proceedings were conducted by Abdul Rashid Malik, Director of the Academy.
He welcomed Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, Jaffer Hussain Beigh, District and Sessions Judge and participating officers.
In his introductory remarks, Malik highlighted the role of trial judge as the pivot around whom entire proceedings in the Court revolve. Trial Judge is the captain of the ship in the Court and has to assert himself to avoid delay, adjournments and injustice.
While interacting with Judicial Officers, who highlighted practical difficulties being faced by them, Justice Attar having varied experience both as a lawyer and Judge of the High Court gave practical instances and suggested remedial measures to cut short delays in civil and criminal cases.
Justice Attar enlightened the participants regarding ways and means which Trial Judges can adopt to avoid unnecessary adjournments. He cautioned the Judicial Officers that adjournments cannot be granted at the drop of the hat. The Court has a sacred duty to see that the trial is conducted as per law. If adjournments are granted without any sufficient cause, it would tantamount to violation of rule of law and eventually turns the trial into a farce, he said.
Second session of the programme was dealt by Jaffer Hussain Beigh, District and Sessions Judge on the topic ‘Procedure in complaint cases with special emphasis on complaints under Negotiable Instrument Act. He cleared confusions and doubts which the participants had about the various legal provisions and procedures.
All the participants took part in the deliberations with great interest.
The latest judgments of Supreme Court with regard to jurisdiction as well as amendments in the Negotiable Instrument Act were also deliberated during the discussion.
In the post lunch session, D.C Raina, Senior Advocate, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir deliberated upon the ‘Role and Responsibility of Trial Judges to overcome delays in civil and criminal cases, Adjournments, duty of Civil Courts at the time of examination of parties and framing of Issues’.
He dealt with the tools and techniques of case flow management, granting of adjournments, examination of parties, framing of issues and Court craft. While emphasising speedy disposal of cases, Raina seriously informed the learned Trial Judges that granting of unnecessary adjournments is a sin. While sharing his experience regarding court management, the learned senior advocate requested the Judicial Officers to firmly guide and educate the ministerial staff in the matter of issuance of summons and process in order to avoid delay at the initial stage.
The programme was concluded with vote of thanks by the Director, State Judicial Academy.