Chief Justice J&K High Court Badar Durrez Ahmad on Saturday inaugurated a one-month long Induction Training Programme for newly appointed Civil Judges (Junior Division) organized by State Judicial Academy.Chairman, J&K State Judicial Academy, Justice Alok Aradhe, Member, J&K State Judicial Academy, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Member, J&K State Judicial Academy, Justice M K Hanjura, Director JKSJA, Abdul Rashid Malik, Registrars, Principals, Judicial Officers, Resource persons and Newly Appointed Civil Judges (Junior Division) were also present in the inaugural ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad said that there is no competition for a Judge except fairness and sense of doing justice and being fair.While stressing on maintaining integrity, Chief Justice said that it is the hallmark of judicial system and an ability to be true to your thinking and practice what you preach. “Doing justice and being fair is the most important aspect of judicial system and one’s integrity shall not be doubtful while delivering justice,” he added.He further said that it is also one’s honesty and ability to accept mistakes and rectify the same. “It is beginning where you build your confidence and proceed with hard work, positive minds and dedication,” he noted.“The job of judge should be like a hermit, unbiased, fair and think independently.
Besides, judges have to be very careful of priming and should not get influenced by the prosecution, defence or any other thing,” he added.Justice M. K. Hanjura, in his address highlighted that the office of Judge is not a matter of status and authority but it is a pious responsibility to be discharged with great care, concern and compassion.On the occasion, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal emphasized that the most important function of the Judge is to conduct the proceedings in a fair, orderly and dignified manner. He also said that finding the truth of contested issues of fact is the first concern of a trial judge. “Based on facts ascertained, the judge has to apply the law and give his decision on guilt, liability etc.,” he added.Justice Alok Aradhe in his speech stressed upon the Trainee Judges that it is paramount on the part of a judicial officer to constantly remember that at court he is alone, “It only conveys a simple thing that is ‘you’ and you alone are responsible for your own deed and action and to that extent you are alone”.“A judge must have intellectual integrity which means avoidance of egoism and self-hypocrisy. Social hypocrisy at times may be excusable but self hypocrisy is not only inexcusable but condemnable. A judge should have physical morality, intellectual objectivity and constitutional ethicality,” he added. Earlier in the proceedings, Director JKSJA welcomed the newly appointed civil judges and also thanked Chief Justice for arranging one-month intensive training program and briefed the participants regarding the intensive training course for one month and stated that the integrity of a Judge should never be compromised.“We are hopeful that after undergoing this training you will feel confident and more positive after taking job of court judges and to act on different complex situation you face at court,” he added.