Jammu and Kashmir State Judicial Academy (SJA) today organised one-day special training programme on “Sentencing and victims compensation scheme, rights of victim and accused relating to sentencing and choosing appropriate sentence”, here at J&K State Judicial Academy, Moominabad.The training programme was inaugurated by Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar, Acting Chief Justice, High Court of J&K (Chief-Patron J&K State Judicial Academy) along with Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Hasnain Massodi, former Judges of High Court of J&K.In his inaugural address, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar highlighted that the judgment of the trial judge is respected by the highest courts if the same is in accordance with well-established principles of law and well reasoned.“He said that the Judge should not lose sight of the victim and ensure that compensation is paid to the victim of crime,” he said.Justice Ramalingam reiterated the need for the strict implementation of the J&K Victim Compensation Scheme 2013.He said the law confers a solemn duty on the court to apply its mind to the question of compensation in every criminal case.“The power of Judge is the knowledge of the law and at the time of delivering judgement, Judge has to give heart and soul to the judgement as it should be supported by cogent reasons so as to do complete justice between the parties.”
Acting Chief Justice, High Court, J&K emphasised upon the judges to read books of great authors, judges and jurists to improve their vision and horizon of knowledge as the society expects them to be the embodiment of knowledge and excellence.He said the intellect of the judge and his social understanding is reflected in his judgments.Earlier, introducing the subject of the programme, Director, J&K State Judicial Academy Abdul Rashid Malik said that “sentencing” is a facet of social justice and the judge has to take into consideration the plight of the victim as well as the cry of society for justice.“A Judge, while administering Justice, should not be influenced by the tides and currents of the human emotions as the personal philosophy or any other bias of Judge has no role to play in his judgements,” Malik said.Resource persons Justice, Muzaffar Hussain Attar, former Judge, High Court of J&K, Justice Hasnain Masoodi, former Judge, High Court of J&K and Abdul Rashid Malik, Director, J&K State Judicial Academy deliberated upon the concepts Sentencing in murder trials, Sentencing in trial of offences against women, children, rights of accused relating to sentencing and the salient features of J&K Victim Compensation Scheme, 2013.The programme was organized for judicial officers of districts Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Kupwara.The participants interacted with the judges and raised many issues concerning sentencing and victim compensation Act, 2013 which were responded by resource persons.