Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Tashi Rabstan, today called for a collaborated and integrated approach in fighting drug menace in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
He was speaking as chief guest in a seminar on the topic “DRUG USE; ADDICTION, EFFECTS AND SOLUTIONS: A CUE FOR CAPACITY BUILDING UNDER NASHA MUKT BHARAT ABHIYAN” organised by the J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu in collaboration with the Criminologists Society of J&K at Lawyers Chambers, Jammu.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar presided over the function. The Chief Justice congratulated Advocate Rameshwar Jamwal, Balbir Singh Manhas and their team for taking up such a noble cause.
Sharing his experience, the Chief Justice revealed that during his tenure as Chairperson of SALSA, he would educate students in schools and colleges through innovative methods like nukkad nataks, skits and drama in addition to interactive sessions with a panel of lawyers.
Terming lawyers as backbone of the society, the Chief Justice called upon the legal fraternity to contribute in fighting the drug menace. He also emphasized that the new criminal laws will also be instrumental in creating deterrence in the society.
Principal District and Session Judge Jammu, Yash Pal Bourney, Registrar Judicial, Sandeep Kour, Principal Secretary to Chief Justice, M K Sharma and a large number of Judicial Officers, Prosecution Officers and Advocates participated in the seminar.
Besides, prominent office bearers of both the organizations including Baldev Singh, Pardeep Majotra, Anshu Mahajan, Rahul Agarwal Ajay Gandotra, Sandeep Singh, R S Durswal, Ashwani Kumar, Rajiv Khajuria, Amarveer Manhas, Hemant Uppal, Deepali Kapoor, Adeep Bandral, Chander Dev Manhas, Aman Sharma, Saksham Sharma, Hitesh Koul and Sushil Kumar.
Advocate Balbir Singh Manhas Advisor Criminologists Society, presented the welcome address while the vote of thanks was presented by Advocate Ranjit Singh. Advocate Nirmal Kotwal, President J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu highlighted the new criminal laws with special reference to dismantle terror and separatist infrastructure apart from providing strict punishment as compared to IPC.
Rameshwar Singh Jamwal, President Criminologists Society, gave a detailed key note address through a PowerPoint Presentation, elaborating how people develop criminal behaviour and how the children of the addicts are affected by their behaviour both genetically and epigenetically.
He highlighted the yogic and meditational techniques piloted by the Criminologists Society in the District Jail Jammu which have yielded 75% encouraging results. He sought the support of senior Judiciary and the Government to reach out at grassroots level to deal with this grave issue effectively.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, in his address, said that there are two major parties in the drug menace one is victim who consume it while the other who grow and peddle it. He advocated counselling and alternate therapies for the victims while suggesting deterrent punishment for the accused.
He appreciated the role of some NGOs and Criminologists Society particularly and called upon the civil society to come forward to fight it in tooth and nail.