Make atmosphere stress-free for judicial officers: SC judge

Our Correspondent

Shimla, June 30

Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph on Saturday emphasised the need for providing stress-free, intellectually stimulating and socially sensitised atmosphere to judicial officers who are not only deciding cases but also providing justice to the common man.

Justice Kurian Joseph was speaking at the inaugural function of the administrative block of the Judicial Academy at Ghandal near here.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary, president of the Judicial Academy, and other judges were also present on the occasion.

In his address, he said that the Judicial Academy would prove to be a very appropriate institution for the judicial officers to update their knowledge. He also stressed on the need to enhance the training programmes of the academy by imparting training to lawyers and other stakeholders.

He said he was hopeful that the Judicial Academy would in due course of time emerge as an international centre for mediation, arbitration and conciliation. He admired the vision of all concerned who helped turn this dream project into reality.

In his address, Chief Minster Jai Ram Thakur assured that the state government would provide all possible help to improve the judicial delivery system in the state.

He emphasised that there must be co-ordination between the Judiciary and the Executive for social welfare and appreciated the role of the Judiciary in correcting the errors of the Executive.

He showed receptiveness for any further assistance needed in the accomplishment of infrastructure at the academy. He said Rs 165 crore have already been sanctioned for the construction of the academy.

In his welcome address, Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary said that the foundation stone of the academy was laid in 2012 and the academy is the result of the cumulative efforts of the engineers and the architects under the guidance of the then presidents of the Judicial Academy. The vote of thanks was delivered by Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan.

Judges of HP High Court Justice Sureshwar Thakur, Justice Vivek Singh, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, Justice Sandeep Sharma and Justice Chandra Bhushan Bharowalia were also present. Chairperson, Gujarat Human Rights Commission, Justice Abhilasha Kumari; and president, HP State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Justice PS Rana were also present.

On the occasion, the academy also organised a judicial colloquium on “Judicial Ethics and Accountability/Role of Judiciary in a Democracy” for the judicial officers.