Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 19: State Judicial Academy today organized one day conference on “Strengthening Criminal Justice System” for Additional District and Sessions Judges, Public Prosecutors, Chief Prosecuting Officers, Senior Prosecuting Officers and Investigating Officers of Jammu province.
The conference was organized under the guidance and patronage of Chief Patron of J&K State Judicial Academy, Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Governing Body of the State Judicial Academy, Justice Alok Aradhe (Chairman), Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal (Members).
In his inaugural speech, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey said that the most important component of the law enforcement comprises of police officers, who have the fundamental responsibility to trace the criminal, if not known and adequately, effectively and honestly gather, collect and protect the evidence.
“The second most important functionary in the criminal justice system is the Prosecutor. His role is no less crucial. It is the Prosecutor who presents evidence in the court and examine the witnesses. The third and very crucial component of the criminal justice system is the trial courts”, he said.
He sensitized the participants by highlighting the well recognized fundamental principles of criminal jurisprudence of presumption of innocence of accused person, his indefeasible right to defend himself in a fair and impartial trial and the ultimate aim of laws to protect the personal life and liberty of the citizens in all their facets and the properties against invasions by others.
Justice O P Sharma, former Judge of the High Court presided over the working sessions and deliberated in detail upon the functionaries in criminal justice administration, expectation of accused, victims and society. There was a group discussion also in which the representative of all the four groups, District Judges, Public Prosecutors, Prosecuting Officers and Investigating Officers made presentation on co-ordination issues between the trial court, investigator and the prosecutor.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Director, State Judicial Academy Abdul Rashid Malik gave an overview of the programme and deliberated upon the need for organizing such conferences for all stakeholders of criminal justice system.
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