Bandipora, June 17: Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Administrative Judge for District Bandipora, on Wednesday interacted with judicial officers and members of the legal fraternity at the newly established District Court Complex in Kaloosa, emphasizing the need for timely, accessible and people-centric justice delivery.
Justice Nargal visited the court complex after returning from an inspection tour of Gurez and was received by Ms. Jeema Bashir, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Bandipora, along with other judicial officers of the district judiciary.
An interaction programme was organized at the court complex, attended by judicial officers, advocates and members of the Bar. The proceedings were conducted by Advocate Aamir Shafi.
In her welcome address, Principal District and Sessions Judge Jeema Bashir highlighted the importance of the newly operational court complex in strengthening the justice delivery system in Bandipora district.
Addressing the gathering, Advocate Sofi Feroz expressed gratitude to Justice Nargal for his support in facilitating the early operationalization of the new court complex. He also highlighted certain infrastructural requirements necessary for the smooth functioning of the facility.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Nargal expressed satisfaction over the functioning of courts from the new premises and stressed that modern infrastructure should result in more efficient and accessible judicial services. He observed that while physical infrastructure is important, the strength of the judiciary ultimately rests on fair decisions, integrity, professional dedication and public confidence in the justice system.
Emphasising that justice is a constitutional right, Justice Nargal said every effort must be made to ensure that legal remedies are accessible to all citizens, particularly those living in remote and far-flung areas. He called for enhanced legal awareness initiatives through the District Legal Services Authority to educate people about their rights and available legal remedies.
The High Court Judge also highlighted the issue of case pendency and underscored the importance of timely disposal of matters. He encouraged judicial officers and advocates to promote mediation and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms wherever appropriate, stating that delayed justice amounts to denied justice.
Addressing young advocates, Justice Nargal urged them to uphold the highest standards of ethics, discipline, patience and integrity. He advised them to focus on professionalism, competence and continuous learning while serving the cause of justice.
He also called upon advocates to guide litigants towards amicable settlement of disputes through mediation where feasible and to avoid frivolous litigation while maintaining the dignity of the legal profession.
While interacting with judicial officers, Justice Nargal stressed the importance of impartiality, fairness and accountability. Referring to the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence in legal research and court administration, he observed that technology should assist judicial functions but should never replace independent judicial reasoning.
Justice Nargal also appreciated the efforts of Principal District and Sessions Judge Jeema Bashir and other judicial officers for ensuring the smooth transition of the district judiciary to the new court complex. He commended Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Ms. Indu Kanwal Chib for her role in overseeing and facilitating the project, noting that her involvement helped expedite its completion.
He further acknowledged the cooperation extended by Senior Superintendent of Police Bandipora Ajaz Ahmad Zargar, members of the Bar Association Bandipora, the Police Housing Corporation, engineers, architects, technicians and workers associated with the project.
Calling upon all stakeholders to uphold the values of integrity, accountability and service, Justice Nargal expressed hope that the new court complex would emerge as a symbol of efficient and accessible justice delivery for the people of Bandipora.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Advocate Iqbal Rubbani Bhat, Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel, who thanked Justice Nargal, judicial officers, members of the Bar and participants for contributing to the success of the event.
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