The Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Academy today organised a one-day workshop on “Expediting Trials under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and the NDPS Act, 1985, including Judicial Ethics & Behaviour” at its Jammu campus in Janipur.
The workshop was held under the patronage of Hon’ble Mr Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief of the J&K Judicial Academy, with the guidance of the Hon’ble Chairperson and Members of the Governing Committee of the Academy. The programme aimed to enhance the capacity of judicial officers by addressing procedural challenges, judicial best practices, and ethical dimensions involved in trials under special statutes that mandate strict compliance and expeditious disposal.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Mr Naseer Ahmad Dar, Director, J&K Judicial Academy, who emphasised the importance of judicial efficiency, ethical conduct, and timely adjudication in cases relating to corruption and narcotics offences.
Session I, focusing on expediting trials under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was conducted by Hon’ble Mr Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, former Judge of the High Court of J&K. He deliberated on the legislative intent of the Act, recent judicial trends, procedural safeguards, common causes of delay, and effective case-management techniques for speedy disposal of corruption cases. The session concluded with an interactive discussion in which judicial officers shared practical challenges faced during trials.
Session II, on expediting trials under the NDPS Act, 1985, was conducted by Mr Sunil Sethi, Senior Advocate, High Court of J&K and Ladakh. He highlighted the salient features of the Act, strict compliance requirements, evidentiary standards concerning search, seizure, and sampling, and the critical role of trial courts in balancing individual liberty with societal interest, while also addressing common procedural lapses and available judicial remedies.
Session III, devoted to judicial conduct and ethics, was delivered by Hon’ble Mr Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya. He underscored the core values of judicial independence and integrity, courtroom demeanour, and ethical challenges faced by judicial officers in contemporary times, including pressure, criticism, and scrutiny on social media platforms.
The workshop concluded with an interactive feedback session, reaffirming the judiciary’s collective commitment to ethical conduct and expeditious delivery of justice. The programme witnessed active participation and meaningful deliberations, contributing to professional enrichment and judicial excellence.
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