National Judicial Academy

North Zone Judicial Conference

(26^th - 28^th September, 2009)

Enhancing Timely Justice:

Strengthening Criminal Justice Administration

(P-266)

Summary Report

A three day NORTH ZONE JUDICIAL CONFERENCE on “Enhancing Timely Justice: Strengthening Criminal Justice Administration” was held on 26.09.2009 at the Institute of Judicial Training & Research, U.P., Vineet Khand, Gomtinagar, Lucknow. The conference was organized by the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal in collaboration with the Hon’ble High Court of Allahabad.

The Conference was inaugurated by the Chief Guest of the Inaugural Session Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad. Hon’ble the Chief Guest speaking on the occasion highlighted the important role played by the Judiciary in the dispensation of justice and also highlighted various problems facing the judiciary in the modern times. His Lordship further said that about 1500 cases are filed every day in the Allahabad High Court and out of total pending cases in the country in the courts of various levels, nearly 20% come from the State of U.P. alone. His Lordship also advised the Judges to enhance their knowledge of laws, skill and caliber to speed up the process of disposal of cases so that delivery of timely justice without any undue delay may be possible in cases particularly in criminal matters. His Lordship expressed the hope that some thing concrete, positive and valuable would emerge in the form of suggestions in the Conference for speedy disposal of cases by the Courts.

            Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pradeep Kant, Senior Judge, Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench / Judge Incharge, Judicial Education, U.P. also spoke on the occasion and said that delay in disposal of cases has been the burning problem in the modern times but no single agency or reason can be blamed for this malady as the different agencies of the Government, the Bar and others are also responsible to some extent for the delays. Terming the Judges as human beings, His Lordship also emphasized the need for continuous upgradation of knowledge of laws and said that the Judges must discharge their duty judiciously, fearlessly and honestly.

            About hundred delegates who were mostly senior judicial officers of 6 States, viz. Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Himanchal Pradesh, Punjab & Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttrakhand participated in the conference.

Break-out Groups

            Break-out groups consisting of almost equal number of delegates were formed. Each break-out groups was asked to discuss and give their suggestions on the following topics.

1. Key issue relating to delay in dispensation of justice.

2. Delivery of timely justice and identification of core problems which come in the way of early delivery of justice.

3. Identification of core problems in delivery of timely justice and solutions.

4. Delivery of timely justice and identifying of core problems in the way of finally delivery of justice.

During the post-lunch session of the Conference, the break-out groups of the participant delegates discussed the above issues and suggested their solutions by presenting collective views through their group-leaders in the august presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha, Former Judge, Supreme Court, Hon’ble Mr. Justice B.S. Chauhan, Judge, Supreme Court, Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.B. Mishra, Acting Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court, Hon’ble Mr. Justice U.N. Singh, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Devi Prasad Singh, Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.N. Shukla, Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.M. Chauhan, Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.K. Rastogi Judges of Allahabad High Court also participated in the Conference. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vishnu Sahai, Former Acting Chief Justice, Allahabahd High Court, presently Member, State Human Rights Commission, U.P., and Prof. Balraj Chauhan, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Prof. V.B. Pandey, Former Dean, Delhi University also expressed their valuable thoughts during the presentations.

            The Conference continued for three days and was attended and addressed by many other eminent Judges and Jurists of the country. On the second day, Prof G. Mohan Gopal, Director, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal joined the Conference and participated in the Conference. He addressed the delegates on various themes of the workshop.

            The three day proceeding of the Conference is summarized as below:

      The Institute very successfully arranged the workshop and arrangements and efforts made were acknowledged and appreciated by all participants of the Conference including Director, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal who also wrote a letter of appreciation and thanks to the Institute.