Srinagar, April 4: The Jammu & Kashmir Judicial Academy, under the patronage of Chief Justice Arun Palli, organized a one-day training programme for judicial officers of the Kashmir Province on the “Role and Responsibilities of Trial Judges in Ensuring Just, Fair and Speedy Trials,” aligned with Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Justice Shahzad Azeem, Judge of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, in his inaugural address, emphasized the crucial role of trial courts as the first point of interaction between citizens and the judiciary. He highlighted the challenge of balancing speedy justice with fairness, cautioning that “justice hurried is justice buried,” and urged judges to embrace technology, minimize delays, and uphold human dignity in their work.
Naseer Ahmad Dar, Director of the Academy, stressed that trial judges form the foundation of the justice delivery system and play a central role in ensuring the constitutional promise of a fair and speedy trial. The programme particularly focused on officers who joined service without prior practice at the Bar.
The first session, delivered by Dr. Syed Asima Refai from the University of Kashmir, traced the historical evolution of the right to a fair trial, from ancient legal traditions to landmark judgments such as A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras and Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, emphasizing the judiciary’s role in ensuring procedures that are just, fair, and reasonable.
Abdul Rashid Malik, Former District & Sessions Judge, spoke on “Practical Challenges before Trial Courts,” covering case management, handling adjournments, dealing with hostile witnesses, and effective use of technology, while highlighting the importance of judicial diligence in criminal trials.
The concluding session by Justice B.A. Kirmani, Former High Court Judge, focused on judicial conduct, ethics, and best practices, underscoring the role of judges as instruments of justice and the need to consider the human dimension in every case.
The programme concluded with an interactive session, allowing participants to discuss practical experiences, challenges, and solutions to strengthen trial processes.
This training reinforces the Academy’s commitment to enhancing efficiency, fairness, and integrity within the judicial system in Kashmir.