Srinagar: Enumerating the importance of the institution of justice for bringing accountability in democracies, Minister for Law and Justice, Abdul Haq, Saturday said an effectively functioning judiciary has a cascading effect on other institutions of the State.
“Without the institution of justice, mankind as we know it would have ceased to exist. By strengthening the judiciary, we are also seeing a better working culture evolving in other institutions of the State,” Haq said while addressing a function organized in connection with the inauguration of District Court Complex at Moominabad, Bemina, Srinagar.
The new state-of-the-art court complex was inaugurated by Governor N N Vohra.
Judges of J&K High Court, Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar , Justice Alok Aradhe, Justice A M Magrey, Justice D S Thakur, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Justice BS Walia, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice M K Hanjura and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta were present at the function.
Besides the function was also attended by J&K Chief Secretary, B B Vyas, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal, Home Secretary, R K Goyal, Law Secretary, Abdul Majid Bhat, Director General of J&K Police, S P Vaid, as well as senior officers of the civil and police administration.
The Law Minister said the J&K Government under Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is committed to strengthen the judicial institutions and infrastructure in J&K. “This new complex is a result of the collective efforts by judiciary and the State Government which makes us all proud,” he said, while complimenting Chief Justice of J&K, Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed, and his predecessors for taking lot of interest in strengthening judiciary in J&K.
Earlier, the J&K High Court Chief Justice, Justice Badar Durrez, thanked Governor Vohra for inaugurating the new court complex. “Your presence is a source of encouragement to all. I must also thank Justice BA Khan for giving us the best district court complex, perhaps in the entire country,” he said.
Justice Durrez said in any free society, access to justice should be of paramount importance for the leaders, “This new complex presents an ambience of openness, transparency and calmness. My endeavor is to improve the judicial infrastructure and I want J&K to be the front-runner as far as e-courts are concerned,” he said, while advocating the use technology to fulfill the aim of justice.
The construction of new Court Complex on the outskirts of Srinagar was conceived in 2003. It has been built by the R&B Department at a cost of Rs 120.28 crore on 28.6 acres (around 230 kanals) of land with more than 2.5 lakh sq ft of working space comprising state-of-art, eco-friendly complexes, each having its own central courtyard.
The Complex has 63 court rooms, Business Centre, a modern library, Petition Writers Block with 152 work stations, Service Building, Food Court, besides conference rooms and Lok Adalat chambers. It will completely end the judicial operations at District Saddar Court which opened in 1911.
The State Judicial Academy will also be located on the premises of new Court Complex.
The new district court complex also possesses latest facilities including central heating system, firefighting equipment, elevators, CCTV surveillance and baggage scanners.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir who also spoke about the challenges faced in completion of the project. Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar also spoke on the dedication and commitment shown by the State Government in ensuring that the complex is successfully completed. He said the new court complex will provide appropriate judicial atmosphere for administering justice.
Principal District Sessions Judge Srinagar, Rashid Ali Dar, presented vote of thanks for people involved in successful execution of the mega project.
“Envy is not a good emotion but I do sense a creeping sense of envy in that Justice Rashid Ali will preside over a better court complex than mine,” Justice Durrez said.
