Jammu, June 28: In a momentous event, the Chief Justice of India, Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, laid the foundation stone for the new High Court complex of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Raika.
The ceremony was graced by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.), as well as distinguished Judges from the Supreme Court and High Court.
During his address, Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud described the judicial officers as front line warriors and urged them to meet the expectations of the common man seeking justice. He emphasized the importance of ensuring access to justice for every section of society, particularly the underprivileged. The Chief Justice hailed the foundation of the new High Court complex and the introduction of innovative IT initiatives as pioneering steps toward reforming the justice delivery system. He also stressed the need to promote the active participation of women in the dispensation of justice.
Congratulating the judiciary and legal fraternity, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his gratitude to the Government of India for its support in this monumental project. He highlighted that the new High Court complex would boast state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern amenities, serving as an integrated hub.
The Lt Governor commended the e-Committee of the Supreme Court and the Department of Law and Justice for their efforts in utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice delivery system. He acknowledged the citizen-centric approach, ease of justice, and digital empowerment reflected in the millions of hits received by e-Court Services daily.
He emphasized the significant role played by democratic institutions in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the common citizens over the 75-year journey of India’s independence, which has been guided by the Constitution.
Highlighting recent initiatives in J&K for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) enablement of courts, the Lt Governor underlined the transparent, accountable, and responsive governance process initiated by the UT Government. Brig. (Dr.) B. D. Mishra (retd.), Lt Governor of Ladakh, emphasized the importance of upholding justice as a fundamental duty in the defense of democracy.
Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal, who joined virtually, expressed hope that the Document Management System (DMS) and National Service and Tracking of Electronic Process (N-STEP) facilities would be significant milestones in the technology sector, fostering accelerated development and progress. He assured the Government of J&K of financial support and a sufficient budget for the development of judicial infrastructure.
The event also witnessed speeches by esteemed attendees such as Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Pankaj Mithal from the Supreme Court of India, as well as Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh.
The functionality of the DMS was showcased through a video presentation, and the launch of the N-STEP initiative was marked by the distribution of mobile phones to Process Servers. The Saraswati Vandana was beautifully presented by the girl students of Louis Braille Memorial Residential School.
The event witnessed the presence of Judges from the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, members of the Judiciary and legal fraternity, and senior officials from the Police and Civil administration.
