Not less than a monumental decision taken by the Chief Justice of the State , people living in remote areas can now safely feel that justice was not denied to them for reasons of trying and difficult accessibility , instead it has virtually been tailored to reach at their respective doorsteps. When the idea was being floated and proceeding ahead with it to give it a practical shape had set in motion, ‘Excelsior’ had , through these columns, commented about it and had appreciated this much desired and longed for move . It has now become possible and the people living in remote areas of eleven districts of Jammu and Kashmir have reasons to feel happy , the credit for which goes to the innovative decision taken by the State judiciary headed by the Chief Justice .
Under the new mechanism , people of remote and difficult areas in Kishtwar, Reasi, Kathua, Poonch, Ganderbal, Ramban , Baramulla, Leh, Kargil, Kupwara and Bandipora can now file appeals, suits, petitions and applications before the High Court without paying personal visit as during the year, on account of vagaries of weather , such areas remain cut off from the nearest courts for months together . Accordingly , Draft Rules in this regard placed before the full Court were cleared paving the way for seeking approval of the Governor so that the process could be right away initiated.
It would not be any hyperbole rather it would amount to a disconnect from the reality if we do not underline the fact that the present Governor of the State has been found encouraging people friendly decisions and in fact, for implementation purposes, has been according sanction and approval to such proposals once brought into his knowledge. In the instant case also, he immediately accorded sanction to the Draft Rules. In other words, it means that necessary amendments and changes have been made to the J&K High Court Rules so as to make the mechanism workable with immediate effect. Making things related to approaching the High Court easy under the revised mechanism would have not met the desired results in full unless for those areas, where no court was otherwise available , some arrangements would have not been made. It again , prima facia, is appearing of a soothing nature that the mechanism envisages in such conditions, the facility of approaching the nearest approved centre operated by the Government of India and /or the State Government approved by the High Court or even the nearest post office established by the Department of Posts in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority.
It is noteworthy that the remote characteristics of the concerned areas shall get addressed in the sense of getting nearer to the State High Court through their requisite petitions, appeals and applications sent via e-mail by the designated and approved centres and Post offices. Again, after registering and admitting such petitions etc, proceedings are supposed to be conducted through electronic mode using video- conferencing facilities between High Court and the approved centre or the approved post office.
We wish the mechanism to be in operation shortly and to make that further easy and smooth, Approved Centres and Post Offices are required to be notified in respect of which delays should be avoided . Since the mechanism is rendered credibility through monitoring process through weekly reports , it can be fairly believed that there would be a smooth sail for the mechanism so that justice was not denied to the people of these far remote areas.
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