Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1: Jammu & Kashmir State Judicial Academy organized one day special training programme on “Sentencing and Victims Compensation Scheme, Rights of Victim & Accused relating to Sentencing and Choosing Appropriate Sentence” for Judicial Officers of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Ramban, and Udhampur districts, here today in the J&K State Judicial Academy, at Janipur, Jammu.
The training programme was inaugurated by Acting Chief Justice, High Court of J&K (Chief-Patron J&K State Judicial Academy) Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar along with Chairman, J&K State Judicial Academy, Justice Alok Aradhe, Member, J&K State Judicial Academy Justice Janak Raj Kotwal and former Judge, High Court of J&K Justice O P Sharma. All the Judicial Officers of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Ramban, and Udhampur districts participated in the programme.
In his inaugural address, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar emphasized upon the Judicial Officers to address the plight of the victims of crime at the time of sentence and ensure that the sentence is appropriate keeping in mind the aggravating and mitigating circumstances taking into account the society’s cry for justice. He highlighted that Sentencing is a solemn duty in the Criminal Justice System. “Judgment writing is a divine duty and the judge is required to work very hard and study relentlessly to discharge this solemn duty. The quality of judgments determines the quality of justice and the trust and confidence of the people upon the institution of Judiciary,” he said.
Justice Alok Aradhe, in his special address, said that it is the duty of all the Judicial Officers to appreciate the relevant Provisions of CrPC and the J&K Victim Compensation Scheme, 2013 to ensure that victims of crime are compensated. He expressed the hope that the working sessions of the programme will sensitize all the participating Judicial Officers on the subject of Sentencing and Victim Compensation.
Member, J&K State Judicial Academy, Justice, Janak Raj Kotwal said that Section 545 of CrPC confers a duty on the court to apply its mind to the question of compensation in every criminal case. “It necessarily follows that the court must disclose that it has applied its mind to this question in every criminal case. And under Section 545 A, the Government is required to prepare a scheme for providing funds for the purpose of compensation to the victim or his dependants who have suffered loss or injury as a result of the crime and who require rehabilitation,” he informed.
Resource Persons Justice, O P Sharma and Director, J&K State Judicial Academy, Abdul Rashid Malik deliberated upon the Concept & Evaluation of Sentencing, Sentencing in murder trials, Sentencing in trial of offences against women, children and rights of accused relating to sentencing.
Abdul Rashid Malik made an impressive Power Point Presentation on history and evolution of Sentencing as well as J&K Victims Compensation Scheme, 2013.
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