Jharkhand Judicial Academy Hosts State-Level Conference On 'Judicial Ethics: Conduct Inside And Outside Of Court'

The Judicial Academy, Jharkhand successfully conducted a State Level Conference on “Judicial Ethics: Conduct Inside and Outside of Court” on 20th July, 2024 at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Auditorium.

Justice Abhay S. Oka, Judge, Supreme Court of India, attended as the chief guest, while Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Jharkhand-cum-Executive Chairman, JHALSA, Ranchi, was the Guest of Honour.

The conference began with a welcome address by Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand-cum-Judge-In-charge, Judicial Academy Jharkhand, highlighting the significance of the gathering in upholding judicial integrity and excellence.

Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad delivered an introductory address emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct in the legal profession. In his speech Justice Prasad said that: “As a judge, I recognize the significance of this conference in promoting the highest standards of judicial ethics, integrity, and accountability.”

Drawing from Sukra Neeti, he highlighted five essential virtues that judges must uphold to ensure impartiality: resisting bias, greed, fear, ill-will, and secret hearings. Justice Prasad stressed the importance of punctuality, probity, integrity, and impartiality in a judge's profession, advocating for a hermit-like detachment from desires and aspirations. He emphasized the need for judicial officers to be incorruptible and honest, seizing this conference as an opportunity to share ideas and gain valuable insights into judicial ethics from diverse perspectives.

Justice Abhay S. Oka, in his inaugural address, refrained from a traditional lecture, opting instead to share his experiences. He identified two mistakes in the judiciary's history: neglecting trial and appellate courts and assuming public trust without effort. He urged a paradigm shift, recognizing trial courts as the judiciary's backbone. He encouraged younger judges to focus on their significant responsibilities and stressed the importance of high-quality judgments and maintaining the judiciary's image.

Justice Oka elaborated on the conduct expected of judges inside and outside the courtroom. Outside the courtroom, he emphasized dignified public behavior and advised judges to raise their children with normalcy. Inside the courtroom, he stressed punctuality, dais discipline, and courtroom etiquette, including refraining from using mobile phones and social media. He advised maintaining a positive relationship with court staff and mentoring junior judges.

Justice Oka highlighted effective case management, suggesting judges keep diaries for case dates and efficiently dispose of long-pending matters. He emphasized the importance of using simple language, brevity, and precision in judgments and advised judges to remain unaffected by social media influences.

An interactive session followed, chaired by Justice Oka and co-chaired by Justice Rajesh Shankar and Justice Gautam Kumar Choudhary. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Justice Choudhary. The conference aimed to foster a deeper understanding of judicial ethics among judicial officers, promoting integrity and accountability in the judiciary.

In related developments, the Jharkhand State Legal Service Authority (JHALSA) reported a steady rise in resolved disputes due to pre-conciliation meetings. Over 4.5 lakh disputes were resolved in February 2023, with numbers increasing to over 7 lakh in May and September, and over 8 lakh in December.

Additionally, Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, inaugurated the Heritage Building of the High Court of Jharkhand at the old high court building in Doranda on 18 July. The Heritage Building will accommodate the Museum of Justice along with centers for mediation and arbitration.

Click Here To Read Press Release Of the State Level Conference on “Judicial Ethics: Conduct Inside and Outside of Court”

Images from the inauguration of the Heritage Building of the Jharkhand High Court