Chhattisgarh HC Hosts State-Level Judicial Officers' Conference On 'Overcoming Challenges: The Emerging Role Of District Judiciary In Modern India'

The conference was attended by 3 Supreme Court judges, including Chief Guest Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai, Distinguished Guest Justice Vikram Nath, and Special Guest Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra.

The Chief Justice of the High Court, Justice Ramesh Sinha, delivered a heartfelt welcome address to the dignitaries and attendees.

In his keynote address, Justice B R Gavai emphasized unity within the judicial family, stating, "All of us are from the same family; no one is subordinate. Unless the foundation is firm, the building cannot be strong."

Justice Gavai stressed the importance of a robust judicial system as the backbone of democracy and advocated for modern facilities that align with contemporary needs.

He also underscored the essential role of technology, especially post-pandemic. "Today, technology is essential for the functioning of the judiciary," he said, highlighting the shift to virtual courts and digital operations.

Justice Gavai urged judicial officers to uphold social and economic justice, reminding them of the four essential qualities of a judge: "to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially." These principles, he emphasized, are vital for fair and just decisions.

In his presidential address, Justice Vikram Nath stressed that judges' conduct inside the Court is important and That They must be careful about what they say in Court.

He expressed that, unlike in ancient times, we are not rulers but Judges who have a sacred duty to deliver justice.

He further stressed technological proficiency for Judges and a unified Judiciary, quoting Martin Luther King Jr., who said, " We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

During his special address, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra underscored the pivotal role of the District Judiciary and expressed that a strong and fearless District Judiciary is essential for ensuring justice at the grassroots level.

He further emphasized the importance of the District Judiciary's role in upholding public confidence and delivering timely Justice.

In his welcome address, Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha expressed his profound honour and privilege in welcoming the Distinguished Guests from the Supreme Court of India, Justice Gavai, Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Mishra.

Highlighting the importance of the State-Level Conference, Hon'ble Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha expressed that it is achieved through collective efforts and shared commitment.

“We, the Judges, can overcome challenges and strengthen our District Judiciary, and together, we can build a more efficient, accessible, and just Judicial system for the people of Chhattisgarh,” he said.

The inaugural session concluded with a shared commitment to address the pressing issues faced by the district judiciary and to collaboratively seek solutions that will enhance the delivery of justice in Chhattisgarh.

The conference aimed to explore innovative strategies, share best practices and envision a path to strengthen the judiciary. The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanks proposed by Justice Goutam Bhaduri.

The inaugural Session was followed by Technical Sessions chaired by Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, Hon'ble Justice Parth Prateem Sahu, Justice Rajni Dubey and Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari, wherein challenges and best practices for trial proceedings before the District Judiciary were specifically addressed.

The State Level Conference concluded with a Valedictory address delivered by Justice Agrawal.

Chief Justice Sinha has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Supreme Court judges, who spared their valuable time to grace the event with their presence and insights.

He also expressed his thanks to Brother and Sister Judges of the High Court, all the participant Judicial Officers of the District Judiciary, Registry Officers, and all stakeholders who directly or indirectly contributed to the success of the State-Level Conference.