“To Hear Courteously, to Answer Wisely, to Consider Soberly, and to Decide Impartially”: are four essential qualities of a Judge.
-Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai
Bilaspur, 28th July 2024
The High Court of Chhattisgarh proudly hosted the State-Level Conference of Judicial Officers on “Overcoming Challenges: The Emerging Role of District Judiciary in Modern India” on 28th July 2024. The event took place at the Auditorium of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, marking a significant occasion in the State’s Judicial Calendar.
The conference commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Chief Guest Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai, Judge, Supreme Court of India and the inaugural session was further graced by esteemed presence of Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court of India with Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath as Distinguished Guest and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra as Special Guest. The Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ramesh Sinha, delivered a heartfelt welcome address to the dignitaries and attendees.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice B R Gavai in his keynote address, emphasized upon 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.” His Lordship stressed the importance of a robust judicial system as the backbone of democracy. Hon’ble Mr. Justice B R Gavai advocated for modern facilities, aligning infrastructure 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.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice B R 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. The one-day conference aimed to equip Judicial Officers with the knowledge and tools to navigate the evolving judicial landscape. Hon’ble Mr. Justice B R Gavai’s speech was a call to action, reminding attendees of their noble responsibilities and inspiring them to strive for excellence and integrity in their duties.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath in his presidential address stressed that conduct of Judges inside Court is important and Judges must be careful about what they speak in Court. He expressed that unlike ancient times, we are not rulers but we as Judges have sacred duty to deliver justice. He further stressed upon technological proficiency for Judges and a unified Judiciary while quoting Martin Luther King Jr. that “we must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra during his special address underscored the pivotal role of the District Judiciary and expressed that a strong and fearless District Judiciary is essential for ensuring justice at grass root level. He further emphasized upon the importance of role of District Judiciary in upholding public confidence and delivering timely Justice.
In his welcome address, Hon’ble Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha expressed his profound honour and privilege in welcoming the Distinguished Guests from Supreme Court of India, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra. Highlighting upon the importance of State Level Conference, Hon’ble Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha expressed that through collective efforts and shared commitment, We as 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 highlighted the importance of the State Level Conference in fostering the exchange of knowledge and experiences among judges, which is crucial for bolstering the judiciary within the state. He emphasized the pivotal role of the district judiciary in upholding justice, ensuring the rule of law, and maintaining social order in a vast and diverse country like India.
“The primary object of this Conference is to foster the exchange of knowledge and experiences among the Judges,” said Justice Sinha. “In a country as vast and diverse as ours, the judiciary plays a pivotal role in upholding justice, ensuring the rule of law, and maintaining social order. The District Judiciary, being the foundation of our judicial system, bears the brunt of this responsibility.”
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 aims to explore innovative strategies, share best practices, and envision a path forward to strengthen the judiciary. The inaugural session concluded with Vote of Thanks proposed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Goutam Bhaduri.
Inaugural Session was followed by Technical Sessions chaired by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Parth Prateem Sahu, Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Rajni Dubey and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari, wherein challenges and best practices for trial proceedings before District Judiciary were specifically addressed upon.
The State Level Conference concluded with Valedictory address delivered by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay K Agrawal.
The Hon’ble Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court, who spared their valuable time for gracing the event with their presence and insights. He also expressed his thanks to Hon’ble Brother and Sister Judges of High Court and Participant Judicial Officers of District Judiciary, Registry Officers and all stakeholders who directly or indirectly contributed towards the historic success of this State Level Conference.
