Annual Conference of Uttarakhand Judges Association held in Doon
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 24 Feb: The annual conference of the Uttarakhand Judges Association was held yesterday at Doon University Auditorium, Dehradun. Supreme Court Judge Sudhanshu Dhulia attended as the Chief Guest and emphasised the need for prioritising pending cases and ensuring speedy justice.
In his address, Justice Dhulia stressed on the judiciary’s responsibility to resolve disputes expeditiously, discouraging unnecessary adjournments. He also stressed upon the need to adapt the traditional judicial process to modern circumstances and differentiate between conviction and sentencing while considering the totality of cases. On this occasion, he also urged judges to broaden their knowledge beyond legal matters and adopt a comprehensive judicial perspective.
Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court, Nainital, Guhanathan Narender, reiterated that ensuring timely justice is the primary responsibility of judges. He emphasised expediting cases pending for over five years and encouraged judicial officers to raise institutional and practical concerns through the association for resolution by the High Court.
Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari described the judiciary as the guardian of democracy, underscoring the importance of accessible justice and judicial independence. He commended the reorganisation of the Uttarakhand Judges Association as a significant step toward judicial welfare and institutional strengthening.
Association President Rakesh Kumar Singh spoke about various concerns faced by judicial officers, including residential challenges, staff shortages, security concerns, transfer-related issues, and the need for enhanced allowances. He also proposed declaring the fourth Saturday a holiday or adopting a five-day work week, improving judicial officers’ healthcare, and addressing promotional benefits. The attending dignitaries assured positive consideration of these demands.
The conference saw participation from several prominent judges, including Justices Alok Kumar Verma, Rakesh Thapliyal, and Ashish Naithani, along with former Chief Justice Ritu Bahari and former Justices UC Dhyani, BS Verma, and Lokpal Singh. Also present were Registrar General Kahkashan Khan, Principal Secretary of Justice Pradeep Pant, Principal Secretary of Legislative Affairs Dhananjay Chaturvedi, and legal advisor to the Governor Amit Kumar Sirohi.
The Welcome Address was delivered by District Judge Prem Singh Khimal. Cultural performances were also held during the event. State Legal Services Authority Member Secretary Pradeep Kumar Mani compered the event, while Association General Secretary Raju Kumar Srivastava proposed the vote on thanks.
