Chief Justice inaugurates Court of Special Judge NDPS at District Court Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct 17: Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief J&K Legal Services Authority, Justice Tashi Rabstan, today inaugurated the newly created Court of Special Judge (NDPS), in District Court Complex Srinagar.

The dignitaries were warmly welcomed by Jaffer Hussain Beg, Principal District & Sessions Judge Srinagar and other judicial officers of the District Court, Srinagar. Jaffer Hussain Beg expressed sincere gratitude to the Chief Justice for his exceptional leadership.

The Chief Justice inaugurated the facility in presence of Jaffer Hussain Beg, Registry officers including Shahzad Azeem, Registrar General High Court of J&K and Ladakh; M.K. Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Justice; Abdul Bari, Joint Registrar Judicial Srinagar and other Judicial officers of District Court Srinagar.

The Chief Justice interacted with the undertrials in NDPS Cases lodged at Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, Central Jail Agra and District Jail Poonch through virtual mode and enquired about their whereabouts. He directed the District Legal Services Authority Srinagar to provide free Legal Aid Defence Counsel to those who are in need of same.

This new court marks a significant step towards strengthening the legal infrastructure in the district, ensuring efficient and effective handling of cases related to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Following the inauguration, the Chief Justice engaged in a productive interaction with Judicial Officers and members of the Bar. The discussions focused on key strategies to further bolster the legal infrastructure in the district. This session provided a platform for discussing challenges and exploring collaborative strategies to improve the efficiency and accessibility of justice.

The event concluded with a plantation drive conducted by District Legal Services Authority Srinagar in collaboration with Kashmir Concern (NGO) which was held under the guidance of Jaffer Hussain Beg and under the supervision of Nusrat Ali Hakak, Secretary DLSA Srinagar.

Justice Tashi Rabstan planted the first sapling and the plantation drive was enthusiastically participated in by all dignitaries, including Jaffer Hussain Beg, Chairman DLSA Srinagar and other judicial officers, fostering a spirit of collective responsibility towards the environment.

Justice Tashi Rabstan emphasized the vital role of strengthening the legal infrastructure to ensure a robust and accessible justice system for all. He highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between the judiciary, the bar and the community to ensure that legal services reach every corner of society.

This event serves as a testament to commitment of the judiciary to provide efficient and accessible justice to all citizens, while also acknowledging the importance of environmental stewardship.