Justice Nargal reviews development of judicial infrastructure in Samba
Samba, Feb 4: High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Judge and Administrative Judge for Samba district, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, on Wednesday conducted an extensive visit to the District Court Complex, Samba.
He was welcomed by the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Ashwani Kumar Sharma, senior judicial officers, officers of the civil administration and Police Department and the Bar members.
In his keynote address, Justice Nargal delivered a series of profound observations on the role, responsibilities, and constitutional mission of the District Judiciary, drawing upon jurisprudential wisdom and the lived realities of the justice system.
He invoked the recent words of the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, emphasising that true justice resides at the grassroots, for it is here that a citizen first approaches the legal system in defence of his rights.
Justice Nargal said that when the district judiciary is strong, the heart of the Constitution beats with renewed vitality.
He said that though Samba is a comparatively young district, it had steadily gained judicial relevance, especially for the border belt.
Justice Nargal emphasised that infrastructure was not merely physical construction but the entire ecosystem; courtrooms, digital systems, libraries, public facilities, human resources necessary for justice to be dispensed with dignity, efficiency and accessibility.
He said that infrastructure improvement was a constitutional obligation, not an administrative formality.
Reiterating that 'Justice delayed is justice denied,' Justice Nargal said that pendency not only burdens the litigant but weighs upon the conscience of every judge.
However, he said that even while ensuring expeditious disposal, the quality of justice must never be compromised.
Justice Nargal said access to justice flows directly from Articles 14 and 21 and is a constitutional command, not a matter of convenience or charity.
He highlighted the judicial shift towards e-filing, virtual hearings, digital records and online access to court services.
Justice Nargal said that the e-Courts project had brought transparency, efficiency and accessibility even in remote districts.
He said technology must become a reliable facilitator of justice and not merely an administrative enhancement.
Justice Nargal spoke with emphasis on indispensable harmony between the Bench and the Bar.
He reminded that patience, professionalism, and ethical discipline were the hallmarks of the legal fraternity.
Justice Nargal urged the young lawyers to persevere with character, dignity and hard work, stressing that ìIntegrity will outlast brilliance; character will outshine cleverness.î
He advocated for mediation and conciliation, calling them humane, efficient, and socially restorative methods that preserve relationships and reduce pendency.
Justice Nargal addressed judicial officers directly, reminding them that their conduct is the face of the judiciary.
He said patience, impartiality, dignity and courtesy must define their daily functioning.
Justice Nargal thanked the silent workforce clerks, stenographers, process servers, and record keepers whose dedication ensures that justice never falters.
ìJustice must not only be done, but must also appear to have been done,î he said and urged all stakeholders to guard this principle with humility, vigilance, and unwavering fidelity to constitutional values.
Aligned with the formally circulated agenda for the visit, Justice Nargal convened three separate review meetings.
In a meeting with the district administration led by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Samba, Ayushi Sudan, he reviewed matters related to furnishing and urgent repair of residential quarters of judicial officers.
Other issues included need for immediate improvement in sanitation, cleanliness, and waste-management systems in the complex, black-topping and levelling of internal roads, ensuring uninterrupted power supply, including the status of backup systems and solar installations, progress on boundary wall and main entrance gate, key to perimeter security, establishment of a J&K Bank Extension Counter within the complex and creation of a designated area for photocopy and documentation vendors.
The DC assured full cooperation and expedited execution of all pending civil works.
In a meeting with the Police Department, led by Senior Superintendent of Police, Varinder Singh Manhas, Justice Nargal undertook a detailed review of, strengthening of the security grid of the District Court Complex, construction of a Security Guard Room, provision of washroom facilities for security personnel, review of security and storage arrangements in the Malkhana, including seized articles, streamlining the movement of litigants and vehicles for dignified entry and safety of all.
The SSP briefed on current arrangements and assured enhanced coordination with the court authorities.
In a meeting with the Bar Association, Samba, led by President Ajay Singh Charak, Justice Nargal discussed progress on Lawyers Chambers Phase-II including utilities and construction status, adequate seating space for the Prosecution Wing within court premises, cooperation between Bench and Bar for reducing adjournments, promoting ADR, enhancing the overall institutional environment and strengthening mentorship culture for young advocates.
Members of the Bar thanked Justice Nargal for his constructive guidance and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative institutional advancement.
