Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Academy on Saturday commenced a Pre-Appointment Induction Training Programme for 39 newly selected Civil Judges (Junior Division) at its Srinagar campus.
The programme was inaugurated by Arun Palli in the presence of Sanjeev Kumar, Rajnesh Oswal and other judges of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
In his inaugural address, Justice Palli described judicial service as a public trust and said trial court judges represent the face of the judiciary for most citizens. He urged the newly selected officers to uphold the highest standards of integrity, humility and fairness, remain committed to continuous learning and strengthen public confidence in the justice delivery system through their conduct and decisions.
Addressing the participants, Justice Sanjeev Kumar congratulated the newly selected officers and emphasized that judicial service demands integrity, impartiality, discipline and compassion. He advised them to remain lifelong learners, maintain high ethical standards, embrace technology responsibly and discharge their duties fearlessly and fairly in accordance with law.
In his introductory remarks, Justice Rajnesh Oswal highlighted the significance of the transition from the Bar to the Bench, describing it as a major professional milestone that requires a shift from advocacy to impartial adjudication. He stressed that a judge’s foremost allegiance is to the Constitution and the rule of law and underscored the importance of patience, restraint, independence and continuous learning.
Earlier, Director, J&K Judicial Academy, Naseer Ahmad Dar said the induction programme has been designed to equip the newly selected officers with the knowledge, skills and ethical foundations required for judicial service.
The academic proceedings began with a session on the training programme module conducted by Justice Rajnesh Oswal and Sanjay Parihar, introducing participants to the objectives, structure and expected outcomes of the induction programme.
A subsequent session by Naseer Ahmad Dar focused on the role and ethical expectations of Civil Judges (Junior Division), covering judicial temperament, courtroom discipline, impartiality and professionalism.
In the post-lunch session, Bashir Ahmad Kirmani delivered a lecture on the foundations of judicial ethics, emphasizing that ethics form the cornerstone of judicial conduct. He highlighted the importance of judicial independence, observing that true independence stems from conscience and moral integrity, enabling judges to discharge their responsibilities impartially and without external influence.
The induction programme will continue with a series of thematic sessions aimed at enhancing the professional competence, ethical awareness and judicial skills of the newly selected Civil Judges.
