New Delhi: Justice Gita Mittal, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, yesterday e-inaugurated three different facilities of the Ahata-e-Waqar, a daycare and recreation centre for senior citizens, a vulnerable witnesses deposition complex and a crèche facility at district court complex, Samba.
Also in the e-inauguration with Justice Mittal, who is also Patron-in-Chief, J&K State Legal Services Authority, were Justice Rajesh Bindal, Executive Chairman Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice Sindhu Sharma, Administrative Judge for District Samba, Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Justice V.C. Koul, Justice Puneet Gupta and Justice Javed Iqbal Wani.
Mohammad Akram Chowdhary, Principal District & Sessions Judge, and Chairman District Legal Services Authority, Samba delivered the welcome address and explained the purpose and objective underlying the creation of these facilities at Court Complex, Samba.
He explained that the Ahata-e-Waqar shall be a place of pride for elderly citizens to spend their quality day time at the centre in the company of their friends and which shall also serve as a place for celebrations of births and marriages, anniversaries and other events and this place shall be used by the elderly citizens, helping them age with dignity. He said the concept of Vulnerable Witness Deposition Complex as an initiative to improve the response of justice dispensation system and ensuring sensitivity towards vulnerable witnesses to minimize their repeated victimization.
In her address, Justice Mittal highlighted the importance and necessity of creation of such facilities in all districts for their maximum utilization by the persons in need of such facilities. She referred to the already existing facilities in the districts of the Union Territory and the beneficial purpose being served by them. She underscored the necessity of Ahata-e Waqar facility as being a place of pride for the senior citizens and a place they can call their own where they can share their life experiences with each other and spend quality time.
She referred the senior citizens as being treasures of experience. The importance of maintaining active help desks of legal services and police assistance was also stressed upon where the senior citizens can seek legal advice. She referred to the Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Complex as being a very important concept of dispensation of justice where the vulnerable victims can depose in a safe environment without any pressure or fear. She highlighted the importance of the crèche facility as being the need of the hour in the present times when both parent are working and require a safe and suitable place for their children simultaneous to their mental and physical health. She lauded the efforts of District Judiciary Samba in creating and developing these facilities.
Justice Rajesh Bindal, Judge High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, Executive Chairman Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority, highlighted the importance of the facilities and impressed upon the need for creating such facilities and also maintaining them in a qualitative manner by a strong and healthy mechanism.
In her inaugural address, Justice Sindhu Sharma, discussed the concept of the three facilities in detail and underscored the importance of the facilities for the use of Senior Citizens, working parents and for the convenience of Vulnerable Witnesses.
The Online audience was given links of the three newly inaugurated facilities by keeping them on a virtual tour of Ahata-e-Waqar, Vulnerable Victim Deposition Complex and the Creche, separately.
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The Creche has been established for the facility of children of working parents including Advocates, Clerks, Officers and Court staff and is available for children between the age group of 06 months up to 06 yrs. It provides reading material, play material and other activities suitable for the holistic development of children of working parents.
Judicial Officers, Senior Citizens, Advocates, Officers from the Administration, Para Legal Volunteers and Retainer Lawyers of District Legal Services Authorities participated in this event. They all have attended this event online.
-India Legal Bureau