Workshops

One Day State Level Workshop, Sponsored by University of Pune was organized on – “Judicial Accountability” on 28th Sep. 2013

Theme of The Workshop:

The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010 requires judges to declare their assets, lays down judicial standards, and establishes processes for removal of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.Judges will be required to declare their assets and liabilities, and also that of their spouse and children. The Bill establishes the National Judicial Oversight Committee, the Complaints Scrutiny Panel and an investigation committee. Any person can make a complaint against a judge to the Oversight Committee on grounds of ‘misbehaviour’. A motion for removal of a judge on grounds of misbehaviour can also be moved in Parliament. Such a motion will be referred for further inquiry to the Oversight Committee. Complaints and inquiries against judges will be confidential and frivolous complaints will be penalised. The Oversight Committee may issue advisories or warnings to judges, and also recommend their removal to the President.

The key issue is whether the balance between independence and accountability is maintained by the proposed mechanism in the Bill. The Oversight Committee has non-judicial members which might impinge on the independence of the judiciary. The Bill penalises anyone who breaches the confidentiality of complaints. It is questionable whether a penalty is needed for a frivolous complaint that remains confidential. The Scrutiny Panel has judges from the same High Court. This is different from the in-house procedure of the Supreme Court. The Oversight Committee has non-judicial members. The procedure of the Committee is not an in-house procedure of the judiciary. It is not clear whether the power of the Oversight Committee to impose minor measures is constitutionally valid. The Bill does not mention whether a judge has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court against an order of removal issued by the President after Parliament finds him guilty of ‘misbehaviour’.

Objectives

1) To Discuss the Provisions of Judicial Accountability Bill 2010

2) To Discuss the Necessity of High Judicial standards & Transparency

3) To Increase the Public confidence of Judiciary

Resource Persons

To grace the function, Hon. Nitin B Thakre (President Nashik Bar Association) was the Chief Guest. Hon. Daulatrao Ghumre (Senior Adv. Nashik District Court) ,Subhash Deshmukh (Bade Sir), Managing Trustee N.E.S., Adv. K. K. Ghuge, LMC Member, were present as Guest of Honour.

One Day District Level Workshop was organized on “Medico legal Aspects of The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulations & Prevention of Misuse)Act, 1994” on Date 25 January 2012.

Theme of The Workshop:

The PCPNDT Act was brought into operation w.e.f. 1st January, 1996. This Act was intended to regulate the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for detecting genetic and metabolic disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, certain congenital mal-formations and/or sex linked disorders. In practice the techniques for pre-natal determination of sex of the foetus led to female foeticide and reinforced the gender bias. This technology is misused on a large scale for sex determination of the foetus, and mostly if the foetus is pronounced as female, this prompts termination of pregnancy bringing to an abrupt end the growth of an unborn child. It also prohibits any advertisements relating to pre-natal determination of sex and prescribes punishment for its contravention. The person who contravene the provisions of this Act is punishable with imprisonment and fine. Offences under the Act are : (a) determination of sex-selection before or after conception, (b) non-registration under Section 3, (c) conduct of PNDT under Section 4, (d) Communication of sex of foetus under Section 5, (e) determination of sex under Section 6, (f) under Section 29. Further, S.27 states that every offence under this Act shall be cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. In 2002, mass amendment has been made under this Act, in pursuant of decreasing the female ratio in the country. The punishment under the Act was increased to 5 years’ imprisonment or fine Rs. 1,00,000.

Objectives

As a part of our commitment to offer to society, makers and upholders of law, installing into them, virtues of Integrity, Loyalty and Social Values, it is high time to save the girl child from the menace of female foeticides in India. Let us come together to save womanhood.

To grace the function, Smt. Bhavana P. Thaker, Principal Judge, Family Court, Nashik was the Chief Guest. Smt. Yogita Pathak, District Women and Child Development Officer, Nashik, Hon. Subhash Deshmukh (Bade Sir), Managing Trustee N.E.S., Adv. K. K. Ghuge, LMC Member, were present as Guest of Honour.