NEW DELHI: At a time when new laws are being introduced and new areas of crime are emerging, Chief Justice of India T S Thakur has proposed changes in the present syllabus of the judges. This proposal comes as a measure to help them be on a par with the information technology age.
CJI Thakur has proposed to set up a council of law researchers and former judges to revamp the present curriculum of judges’ training. Trainings will also be given to High Court and Supreme Court judges.
The need of such a change came up after some old laws were repealed by the government, making them obsolete. Even though the amendments in the new Acts are already in place, very few judges use them.
As judges have to confront with various sensitive and complex cases, there was need to provide training for them at all levels. The burden of judges has increased with greater complexity of cases.
The updated syllabus would be discussed at the annual Chief Justices Conference scheduled in the end of this month. The National Judicial Academy at Bhopal, which holds training sessions for judges, has mooted a different curriculum for 2015-16, where focus is more on making judges techno-friendly.
The new syllabus includes special sessions for judges to handle commercial cases at ease, with use of available technology in the courts. “The training aims at giving sufficient expertise in the professional technique required for the performance of the duty of a judicial officer. The curriculum includes activities like organising seminars, lectures on methodology of studying e-files and practical training on how to behave in courts,” said an official associated with the academy.
The academy would also hold special training for judges on judicial administration, court room technology, judicial ethics and accountability and expertise in constitutional law.
Other areas that are included in the curriculum relates to law wherein new jurisdictions are being set up to protect the Scheduled Castes from atrocities perpetrated against them, and to adjudicate grievances relating to violation of human rights.
Special courts, including the human rights courts, are now functioning in different states with increased powers and special responsibilities. It is important that the young entrant to the judiciary is adequately informed about these special jurisdictions and also be informed about the role they are expected to play in delivery of justice.