Chief Justice inaugurates 5-day training programme on Labour Laws

SRINAGAR, MAY 22: The J&K State Judicial Academy in its endeavour to further strengthen the Judicial Institutions and to enlighten all stakeholders about the justice delivery system has organized a  5-day training programme from ( May 22 to 26), which was inaugurated by Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed.

Officers of the Labour Department, including Labour Commissioners of various districts, who participated in the training programme were updated with the knowledge Labour Laws and firsthand knowledge about court proceedings, quasi-judicial proceedings and conducting judicial and quasi-judicial functions.

Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, several Judicial Officers of District Srinagar and Labour Commissioner, Srinagar participated in the inaugural function.

The Chief Justice in his inaugural address complimented the Judicial Academy for organizing this special training programme on varied labour laws, which he hoped will enlighten the labour officers to serve the cause of labour class and other marginal sections of the society who deserve social justice as well as access to justice. They require assistance and understanding in getting their rightful dues in lieu of their hard work. Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed maintained that in the modern era of liberalization and globalization, the construction workers have been constitutionally guaranteed social security and benefits in terms of labour welfare measures and provisions. The provisions like pension, insurance schemes, maternity leave, accident and death claims and financial aid for the education of children and medical needs are required to be implemented on ground for workers. It is duty of the Labour Tribunals and Courts to ensure their implementation so that these benefits reach out to the workers.

Free and competent legal services and the provisions relating to mediation and conciliation are the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the workers to ensure social justice as well as access to justice. “It is our constitutional duty to ensure equitable distribution of resources so that the labourers and workers are not denied their hard earned wages and nobody suffers from hunger and starvation”, the Chief Justice asserted.

 The proceedings were conducted by Director J&K State Judicial Academy. In his introductory remarks he extended warm welcome to Chief Justice, who is also Chief Patron of J&K State Judicial Academy and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Member Governing Body for gracing the occasion. He said that the Academy organizes such programmes for the stakeholders, especially the Labour Officers to abreast them with latest developments judicial laws, reforms, and provide them an opportunity to update them with the crucial issues and exchange valuable experience and knowledge on the subject. Despite the busy Academic Calendar of J&K State Judicial Academy, the Academy has given preference to the request of Labour Department for organizing the current training programme for the participants. He said the judiciary stands committed to the ideal of social justice, especially to the marginal class of society like workers in the unorganized sector who are vulnerable section and deserve full benefits of constitutional provisions of the legislations framed by the Parliament and State legislature as well as the directions given by the Apex Court to protect their rights.

Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Judge of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Member Governing Body, J&K State Judicial Academy in his address gave an overview of the training programme and said that Labour workers work under hazardous conditions as the working conditions at the sites are far from satisfactory. Safety parameters are hardly observed by the employers and in case of an accident, the worker is left at his own mercy. In the extreme case like death, no body owns the responsibility and in case the workers are females, the problems at work place get compounded and multiplied. Their living conditions are no way better than their working conditions.  Justice Magrey hoped that 20 session programme prepared by the Judicial Academy on different legislations of labour laws will enrich their knowledge and skills which will help them in improving the delivery system on ground.

The proceedings were conducted by Director J&K State Judicial Academy. In his introductory remarks he extended warm welcome to Chief Justice, who is also Chief Patron of J&K State Judicial Academy and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Member Governing Body for gracing the occasion. He said that the Academy organizes such programmes for the stakeholders, especially the Labour Officers to abreast them with latest developments judicial laws, reforms, and provide them an opportunity to update them with the crucial issues and exchange valuable experience and knowledge on the subject. Despite the busy Academic Calendar of J&K State Judicial Academy, the Academy has given preference to the request of Labour Department for organizing the current training programme for the participants. He said the judiciary stands committed to the ideal of social justice, especially to the marginal class of society like workers in the unorganized sector who are vulnerable section and deserve full benefits of constitutional provisions of the legislations framed by the Parliament and State legislature as well as the directions given by the Apex Court to protect their rights.

 The working Sessions of the training programme was chaired by the Resource Person, Justice Hasnain Massodi, former Judge, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir alongwith Mr. Abdul Rashid Malik, Director, J&K State Judicial Academy, Mr. Mohammad Yousuf Akhoon, Presiding Officer, Food Safety Appellate Tribunal and Dr. G.R. Ghani, IAS (Retd.) former Commissioner and Secretary.