SRINAGAR, MARCH 16: For ensuring a safe and comfortable environment to vulnerable witnesses including victims of child sexual abuse, a Vulnerable Witness Deposition Complex (VWDC) was today inaugurated here at District Court Complex in Mominabad.

First of its kind in Jammu and Kashmir, VWDC was inaugurated by Chief Justice (CJ) of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey in the presence of Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Judge High Court of J&K. Four facility units and ATM were also inaugurated on the occasion.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Srinagar, Abdul Rashid Malik, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary, Chief Engineer Public Works (R&B), Sami Arif, officers of J&K Bank and other district officers and Judicial officers were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, CJ Gita Mittal said that VWDC has been established with the aim to improve the response of justice dispensation system to vulnerable witness. She hoped that such type of VWDCs are established in every district courts of J&K in future.

She said each witness is unique and is to be handled accordingly. To respond to such needs, criminal justice system must turn proactive and sensitive and provide friendly environment, so that trial process is less traumatic and balanced. In this regard, she said, VWDC will prove to be of tremendous help.

It was informed that the VWDC houses separate witness room, separate accused room, play area for child witnesses, pantry, separate toilet and a comfortable waiting area. Besides, it is equipped with facilities of audio-visual exchange for interface between presiding judges, the witness and the accused, so that the vulnerable witness does not face the accused.

The four-point facility units and ATM facility have been established as a commitment to provide easy and accessible technology services to public. The Lawyers can use these facility units for different type of services to litigants.

CJ Gita Mittal was accorded guard of honor and was welcomed by all the judicial officers headed by Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, Abdul Rashid Malik.

Later, during an interaction with judicial officers posted at district headquarter Srinagar, CJ Gita Mittal impressed upon them to ensure that all the old cases pending in the courts are prioritized for the disposal within shortest possible time.

She also impressed upon the judicial officers to ensure that every poor litigant is provided legal assistance so that his/her case is prosecuted properly and nobody feels marginalized. CJ Gita Mittal expressed that following uniform procedure in all the cases can result in casualty of justice, and can prove to be a barrier in ensuring access to justice.

It was also impressed upon the Judicial Officers to accord top priority to the cases involving senior citizens, women, children, old aged and marginalized section of the society.

Earlier, in an interaction with the lawyers, and members of Bar Association, CJ Gita Mittal was informed about various issues relating to infrastructure facilities.

She assured them that better facilities would be provided. “There is always need to do more and there is scope for more infrastructure development,” she said.

Besides, Registrar General, Sanjay Dhar, Principal Secretary to CJ, Jawad Ahmad, Director Judicial Academy, Rajiv Gupta were also present on the occasion.

Baramulla, 16 March: Awareness cum Training programme on electoral literacy under Systematic Voters Education & Electoral Participation (SVEEP) was today held here at Dak Bungalow.

The programme aimed at sensitizing different stakeholders and constituted teams viz Video Surveillance Team, Accounting Team, Flying Squad and other concerned agencies about electoral process and to spread awareness about the initiatives of ECI which include; Citizen Vigilance App, through which Voter can lodge complaint about any violation of MCC. The participants were also made aware about their assignments to ensure transparent and fair elections in the district.

On the ocassion, District Election Officer Baramulla Dr G N Itoo informed that all the arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of ensuing lok sabha Elections. He exhorted upon the concerned Committees to work in coordination so that bottlenecks, if any are sorted out in a time bound manner. He also stressed for the implementation of Model Code of Conduct guidelines in letter and spirit.

Meanwhile, a training programme on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines was held in which the concerned officers/officals participated.

During the training programme, the participants were imparted the requisite training by the master trainers who acquainted them about its functioning in detail. The trainers explained about the functioning of Ballot Unit, Control Unit and other allied functions and operations of the electronic voting machines.

Later, DEO convened a meeting of the representatives of various political parties to sensitize them about the rules, regulations and guidelines of Election Commission of India with regard to the MCC.

Baramulla, 16 March: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr G N Itoo today launches 2 days cleanliness drive on the bank of river Jhelum as part of nationwide campaign “Swachh Bharat Mission”, which aims at achieving the ODF status throughout the country.

The drive was organized by Municipal Council Baramulla in which the officers/officals of various departments including Education, Youth Services and Sports, RED Cross Volunteers, NYK and others participated.

Speaking on the ocassion, DC highlighted the importance of the drive and said that such a drive was launched with an aim to maintain hygiene at places of public importance. He said that such an ambitious mission conveys a pious message which should be followed in letter and spirit. Meanwhile he stressed for active participation of all stakeholders in achieving the desired goals of the programme.

While terming the public cooperation necessary in achieving the goal of hygienic environment, DC emphasized upon awareness dissemination about the ill hazards of garbage. He also warned traders, shopkeepers and other sections of the society not to use polythene failing which shall render legal action against the violators.