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Uttarakhand HC shifts several judges
Nainital: The High Court has taken a significant step towards ensuring speedy and accessible justice for the general public in Uttarakhand. A major reshuffle of the state's judicial officers has been executed following the orders of the High Court's Chief Justice. An official notification regarding this has been issued by the High Court's Registrar General, Yogesh Kumar Gupta.
Under this new notification, transfers and new appointments have been made for several Additional District and Sessions Judges (ADJ) as well as Civil Judges. The primary objective of this reshuffle is to expedite court proceedings and facilitate the disposal of pending cases.
Posting of Special Judges to POCSO Courts
Under this administrative reshuffle, priority has been given to the speedy trial of serious crimes against children. According to the notification, vacant judicial posts in several special POCSO courts have been filled. Ritesh Kumar Srivastava, previously serving as the Second Additional District and Sessions Judge in Kashipur, has been posted to the vacant position at the Fast Track Special Court (POCSO Act) in the same location.
Additionally, Abdul Qayyum, a judge at the Family Court in Tehri Garhwal, has been reassigned to take charge of the POCSO Court in Vikasnagar (Dehradun). Meanwhile, Kusum has been posted to the Fast Track Special Court (POCSO Act) in Dehradun, and Sudhir Tomar has been posted to the one in Nainital.
Extensive transfers at the Civil Judge (Junior Division) level
To strengthen the functioning of the lower courts, the High Court has also made significant changes to the responsibilities of officers at the Civil Judge (Junior Division) level. Under these changes, Shambhu Nath Singh has been transferred from Udham Singh Nagar to Dehradun, and Anil Kumar Kori from Joshimath to Dwarahat.
Other appointments include Prateek Mathela (Udham Singh Nagar), Anurag Tripathi (1st Additional, Dehradun), Pratiksha Kesarwani (1st Additional, Udham Singh Nagar), Ishank (2nd Additional, Dehradun), and Naveen Rana (3rd Additional, Dehradun). Additionally, Parminder Kaur has been moved from Dhumakot to Haridwar, Neha from Satpuli to Udham Singh Nagar, Dhanishtha Arya to Haridwar, and Jyoti Singh from Haridwar to Dehradun.
Directives for 'Camp Courts' in Remote Mountainous Areas
Taking into account Uttarakhand's geographical terrain, the High Court has delivered a highly sensitive and historic verdict. Strict directives have been issued to Civil Judges to regularly hold 'Camp Courts' so that residents of mountainous and remote areas do not have to travel long, arduous distances to seek justice.
According to the order, the Civil Judge of Lansdowne will hold a camp court in Dhumakot for two consecutive days during the last week of every month. Similarly, the Civil Judge of Kotdwar will conduct camp courts in Satpuli for two days, the Civil Judge of Chamoli in Joshimath for five consecutive days, and the Civil Judge of Tehri Garhwal in Pratap Nagar for three days a month.
Recommendations and Additional Charges for the Legal Services Authority
To ensure the smooth functioning of the judicial system, the High Court has also forwarded significant recommendations to the Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority. Under these recommendations, it has been proposed that the District and Sessions Judges of Tehri Garhwal and Nainital be assigned the additional charge of Chairperson of the Permanent Lok Adalat in their respective districts.
Additionally, a recommendation is being sent to the state government to assign the additional charge of Family Court Judge-for two days a week-to Naseem Ahmed, the Additional District and Sessions Judge of Tehri Garhwal, to facilitate the speedy resolution of family disputes.
