28-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
CJI Gavai, SC judges call for Bar-Bench unity, women-led legal future
Srinagar, Jul 27 (UNI) In a powerful show of judicial unity and commitment to inclusive legal reform, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and several Supreme Court judges converged in Srinagar for the North Zone Regional Conference organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in collaboration with the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), the conference titled 'In Conversation with the Bar: A Shared Vision for Legal Transformation' aimed to strengthen collaboration between the Bar and Bench in delivering justice to the most vulnerable sections of society, particularly in frontier regions.
'Presiding over the conference, Chief Justice Gavai, who also serves as Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, emphasised the judiciary's constitutional mandate to ensure last-mile access to justice, especially for marginalised and underprivileged communities.
'NALSA, under the leadership of Justice Surya Kant and in future, Justice Vikram Nath, will continue to pave the way for a stronger, more inclusive justice delivery system,' CJI Gavai said.
'Women empowerment remains a cornerstone of this vision,' he added.
He concluded his address with a stirring call for national integration, quoting the iconic lyric,
'Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat purani, aao milkar likhein nayi kahani, hum hain Hindustani.'
Delivering the keynote address, Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman of NALSA, highlighted the growing presence of women in the legal profession in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.
'The future of the justice delivery system in this region will largely be led by women, whether from the Bar or on the Bench,' he declared, celebrating the emerging generation of women advocates and judges as torchbearers of reform.
The conference also featured insights from several other Supreme Court judges, each of whom focused on key structural and regional concerns:
Justice N. Kotiswar Singh advocated for a dedicated High Court bench in Ladakh and enhanced infrastructure for women advocates, including exclusive chambers.
Justice Rajesh Bindal called for upgrading technological infrastructure across the district courts of J&K and Ladakh.
Justice P.S. Narasimha emphasised that 'the Bar and Bench are two wheels of the same chariot,' lauding the adaptability and dedication of the legal community.
Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha also addressed the gathering, reinforcing NALSA's vision of inclusive justice rooted in grassroots engagement.
Chief Justice Arun Palli of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh welcomed the dignitaries and acknowledged the enthusiasm and intellectual depth of the region's young legal professionals.
'Our young lawyers possess clarity of thought and a strong command over law, while our senior advocates continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism,' he said.
The conference marked a significant milestone in NALSA's ongoing efforts to democratise access to justice in remote and underserved areas.
With the presence of the Chief Justice of India, multiple Supreme Court judges, and regional judicial leadership, the event sent a clear message: that the Bar and Bench are united in their mission to strengthen legal empowerment, promote gender inclusion, and modernise judicial infrastructure in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. UNI SNG SSP
