Srinagar, Nov 04: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has introduced a structured framework for the field training of newly inducted Civil Judges (Junior Division), making practical courtroom exposure, supervised judicial drafting and regular performance assessment key components of their induction programme.
According to the details available, the guidelines, approved by the High Court, prescribe a comprehensive training mechanism aimed at developing the judicial, procedural and analytical skills required by trainee judges before they take up independent judicial responsibilities.
As per the order, each trainee will be attached to a designated court and placed under the supervision of the judicial officer holding its additional charge, who will function as the mentor judge and monitor the trainee’s progress throughout the field training period.
Trainees will be required to remain stationed at their assigned places during the training period and cannot leave without prior approval from the competent authority.
The High Court has clarified that trainees will not automatically acquire judicial or administrative powers by virtue of their placement. They may exercise the powers of a Judicial Magistrate First Class only to the extent specifically delegated by the High Court and subject to prescribed conditions.
The regular judicial and administrative responsibilities of the concerned court will continue to remain with the officer holding additional charge.
During court proceedings, trainees will observe and participate in judicial work under the direct supervision of their mentor judges. Their assignments will include studying case proceedings, analysing evidence, preparing witness statements wherever required and drafting orders on procedural and interlocutory matters.
On days when their mentor judges are not scheduled to hold court, trainees will undertake case-preparation exercises involving matters listed for subsequent hearings.
In civil cases, they will examine pleadings and documents and prepare draft issues, depending on the stage of proceedings. In criminal matters, they will study police reports, complaints, witness statements and other relevant records and prepare draft charges wherever required.
The training programme also includes preparation of draft interim orders and final judgments in both civil and criminal cases. Trainees will be expected to analyse facts, identify legal issues, assess evidence, examine relevant statutory provisions and precedents and develop reasoned judicial conclusions.
They may also be assigned to prepare draft questions for accused persons under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, or the corresponding provision under Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, as applicable.
All drafts prepared by trainees will be submitted to their mentor judges for scrutiny, guidance and necessary corrections. Mentors may ask trainees to revise or rewrite their drafts to address shortcomings and improve their judicial writing.
Importantly, the High Court has clarified that drafts prepared during training will remain academic and practical exercises and will not have the status of judicial orders or judgments. They cannot be issued, pronounced or incorporated into court records as judicial determinations.
The mentor judges will conduct continuous assessments of trainees, examining their understanding of case facts, identification of legal issues, application of laws and precedents, appreciation of evidence, clarity of reasoning and overall approach towards judicial proceedings.
They will also ensure that trainees receive adequate exposure to different categories of civil and criminal cases and various stages of judicial proceedings.
The guidelines further require mentor judges to maintain detailed records of each trainee’s performance, progress, strengths and areas requiring improvement. Evaluated draft judgments and assessment reports will be preserved for submission to the Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Academy whenever required.
Principal District and Sessions Judges have been entrusted with ensuring the effective implementation of the framework in their respective districts, including arrangements for court sittings, supervision and practical training.
The trainees will also be required to maintain strict confidentiality of judicial records and proceedings and adhere to the standards of discipline, conduct and professional responsibility expected of judicial officers.
The Judicial Academy may seek progress reports, performance assessments, draft judgments and other training material through the concerned district judges at any stage.
The High Court said the framework is intended to ensure structured, continuous and result-oriented exposure to the judicial decision-making process in civil and criminal matters.
The order was issued by the Registrar General of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh—(KNO)
