Shillong, July 25: The Meghalaya State Judicial Academy held a day-long capacity building programme on Friday, bringing together judicial officers from across the state to sharpen skills in ethics, evidence law and child-friendly justice.
Held under the patronage of Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Revati Mohite Dere, Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya, the programme titled “Bridging Law and Justice: From Principles to Practice” focused on translating legal principles into everyday adjudication.
Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Abhay S. Oka opened the sessions with a lecture on Conduct and Ethics, and Court Management. He told officers that integrity and impartiality remain the bedrock of judicial credibility and called for more efficient court administration to strengthen public trust.
A key highlight was the session by Justice Shalini P. Joshi, former Bombay High Court Judge, on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. She guided participants on recording statements of child victims, appreciation of evidence, age determination and conducting sensitive trials for minors.
Justice Sadhana Sanjay Jadhav, also ex-Bombay High Court, conducted a comparative review of the Indian Evidence Act and the new Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. She explained how the legislative shift will impact proof, admissibility and trial procedure.
The final session by Justice Mridula Bhatkar dealt with practical adjudication — injunctions under CPC, judgment writing, exercise of discretion and logical reasoning. She emphasized clarity and fairness as essential traits for effective decision-making.
Each session was followed by direct interaction, allowing officers to discuss real challenges from courtrooms with the resource persons.
Concluding the programme, the Academy reaffirmed the High Court’s commitment to continuous judicial education. Officials said the initiative reflects Chief Justice Dere’s vision to promote excellence and professionalism in Meghalaya’s judiciary through regular training.
