Srinagar, Oct 5 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association Srinagar on Monday organised a felicitation programme in honour of Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhatti at the Common Bar Room of the Srinagar Wing of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

High Court Judges Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Justice Rajesh Sekhri, Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani, Justice Sanjay Parihar and Justice Yashpal Bourney, besides Judicial Member and HoD, Central Administrative Tribunal, Srinagar, Mir Syed Lateef, were also present and felicitated on the occasion.

Newly appointed High Court Judge Justice Yashpal Bourney was also felicitated.

President of the Bar Association Waseem Gul delivered the welcome address, while Advocate Bikram Deep Singh conducted the proceedings.

A large number of advocates attended the function, including senior advocates Zaffar Ahmad Shah, G.A. Lone, R.A. Jan, Mohsin Ul Showkat Qadri, Syed Faisal Qadri, Tahir Majid Shamsi, Anupam Raina, Jehangir Ganie, Syed Manzoor, Anil Bhan, Bashir Ahmad Bashir, Showkat Makroo, Abdul Majid Dar, Arifa Jan and Masooda Jan, besides other lawyers and law officers of the Union Territory.

Responding to the felicitation, Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhatti expressed his appreciation for the warmth and support extended by the Bar and said his heart continued to remain connected with the legal fraternity after 24-25 years as a lawyer.

Paying tribute to senior members of the Bar, the Chief Justice said their experience, commitment and sense of duty reflected their dedication to the institution.

He said he now recognised nearly 90 per cent of the faces present, describing the familiarity as a source of professional satisfaction. He said serving the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was a professional privilege and sought the cooperation of the Bar in safeguarding constitutional rights within the framework of law.

The Chief Justice highlighted the nearly century-old legal tradition of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and said the High Court had commanded respect across the country. He noted that several judgments delivered during the 1960s and 1970s continued to serve as benchmarks of judicial excellence.

He appreciated the preparation and commitment of lawyers, including senior advocates, young lawyers and women advocates, towards the interests of their clients.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Dr Bhatti also acknowledged the assistance extended by members of the Bar in familiarising him with local laws, saying a strong Bar was essential for delivering good judgments.

He expressed confidence that the partnership between the Bench and the Bar would contribute to research-driven, accurate and welfare-oriented judgments in the larger interest of the common people.

Recalling his longstanding image of Kashmir as “Jannat”, the Chief Justice referred to his visits to Dal Lake, Hazratbal and the Shankaracharya temple and spoke about the region's natural beauty.

He said lawyers played an important role in society by providing litigants peace of mind and helping address complex social and legal problems.

The Chief Justice also highlighted the growing strength of women in the legal profession. He noted that nearly 50 per cent of recent recruitments in the High Court had been women and called for greater representation of women advocates in the executive bodies of the Bar.

Emphasising the importance of technology, Dr Bhatti said it had become an essential enabler for the legal system. He urged lawyers and judges, particularly those below 50 years of age, to develop strong technological capabilities.

He encouraged young advocates to use technology effectively to convert information into knowledge and knowledge into wisdom, while also appreciating the seamless virtual functioning between the Jammu and Srinagar wings and the growing role of the Ladakh Bar.

Welcoming Justice Yashpal Bourney to the Bench, the Chief Justice invited members of the Bar, irrespective of seniority, to approach him freely with constructive suggestions for institutional improvement.

He reiterated his commitment to upholding the traditions, culture and legacy of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and working collectively to further strengthen the institution.

The felicitation was the first such function organised by the Bar Association. The Common Bar Room witnessed a large gathering of advocates, reflecting the legal fraternity's participation in the event.(KNS)