CIF holds seminar on role of media in dispensation of justice

Sat, Bhim, Sawhney, Slathia, others condemn Sunjwan attack, mourn martyrdom of Soldiers, civilian

12/02/2018

JAMMU, Feb 11: The J&K Constitutional Integration Forum held a seminar on "role of media in criminal justice system" and the participants presented their views and papers on the subject.
Initiating the seminar whose Chief Guest was Prof Bhim Singh Sr Advocate Supreme Court and chairman of National Panthers Party and was presided by Sat Sharma, MLA and State President BJP and Presidium Dias was shared by Mr B S Slathia Sr Advocate as Guest of Honour, Mr A K Sawhney President J&K Constitutional Integration Forum, Mr J A Qazi, Mr H C Jalmeria and Ms Monika Kohli Advocates.
Besides, a good number of lawyers and members of the civil society were present despite the panic created by the Fidayeen terror attack.
All the participants in one voice condemned the fidayeen attack on the residential quarters of Army at Sunjuwan and observed a one minute for the martyrs of the attack.
After that the ceremony was initiated by the anchor Ms Jyoti Majotra with a beautiful poem.
During the seminar the papers were presented by Ms Monika Kohli, Mr H C Jalmeria, Mr J A Qazi, Mr M U Salaria, Advocates on the topic of role of media in dispensation of justice.
The Guest Mr Sat Sharma MLA President BJP also spoke and discussed the issue and also lauded the role of lawyers in shaping the society. He referred to the AIIMS agitation and other agitations in Jammu sprearheaded by the J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu and described lawyers as a beacon of knowledge and torchbearers of justice and rights.
He also hailed the role of media in the present day society and said that the media publishes or shows what is happening in the society.
Mr B S Slathia President HCBA Jammu also spoke on the subject and also hailed the functioning of media but cautioned the media that vis a vis the criminal cases there are instances where the news is jaundiced or manipulated which eventually effects the grant of bail as merely by reading in the papers the public and judiciary starts believing that accused is guilty. He said that the presumption of accused being innocent fades away.
Likewise he also highlighted the issue of yellow journalism but maintained that in J&K there are about 300 newspapers and quite are reporting objectively barring a few.
Mr A K Sawhney Advocate, President of the Forum also applauded Prof Bhim Singh for his exemplary services in the legal
Profession and social life and thanked him that despite being unwell he had attended the function. He said that he believed in Shakespeare's lines - the show must go on and therefore despite panic in the city and due to that several dignatories could not attend still he kept the flame burning as he believed that such like incidents are done to create a fear psychosis and once we beat this fear, it is a slap on the face of terrorists who got the message that people of Jammu would not be cowed by such cowardly acts.
He also applauded Mr B S Slathia President of J&K HCBA and described him as a hard working and astute lawyer who had won the elections as President of the Association thrice. He also put light on his background as how from a truck conducter he reached to this place. He emphasised that there is no sybarite to hard work and same is key to success. He also spoke on the role of media as said that media has to play its role constructively as media is a watchdog of the society and has to keep a check on executive and other wings.
The Chief Guest Prof Bhim Singh, Sat Sharma, BJP President, CIF President Mr A K Sawhney jointly honoured Mr B S Slathia by presenting him "life time achievement" award for his services in legal profession. The award was jointly presented by the presidium to Mr Slathia.
Others who were presented the awards were Mr Nirmal Kotwal, Sr AAG whose resignation as Sr AAG was announced there in the function. Mrs Deepika Mahajan, Mr Amit Gupta, Mr Prem Sadhotra, Mrs Monika Kohli were also presented the awards for their contribution in the legal practice.
Late Mr Shabir Ahmed Salaria Sr Advocate was also awarded posthumously and his award was collected by Mr M U Salaria. Mr Aseem Sawhney addressed vote of thanks.

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