Bilaspur, March 1, 2026: The Chhattisgarh State Judicial Academy organised a Special Training Programme on March 1, 2026, at the Vivekananda Auditorium of the Academy, bringing together Judges of FTC and FTSC Courts, Public Prosecutors, District Prosecution Officers, officers of Anti Human Trafficking Units and Investigating Officers. The programme was conducted as a Judicial Colloquium focusing on Anti Human Trafficking, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and digital initiatives such as e-Sakshya, e-Summons and Nyaya Shruti.
The session was inaugurated by Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh and Patron-in-Chief of the Judicial Academy.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Justice emphasised that strengthening the criminal justice system requires knowledge, sensitivity and coordinated institutional action. He described such training initiatives as a reflection of the judiciary’s shared commitment to ensuring that justice is delivered with competence, compassion and constitutional fidelity.
Quoting his central message, the Chief Justice stated:
“Every case file represents a human story and that all stakeholders bear a collective responsibility to ensure that Justice is administered with integrity, competence, and compassion” — Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice, High Court of Chhattisgarh.
Highlighting the importance of the POCSO Act, he observed that the legislation was enacted to create a child friendly, robust and time bound mechanism to address sexual offences against children. However, he noted that its effectiveness depends on humane and purposive interpretation. Judicial officers were urged to balance firmness with empathy and to ensure that courtrooms remain spaces where victims feel secure and respected. Sensitivity in recording evidence, understanding trauma and strict adherence to procedural safeguards were described as essential to upholding the dignity of children and women seeking justice.
The Chief Justice further underscored that investigation forms the foundation of a criminal trial. A defective investigation, he cautioned, may result in miscarriage of justice, either by wrongful acquittal or unjust implication. He stressed the need for meticulous evidence collection, maintenance of the chain of custody, scientific examination and objective documentation. Investigating Officers were reminded that their primary duty is to discover the truth with professionalism, impartiality and technological competence.
On the role of prosecutors, he stated that their foremost responsibility is to present the case fairly, assist the court in arriving at the truth and ensure that the rights of both the victim and the accused are protected. Suppression of evidence, overzealous argumentation or lack of preparedness, he observed, weakens prosecution and erodes public confidence in the justice delivery system.
The address also highlighted the importance of digital platforms such as e-Sakshya, e-Summons and Nyaya Shruti in enhancing transparency, efficiency and accountability within the justice delivery framework. Technological advancement, he said, must be accompanied by adequate training, adaptability and a progressive mindset.
The seminar was graced by the presence of several Judges of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, including Justices Parth Prateem Sahu, Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi, Rakesh Mohan Pandey, Radhakishan Agrawal, Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal, Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Arvind Kumar Verma, Bibhu Datta Guru and Amitendra Kishore Prasad. The technical session featured Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari, Former Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, Shri Dhruv Gupta, Inspector General of Police, and Shri K.L. Charyani, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Ambikapur, as distinguished resource persons.
The event was attended by the Registrar General and officers of the Registry, along with the Member Secretary and officers of CGSLSA. The welcome address was delivered by the Director of the Chhattisgarh Judicial Academy and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks by the Additional Director of the Academy.
