Victim Compensation an important issue in CJS: VC KU

Srinagar, March 8 (Scoop News) –  Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir, Prof. Riyaz Punjabi Tuesday said compensation to the victims of crime was a very important issue in the criminal justice system. He was addressing legal luminaries from across the country at the culmination of a 2 day workshop on ‘Victim Compensation’ organized at the University by the Faculty of Law, University of Kashmir in collaboration with the Indian Society of Victimology.

“We have to apply our minds regarding these kinds of issues concerning the state” Prof. Punjabi said. He congratulated the faculty of law, particularly, Prof. Mehraj ud Din and the visiting legal luminaries for taking the initiative.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir  S M Sahai, while speaking on the occasion said “we have not included the victim in the criminal justice system as yet. His only role till now is that of just a witness”. “There should be stringent provisions so far as his eligibility is concerned as the word victim can be misused” he added.

Dean and Head, faculty of Law, Prof. Mehraj ud Din assured the participants that the resolution arrived at during the 2 day workshop would be conveyed to the state government in order that the provisions relating to victim justice particularly, the victim compensation in the line of section of 357 A of the Criminal Procedures code 1974 as amended in 2008 be adopted at the earliest opportunity.

Former Dean and Head faculty of Law and senior faculty member, Prof. S M Afzal Qadri also underlined the role of law faculty and students in providing assistance to the victims of crime.

. Abdul Waheed Shah, SP Hazratbal, while emphasizing on the need to provide compensation to the victims of crime said that the scheme should be time bound and the point of view of police should also be taken.

Prominent legal experts in the workshop included Prof. B B Pande President, Indian Society of Criminology and former VC, National Law School (NLS), Lucknow; Prof. N K Chakarborty, President – Indian Society of Victimology and Director, Law School, KIIT Bhubneshwar; Justice B A Kirmani and Prof. K Chokalingam, former president, Institute of Victimology, Japan.

Vice Chancellors of Law schools across the country and prominent figures attending the workshop include Prof. V K Rao, VC – NLS, Bangalore; Prof. Balraj Chauhan, VC – NLS Lucknow; Prof. Viay Kumar, VC – NLS Chennai; Prof. G S Bajpai, NLS Bhopal; Prof. Rose Verghese, Dean Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Prof. V K Mangotra, Dean Faculty of Law, University of Jammu; besides senior faculty members of the Faculty of Law including Prof. M A Mir, Prof. Altaf A Mir, Prof. G Q Mir, Prof. Farooq A Mir.

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