Report No. 117

Institutional Format

4.2. Only two recognised institutions are at present functioning for imparting training to judicial officers. They are:-

(i) Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Academy of Administration at Secunderabad; and

(ii) North Eastern Judicial Officers Training Institute at Guwahati.

A training institute for judicial officers was set up by the Government of Maharashtra at Nagpur in the year 1972, but it appears to have been wound up in 1978 on the spacious plea that the cost of maintaining institute far outweighs the benefits. The Government of Gujarat has set up a training institute for labour judiciary named Gandhi Labour Institute at Ahmedabad. This was in pursuance of a recommendation made by the Gujarat Labour Law Review Committee in 19741. The Chief Justice of India in his blueprint has adopted the suggestion put forward in the resolution adopted by the joint conference of Chief Justices, Chief Ministers and Law Ministers held on 31st August-1st September, 1985, in New Delhi which recommended the setting upof an Academy by the Central Government for imparting training to judicial officers with a view to improving their quality and efficiency.

At a conference on the Indian Legal System organised by the Indian Law Institute to celebrate its silver jubilee in February, 1983, the Committee on judicial reforms expressed an opinion that "it was agreed that a training college or a college and research institute be established for Judges and that refresher course be introduced for judicial officers to keep them abreast of development's in law and to inculcate decision making skills. The importance of a training centre or college for Judges was emphasised and so also the importance of continuing legal education". The draft scheme prepared by the officers of the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, envisages setting up of regional institutions in four zones of the country for providing training facilities for judicial officers.

There is in vogue, in various States, a method of imparting practical training by attaching entrants to judicial service to Judges of some standing. The present system, method and facility for imparting training to judicial officers is wholly inadequate and it has in no way helped the judges to acquire proficiency in the art of rendering justice. It is absolutely necessary to set up a Central Academy at a suitable place in the country for providing intensive training to new entrants to Indian Judicial Service. All those who qualify at a competitive examination and are recruited to Indian Judicial Service and are allocated to the States shall have to take training in the Academy. The Academy may suitably be located at a central place. The Chief Justice has recommended Bangalore as the seat of the Academy which, if otherwise found to be suitable, may be accepted.

1. Report of Labour Law Review Committee, Gujarat, 1974, Ch. 4, para. 19.