Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the annual conference of the Uttarakhand Judges Association, themed 'Judicium 2.0: Inclusion, Access and Strengthening', held at UPES Bidholi on Sunday, 7 June 2026. At the event, Dhami underscored that making the justice system more inclusive, accessible, transparent and effective is the core spirit of good governance, and announced a welfare fund contribution of Rs 5 crore for the association.

Context

Addressing the gathering, CM Dhami stated that ensuring swift and impartial justice for every section of society is among the state government's highest priorities. He said, 'nyay vyavastha ko adhik samaveshi, sulabh, pardarshi evam prabhavi banana sushasan ki mool bhavna hai' — 'making the justice system more inclusive, accessible, transparent and effective is the fundamental spirit of good governance.' He noted that geographical or economic circumstances must not become barriers to accessing justice, a concern especially acute in a mountainous state like Uttarakhand where remote communities often face distance-related hardships.

The Chief Minister emphasised that unnecessary delays in justice erode public trust, and that judicial processes must be made more effective and time-bound through sustained effort. He described the judiciary as a strong pillar of democracy that safeguards citizens' rights and reinforces a sense of security and trust in society.

Policy Backdrop

CM Dhami credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for several landmark steps to modernise the country's judicial architecture. He specifically cited the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — the three new criminal codes enacted by Parliament in December 2023 to replace colonial-era laws — as transformative reforms. He also highlighted technology-driven initiatives including e-Courts, the National Judicial Data Grid, Digital Case Management and Video Conferencing as tools that have made judicial processes significantly more effective.

At the state level, Dhami said the government is continuously working to strengthen court infrastructure and expand digital courts, e-filing and virtual hearing systems. He added that Revenue Lok Adalats are being used to resolve long-pending cases quickly and amicably, bringing relief to ordinary citizens.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Chief Minister highlighted several state-specific legislative measures as evidence of a zero-tolerance approach to crime: an anti-cheating law, an anti-illegal conversion law, an anti-riot law, and action against corruption and illegal encroachments. He said these steps have further strengthened the rule of law in Uttarakhand. He also described the state's Uniform Civil Code (UCC) — which made Uttarakhand the first Indian state after independence to enact a common civil code when the bill was passed in February 2024 — as a historic step for women's empowerment and equal justice for all citizens, one that has drawn national attention.

The conference was attended by Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, along with Justice Ravindra Maithani, Justice Rakesh Thapliyal, Justice Alok Mehra, Justice Subhash Upadhyay, Justice Siddharth Sah, Registrar General Yogesh Kumar Gupta, and judges from various courts across the state.

What's Next

CM Dhami expressed confidence that 'Judicium 2.0' will play an important role in making the justice system more inclusive, accessible, transparent and effective, and will help realise the vision of a developed and excellent Uttarakhand. The announced Rs 5 crore welfare fund for the Uttarakhand Judges Association, along with the release of the association's souvenir at the event, signals continued state investment in judicial welfare and institutional strengthening. The roll-out of digital courts and e-filing kiosks in the state's remote hill districts in 2026-27 will be a key measure of how the commitments made at Judicium 2.0 translate into ground-level access to justice.