Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. GANDERBAL: Department of Law, School of Legal Studies, Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), organised an extension lecture on “Jurimetrics in Legal Research” at Tulmulla here on Wednesday.
In his welcome address, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Mir, Head and Dean, School of Legal Studies, emphasized the significance of academic interactions and extension lectures in broadening the intellectual horizons of students and encouraging critical engagement with contemporary legal issues.
In her lecture on “Jurimetrics in Legal Research” Prof. (Dr.) Nuzhat Parveen Khan discussed several important dimensions of judicial functioning, judicial reasoning and the relationship between law, society and human behaviour. She elaborated on the scope and limitations of judicial powers, particularly what judges can and cannot do while discharging their judicial responsibilities.
She emphasised that judges are required to function within the Constitutional and statutory framework and must balance judicial discretion with established legal principles. The expert discussed the concept of judicial activism, explaining its significance in protecting fundamental rights and ensuring justice, particularly where legislative or administrative gaps require judicial intervention. In this context, she referred to the landmark Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan judgment, which resulted in the formulation of guidelines for preventing sexual harassment of women at the workplace in the absence of specific legislation. She further highlighted the importance of independence, neutrality and fairness in judicial decision-making and discussed how actual or perceived bias can affect public confidence in the justice delivery system.
While discussing different approaches to understanding law, Prof. Khan referred to the Realist School of Jurisprudence, highlighting the importance of understanding law not merely through statutes and precedents but also through the actual functioning of courts and the practical behaviour of judges. She explained the relevance of systematic and inquiry-based methods in legal research, encouraging students to adopt a critical, analytical and evidence-oriented approach rather than relying exclusively on conventional doctrinal methods. She also emphasised that judicial decision-making cannot always be understood as a purely mechanical exercise, as human reasoning and practical realities also influence the process of adjudication.
The proceedings were conducted by Ms. Anushka Bharti and Ms. Seema Nazir, students of BALLB, while Dr. Rehana Shawl, Sr Assistant Prof. introduced the Resource Person. Dr. Hilal Ahmad Najar, Sr Assistant Prof. proposed the vote of thanks. The programme was coordinated by Bilal Ahmad Ganai, Sr Assistant Prof. while Dr. Imran Ahad, Assistant Prof. was the Rapporteur.
