Lack of accountability can lead to crimes: Vohra

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CONFERNCE ON CRIMINOLOGY

The Jammu and Kashmir Governor, NN Vohra, on Thursday asserted that lack of accountability and good governance can lead to crimes.

Addressing the 33^rd All India Criminology Conference at the University of Kashmir, Vohra said, “Accountability and good governance are closely linked to crimes. If there is lack of accountability and good governance, it can lead to crimes.”

The Conference titled “Criminal Justice, System Challenges and Future Agenda” is being organised by the varsity’s Department of Law in association with Indian Society of Criminology (ISC), Chennai.

“There is also linkage between governance and security. For example, if internal security is not guaranteed, good governance is not possible,” Vohra, who is the varsity chancellor, said while calling for close co-operation between different states and the Central Government in tackling crime cases.

Vohra exuded hope that the revolution in information technology and increased awareness of people can help curb crime.

The KU vice-chancellor, Prof Riyaz Punjabi called for a trans-disciplinary approach in studying criminology and social systems. “The subject of criminology is not finding a place in our curriculum, apparently because we are confined to the legal definition of the crime and ignore its social, political and other dimensions,” he said while announcing that the varsity would be establishing the Centre for Criminology Studies where “restructuring of criminology curriculum would be taken up on priority.”

Prof Punjabi spoke at length about the corporate crimes, asserting that such crimes were likely to affect the economies of states.

The Chief Justice of J&K High Court, Justice Barin Ghosh, gave away the awards to distinguished scholars on the occasion for “their contribution in the field of criminology and justice system.” Governor N N Vohra received KUMARAPA award on the occasion., The Law professor at KU, Prof Afzal Qadri, also received a “fellowship award.”

In his keynote address, distinguished Law expert, who is also the member of the National Commission on State-State Relationship, Prof Madahava Menon, underlined the need to have a National Policy on Criminal Justice. “The policy should focus on victims more than the accused,” he said while calling for “reclassification of crimes based on rationalization.”

He said there was need to have an “economic offence code” to deal with crimes arising out of growing economic crimes. “The ISC is the only body to help in framing the law which can deal with the future crimes,” Prof Menon said, adding the conference was extremely important as it takes place at the time “when the overall security scenario in the country is grim and the fear of law is vanishing.”

The President, ISC, Prof MZ Khan, said there was need to take a “fresh look” to all the laws related to the crime as “the same were 150 year old.”

In his welcome address, senior Law professor at KU, Prof Meraj-ud-Din, said it was a dream come true to hold the Conference in the varsity. “Our aim is to examine different critical issues pertaining to criminology and justice system, and address them in whatever the way we can,” he said. Prof Meraj-u-Din is the organising secretary of the Conference.

The Head, Department of Law, Prof Altaf Ahmad, presented the department profile and its contribution.

Among others who participated in the conference included chairman ISC, Prof Tilak Raj and its secretary, Mr Subramanian. The participants are from institutions like Department of Criminology, Chennai; National Law Schoo, Channai; and University of Petroleum and Energy etc. Senior Prof Abdul Latief of Law Department presented the vote of thanks.