Workshop on Proceedings in Magistrate Court | Brainware University

Know the law

To provide a deep insight into the functioning of the legal systems, a workshop on ‘Proceedings in Magistrate Court: hierarchy, trial and bail’ was organized by the Department of Law, Brainware University on December 12, 2020. The guest speaker, Ms. Paromita Das (LL.B), Assistant Public Prosecutor, Class-1, Gazetted Officer, Govt of West Bengal, was invited to grace the occasion. The session was conducted through Google Meet with more than 80 participants.

After an initial introduction by the host, Mr. Soumik Ash, Ms. Das took over the session and discussed the entire trial process vividly. Speaking of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.P.C), she said, “Cr.P.C. is a comprehensive and exhaustive procedural law for conducting a criminal trial in India, including the manner for collection of evidence, examination of witnesses, interrogation of accused, arrests, safeguards and procedure to be adopted by police and courts.”

Distinguishing between the Indian Penal Code, 1960 (IPC) and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (IEA), she stated, “IPC is the primary penal law of India, which is applicable to all offences, except as may be provided under any other law in India. IEA is a detailed treaty on the law of ‘evidence’.”

Thereafter, the speaker highlighted the conditional bail, the role of prosecution and defense lawyers while trials, questioning and verifying the witnesses and acceptance of oath by the witnesses. This was followed by an interactive session when the guest addressed queries from the audience. The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by the convener, Dr. Kaushik Banerjee.