The government has appointed community leader Tikka Rajinder Parkash Bedi as a Justice of the Peace with immediate effect.
Mr Bedi is involved in a number of community and welfare projects and programmes throughout Auckland, but principally in South Auckland (Papatoetoe). He is Assistant Secretary of the Auckland Sikh Society, which owns and manages Shri Dasmesh Darbar Gurdwara (166 Kolmar Road) near Hunters Corner. He is also an educator at the Papatoetoe Historical Society and an interpreter at the Auckland and Counties Manukau District Health Boards.
His other community credentials include Assistant General Secretary, New Zealand Indian Central Association, Executive Member (and former Secretary) Manukau Indian Association and Executive Member, New Zealand Punjabi Cultural Association.
“This is a great honour,” Mr Bedi said, following his appointment as a JP.
“I am sure I will be able to serve the communities with which I am involved better and be of assistance and support to people,” he said.
Mr Bedi is a postgraduate (Masters) in Sociology from the Chandigarh based Punjab University and a qualified lawyer. He migrated to New Zealand with his wife Manmohan Kaur (Nimi) and their only son Dasham in 2002.
According to the Ministry of Justice, JPs are are involved in an ever-increasing multitude of matters including Ministerial and Judicial duties.
In the District Court suitably trained, Justices carry out such functions as jurisdiction determined by statute, including minor offences and some traffic cases, issue of remands and bail, hearing of undefended cases, presiding over defended trials and preliminary hearing of indictable offences.
JPs have no inherent jurisdiction and may exercise only those powers given to them by statute. They also take oaths and declarations under the provisions of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 or any other enactment and carry out such functions and exercise such powers as are conferred on Justices by the Summary Proceedings Act 1957 or by any other enactment.
Members of Parliament nominate people to be JPs.
