Pune: Justice Abhay Oka Advocates Secular Traditions: Urges Legal Community to Drop Religious Ceremonies in Court Premises
Pimpri Chinchwad, 4th March 2024: Today, Justice Abhay Oka of the Supreme Court urged the legal community to refrain from conducting religious ceremonies within court premises during events. He proposed inaugurating events by reverentially acknowledging the Constitution’s Preamble rather than engaging in rituals like Pooja (worship) or lamp lighting. Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony for a new court building in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Justice Oka emphasized the significance of the secular and democratic principles embedded in the Constitution. He advocated a shift towards respecting the Constitution’s values by incorporating a new tradition of bowing down to the Preamble instead of religious rituals.
Justice Oka expressed that, with the completion of 75 years of adopting the Constitution on November 26, it is crucial to reevaluate the ceremonial practices within the judiciary. He acknowledged that, at times, judges may need to convey uncomfortable messages, stating his belief in the centrality of the Constitution to the judicial system. Recalling his efforts in Karnataka to minimize religious rituals, Justice Oka urged for discontinuation of practices like Pooja Archana during judiciary-related events.
Supporting Justice Oka’s proposal, Justice Bhushan Gavai suggested marking the foundation with a spade instead of religious rituals. He proposed inaugurating events by watering plants, emphasizing the positive environmental message it would convey. The foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new court building in Pimpri Chinchwad was officiated by Justice Bhushan R Gavai, with the presence of Justices Abhay Oka, Prasanna B Varale, Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, and Rvati Mohite Dere from the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court.
Addressing the fundamental right to justice, Justice Gavai stressed the need for speed and affordability. He expressed concern over the rising backlog of bail matters at the Supreme Court, noting that every bench handles a significant number of cases daily. Justice Gavai suggested that the judiciary should reflect the courageous and unbiased nature of historical figures like Ramshastri Prabhune when considering bail applications. He raised awareness about the challenges individuals face in obtaining bail, even in district and high courts, highlighting the growing pendency of bail matters at the Supreme Court.
