Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay S. Oka on Saturday said the apex court has taken a significant initiative to translate its English-language judgments into major regional languages to make justice more accessible to the common citizen.
Speaking as the chief guest at the convocation ceremony of Vidya Prasarak Mandal’s TMC Law College in Thane, Justice Oka emphasized that language should not be a barrier in understanding legal rights and remedies. “Thousands of judicial decisions have been translated into various regional languages over the past three years,” he said, highlighting the judiciary’s move towards inclusivity and accessibility.
Citing Maharashtra’s long-standing practice, he noted, “For the last 30 years, legal work in the district courts of Maharashtra has been done in Marathi.” A release by the college quoted him as saying that the initiative has been crucial in bridging the gap between the judiciary and the people.
Justice Oka also underscored the role of technology in revolutionizing legal education. “With the tools available today, it has become very easy to study law, research, and understand the meaning of judgments in a short time. Students must utilize these tools effectively,” he advised.
The event also featured remarks from Vidya Prasarak Mandal president Dr. Vijay Bedekar, who stressed the need for expanding legal resources in the Marathi language. “It is very important for the common citizens to have all the books, information, and judicial decisions related to law in Marathi. Students should come forward to translate legal material into Marathi and make it widely available,” he urged.
The event marked a meaningful convergence of judicial reforms, technological advancement, and regional empowerment—offering law students a glimpse into the future of inclusive justice.
