Justice Abhay Oka of the Supreme Court voiced his displeasure over the widespread culture of illegal banners during the inauguration of a new magistrate court in Maharashtra’s Mira Bhayandar township. The event also saw the judge addressing issues of discipline among attendees, particularly the media.
While en route to the event, Justice Oka noted multiple banners erected to welcome guests but later discovered they were unauthorized, violating a Bombay High Court order requiring prior approval for such displays. “No banners or hoardings should be put up without prior authorization,” Justice Oka remarked, stressing the need for immediate action from the local civic bodies to remove these illegal advertisements.
The Supreme Court judge also expressed concern over the lack of decorum at the judicial event, where he witnessed media representatives and some attendees pushing and jostling. Highlighting the event’s nature, he stated, “This is not a political or entertainment event. It’s a judiciary function where discipline is paramount.”
Justice Oka, reflecting on his tenure as the chairman of the Infrastructure Committee of the Bombay High Court, criticized the slow bureaucratic processes that often hinder judicial infrastructure projects in Maharashtra. He pointed out the discrepancies in land allocation for the new Mumbai High Court building as an example of these delays.
Furthermore, Justice Oka welcomed Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s announcement of the creation of 2,000 new positions for judges but emphasized that Maharashtra still faces a significant shortage, far below the Supreme Court’s recommended ratio of 50 judges per million people.
