The Supreme Court Justice Abhay Oka has called for the legal fraternity to eschew religious rituals, such as pooja (worship), during court-related events. Instead, he suggests inaugurating such events by paying homage to the Preamble of the Constitution. Justice Oka made these remarks during the foundation-laying ceremony of a new court building in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune District.
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Highlighting the importance of secularism and democracy, foundational pillars ascribed in the Constitution’s Preamble, Justice Oka emphasized,
“This year on November 26, we will complete 75 years of adopting the Constitution given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. I always feel that our constitution has two important words in the Preamble, one is secular and the second is democracy.”
He further elaborated on the necessity for the judiciary to reflect these values, stating,
“Therefore, sometimes Judges have to say some unpleasant things, I want to say that now we have to stop doing pooja Archana or lighting lamp kind of rituals during any events related to Judiciary.”
Justice Oka’s call for change is not without precedent; he shared his experiences of attempting to reduce religious rituals during his tenure in Karnataka, albeit with partial success. Supporting Justice Oka’s stance, Supreme Court Judge Justice Bhushan Gavai endorsed the idea of adopting more secular and inclusive practices during judicial events, such as using a spade to mark a foundation or watering plants instead of the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony. These suggestions aim to send a positive message to society while aligning with environmental concerns.
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The event, which saw the bhoomi pujan (ground-breaking ceremony) of the new court building, was attended by notable judicial figures including Justice Bhushan R Gavai, Justice Prasanna B Varale, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, and High Court Judge Justice Revati Mohite Dere.
In addition to addressing the issue of religious rituals in judicial events, Justice Gavai spoke on the critical need for speedy and affordable justice. He also highlighted the increasing pendency of bail matters in the Supreme Court, stressing the importance of a courageous and unbiased approach to granting bail.
“Every bench of the Supreme Court attends a minimum of 15 to 20 cases per day of bail matters,”
he noted, underscoring the challenges faced by the judiciary in ensuring timely justice.
The statements made by Justices Oka and Gavai reflect a growing awareness and acknowledgment within the Indian judiciary of the need to uphold the Constitution’s secular ethos and to ensure that judicial proceedings and events remain inclusive and representative of India’s diverse society. Their remarks also shed light on the broader challenges facing the legal system, from the backlog of cases to the principles guiding the grant of bail, signaling a call for introspection and reform within the judiciary.
