06/03/2024, 18:22 Stop Religious Rituals During Court Events, Instead Bow Down To Constitution Or Preamble : Supreme Court

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Stop Religious Rituals During Court Events, Instead Bow

Down To Constitution Or Preamble : Supreme Court
Judge Justice Abhay Oka
Sharmeen Hakim
(/sharmeen-hakim)
6 Mar 2024 5:26 PM

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Supreme Court Judge, Justice Abhay Oka at a recent event in Pune urged people
to stop religious rituals during court programs and instead start official court
events by bowing down or showing respect to either the preamble or the
Constitution.

Justice Oka was speaking at the 'Bhoomi Pujan,' or foundation laying event of the
new court complex in Pimpri- Chinchwad near Pune.

"This year on November 26, we will complete 75 years of adopting the Constitution
given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Our constitution has two important words in the
Preamble, one is 'secular' and second is 'democracy.'…I've always believed the core
of the judicial system is the Constitution.”

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So keeping with the spirit of secularism, Justices Oka said he will be saying
something unpleasant.

“I am going to say something a little unpleasant. I feel we should stop doing

rituals like poojas & archanas or lighting lamps during official judicial events.
Instead, we should keep an image of the Preamble of the Constitution and bow
down to it to commence a program. As the Constitution completes 75 years, to
maintain its dignity, we should start this new practice," he said in his speech
delivered in

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He said that while the court system may have been created by the British, it was
run by the Constitution. “The courts are given by the Constitution.”

Justice Oka further said that he tried to but couldn't completely stop religious
practices when he was the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.

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During his speech the judge also highlighted the need for rain water harvesting in
new court buildings. He said the water can be used for clean drinking water,
especially in mega cities. Borewells should be prepared and used for keeping the
court premises clean and for watering the plans. “We need to think of the
environment,” he said.

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“Today we call the courts “temples of justice.” Whether they should be called this
or not is a matter of debated. But the courts don't belong to anyone. It follows the
religion of law and humanity. We should keep it pious.. not in the religious way but
it needs to be kept clean.”

He said new court buildings were not just about good exteriors but also spaces
where quality justice is done.

The video of the speech(in Marathi) can be watched here.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrsAsNQD3as)

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