Supreme Court Justice Oka pulls up Maharashtra government for poor judiciary infrastructure, praises Karnataka

Supreme Court Justice Abhay Oka criticises Maharashtra government for judiciary infrastructure, praises Karnataka, calls for criminal justice reform.

Supreme Court (SC) Justice Abhay Oka on Saturday (February 15, 2025) criticised the Maharashtra Government for lack of basic infrastructure for the judiciary, while asserting the situation in neighbouring Karnataka was different.

Justice Oka was a judge in Bombay High Court (HC) before he was appointed as Chief Justice of Karnataka HC, from where he was elevated to the apex court.

Speaking at the Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture on the topic 'What ails our criminal justice system- some thoughts', Justice Oka said, "We struggle to get infrastructure from Maharashtra government. We lack basic infrastructure. It is very very difficult to get infrastructure from Maharashtra government." He said judges of the civil court complex in Pune do not even have separate chambers.

He, however, was quick to add that there has been change in the last five years.

"It is very very different in Karnataka. There whatever the judiciary asks the government gives. The scenario in Maharashtra is very different," Justice Oka said while pointing out that Kalaburagi bench of Karnataka HC looks like a five-star hotel.

The ailments that plague the criminal justice system are too many and collectively the system has not fulfilled the expectations of the common man, Justice Oka opined.

Speaking on capital punishment, the SC judge said he was personally against the concept and called for a debate on it with all stakeholders.