Alka Verma-
Published On: October 13, 2021 at 13:04 IST
Justice Abhay S. Oka recently stated that the “crisis of credibility” is a new challenge being faced by the Judiciary at present.
“Crisis of credibility is a challenge being faced by the judiciary at present and members of the legal profession should ensure the backlog of cases be of the COVID-19 pandemic is cleared,” stated Justice Oka.
Justice Oka made these remark while he was addressing the crowd at a function organised by the Thane District Courts Bar Association in Maharashtra to congratulate him for becoming a Judge of Apex Court.
Justice Oka while speaking stated that even if the third wave of COVID-19 will hit the country, all the Judicial Officers and Lawyers should ensure the legal work goes on uninterrupted and people get justice.
Adding to it, he stated that although the Judiciary is facing lack of credibility, the members of the legal field should work hard so that the faith of the country’s citizens in the Judiciary could be restored.
Also, giving example of the Karnataka High Court, where the Judges decided to work continuously for 11 Saturdays during the COVID outbreak to clear the backlog of cases, he urged the other Courts to find similar ways.
Also pointing towards the shortage of the Judges wherein only 17 or 18 judges are available per million people, he stated that this issue needs to be addressed and also the ratio needs to be improved.
Justice Oka also remembered his journey that from being a Practising Advocate in a Thane court in 1983, now the judge is a Judge of the Apex Court.
It should be remembered here that Justice Oka was enrolled as an Advocate in 1983, and then was elevated as the Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003.
In 2019, the Justice became the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court and in August 2021 moved to the Supreme Court.
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