Felicitate CJI UU Lalit by allocating land for Bombay High Court; not with bouquets, mementos: Justice AS Oka

Instead of felicitating Chief Justice of India (CJI) UU Lalit with bouquets and mementos, the Maharashtra government should felicitate him by allocating land for the new Bombay High Court complex and that would be his actual felicitation, Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Oka said on Saturday..Justice Oka underlined that it is a moment of great pride that Justice Lalit, a son of Maharashtra, has become the CJI."I believe that giving bouquets and mementos would not be the actual felicitation for the CJI. I have been issuing writs against the government and issued several while here in Bombay but today since the Chief Minister is present in this event, I would not issue a writ but would request and inform him that if the state wishes to felicitate Justice Lalit in true sense, then it should allot a land for constructing a new Bombay High Court complex," Justice Oka said.The judge further added that the State must ensure that the land is allotted at least before November 8, the day when CJI Lalit would demit office."The State should invite our CJI for the Bhoomi Poojan of that land before November 8. This would be the actual felicitation of CJI Lalit," the judge opined..Justice Oka was speaking at an event organised by the judges of Bombay High Court to felicitate CJI Lalit.The event was also attended by Supreme Court Judge Justice BR Gavai, Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta, Himachal Pradesh High Court's Chief Justice Amjad Sayed law minister Kiren Rijiju, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his deputy and State law minister Devendra Fadnavis..Interestingly, Justice Oka said that the State government would be getting more opportunities to felicitate judges, who hail from Maharashtra and would retire as CJI. He was speaking about Justices DY Chandrachud and BR Gavai, both of whom are slated to be the CJI.While Justice Chandrachud would take over as the CJI in November this year and demit office in November 2024, Justice Gavai will be sworn-in as the CJI in May 2025."I would like to tell the state government that it will get more such instances to felicitate CJI, who would be from this State. In fact, by May 2025, when it would be felicitating another son of this soil as a CJI, the State must ensure that he (Justice Gavai) inaugurates the new High Court complex)," Justice Oka stated..Maharashtra CM Shinde, in his speech, responded to Justice Oka's request. "We have held meetings and I would assure you all that soon a decision would be taken (for allotting a land parcel). I would like to point out that we will do this for the citizens and that there is no personal interest in this cause," he said.Shinde also assured that his government would strive to enhance the court infrastructure in the state."In my meetings with CJ Datta, he has highlighted the condition of court infrastructure and has suggested we make some budgetary allocation for the same. I can assure you that soon a decision would be taken on the suggestion to use at least 1 per cent of the budget on court infrastructure," the CM said.