Don't take us for a ride: HC slams Maharashtra

A senior Bombay High Court judge, reinstated in a case after backlash over his removal, on Monday accused the Maharashtra government of “taking the 155-year-old institution for a ride”.

Justice Abhay Oka was withdrawn from hearing a bunch of petitions on the issue of noise pollution and silence zones on Thursday after the government accused him of “harbouring serious bias”.

Following overwhelming backing from the bench and the bar, Justice Abhay Oka was reinstated.

Known for his no-nonsense approach, Justice Abhay Oka rebuked the government on Monday.

“You should send a clear and loud signal to the government that you cannot play with this august institution,” the judge told after Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni withdrew the government allegation.

The state government, through the AG, had made an application to Chief Justice Chellur seeking transfer of the cases, and alleging that Justice Oka is “somehow harbouring a serious bias in the subject matter of these petitions  against the state machinery.”