Mira-Bhayandar: After waiting for more than a decade, residents, law-enforcing agencies and the judicial fraternity of the twin-city finally got its own court in Mira Road on International Women’s Day (8, March).
The Judicial Magistrate First-Class (JMFC) and Civil Judge (junior division) court was inaugurated by Supreme Court Judge Justice Abhay Oka in the presence of chief justice of the Bombay High Court-Alok Aradhe, Justice-Girish Kulkarni, Justice Gauri Godse, deputy chief minister- Eknath Shinde, Bar Council chairman- Adv. Sudeep Pasbola, transport minister-Pratap Sarnaik, district collector- Ashok Shingare and civic chief- Radhabinod Sharma.
A large number of citizens and members from the lawyer’s associations also registered their presence in the inaugural ceremony. The court will start its operations from Monday.
“This is not just a concrete structure but a temple of justice for the common man who was compelled to travel all the way to Thane for judicial matters. It’s true that the functioning of the court had met with inordinate delays, however I am sure that justice will be fast-tracked.” said deputy chief minister-Eknath Shinde who also assured his full co-operation in allocating additional land for adding more complexes in the JMFC court.
While the junior division will deal with civil matters up to a pecuniary jurisdiction of Rs 5 lakh, the JMFC will tackle all types of criminal matters, except those that are triable by the sessions court.
Around 50 percent of the cases related to the twin-city are ongoing/pending before the already overburdened Thane court which will be significantly reduced due to the operations of the JMFC and Civil Judge (junior division) court.
After the government gave its nod for setting up the court in 2013, it took seven years for the structure to be completed on a plot admeasuring around 4,353 square meters reserved for the purpose in Hatkesh area of Mira Road and another three years for the final touches including interiors, furniture, fixture, and other residual works.
Justice Abhay Oka Expresses Displeasure Over Illegal Banners.
Justice Abhay Oka pulled up the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) for allowing unauthorized banners to come up in the region. “I was happy to see huge hoardings and banners displayed on the way highlighting the inaugural ceremony of the court in Mira Road. However, my happiness was short-lived after observing that display material had been installed illegally. It is the Bombay High Court which has passed an order restricting installation of unauthorized banners. Installing illegal banners to publicize the inauguration of a court is not a welcome sign” said Justice Abhay Oka while addressing the gathering.
Notably, most of the banners were found to be nailed on trees. To put the brakes on the biggest eyesore, the civic administration had passed a resolution to roll-back the system of giving permissions for putting up temporary flex banners and hoardings from 1, October, 2018.
However, once in a blue moon action, no concrete steps are being taken to put a permanent end to the illegal activities-mostly involving political parties in violation of the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act, 1995.
