Pune: Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Oak on Sunday made a candid comment on recent incidents about seeking justice. He said, “Currently, mobocracy is increasing. Politicians and others promise to punish a culprit harshly or they assure to hang him to death. But this can be decided only in a court of law.”

Justice Oak was speaking at the State-Level Conference of Lawyers organised by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa. His comment, without mentioning a specific incident, assumes significance in the backdrop of the Kolkata rape and murder and the sexual abuse of two minor girls at a school in Badlapur and ensuing reactions and statements made by politicians.

He said, “Comments are made on various incidents on social media. However, judges should decide by considering the nature of crime without getting influenced by social media criticism. If one wants to preserve respect for the judiciary, freedom should not be affected. Lawyers also play an important role in preserving the judicial system. Otherwise, democracy will not survive.”

Doubting judiciary; action needed State Industry Minister Uday Samant said, “Incidents of doubting and criticising the judiciary have grown in the past few months. Some politicians are commenting on judicial decisions. The Bar Council should take the lead in stopping such things. The judiciary should issue proper orders and check such practices. A training centre needs to be started for students studying law in rural areas. If the Bar Council sends a proposal in this regard, the government will definitely consider it.”