Mira Bhayandar: After a delay of nearly 12 years, the Judicial Magistrate First-Class (JMFC) and Civil Judge (junior division) court in Mira Road will finally start dispensing justice from 8, March (International Women’s Day).

An official statement released by local legislator and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said that the court will be inaugurated at 11:30 am by Supreme Court Judge Justice Abhay Oka in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who is also the guardian minister of Thane district, local representatives and members from the lawyers and bar associations.

A committee led by a judge from the Bombay High Court will inspect the court premises to check the infrastructure and amenities ahead of the inaugural ceremony.

Observation Made By Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik

Sarnaik who visited the court building on Wednesday said, “I observed that despite giving information about the scheduled inaugural ceremony, some residual work and final touches were still pending. I have directed the concerned officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) to complete the pending work by 2, March, to ensure that no obstacles are created to hold the inaugural ceremony.” 

Appointed as a permanent Judge from 12th November 2005, Justice Oka took oath as the chief justice of Karnataka High on 10th May 2019 before being elevated as a Supreme Court judge on 17, August, 2021. 

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.  

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 after the inauguration of the Judicial Magistrate First-Class (JMFC) and Civil Judge (junior division) court in Mira Road.