New Delhi/IBNS: Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Oka has recommended the legal fraternity to avoid religious programmes in court premises and bow down to the Constitution instead, media reports said.

Justice Oka said this during the foundation laying of a new court building at Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune district on Sunday.

Justice Oka said as quoted by Economic Times, "This year on November 26, we will complete 75 years of adopting the Constitution given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. I always feel that our constitution has two important words in the Preamble, one is secular and second is democracy. Some may say secularism means (Dharmnirpekshta or Sarv Dharma Sambhav) but I always feel the core of the judicial system is the Constitution."

"Therefore sometimes Judges have to say some unpleasant things, I want to say that now we have to stop doing pooja Archana or lighting lamp kind of rituals during any events related to Judiciary. Instead we should keep the Preamble of the Constitution and bow down to it to start any event. We need to start this new thing to respect our constitution and its values," he added.

Justice Oka even said he tried to stop such religious events in court during his tenure in Karnataka.

"... couldn't stop it completely but somehow managed to reduce it," he added.

A bhoomi pujan was organised at the new building triggering the words of the Supreme Court judge.