At a time when India’s developmental discourse is increasingly shaped by images of imposing expressways, gleaming airports, and expanding skylines, former Supreme Court judge A.S. Oka has issued a sharp reminder: true development cannot be measured merely through the grandeur of infrastructure. Speaking at the Trialogue on “Sustainable Development and the Idea of India Therein,” organised by the Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi Foundation in New Delhi, Justice Oka emphasised that the foundation of a genuinely developed India—a Viksit Bharat—lies in affordable housing, accessible healthcare, and reasonably priced education. Without these basic guarantees, he argued, the idea of Viksit Bharat remains fundamentally incomplete.

Justice Oka stressed that the dominant understanding of development adopted by governments and agencies is flawed. While high-visibility infrastructure often becomes the face of progress, it does little to address the everyday struggles of millions of citizens. “There can’t be a Viksit Bharat, where in our cities we are not providing affordable accommodation,” he said. The question, according to him, is not whether the nation is building more roads or flyovers, but whether an ordinary lower-middle-class person can dream of owning or even renting a decent home in a major Indian city.

Reflecting on India’s urban evolution over the last quarter century, Justice Oka questioned whether any significant effort has been made to create affordable housing on a scale that truly meets the needs of growing populations. He noted that despite rapid urbanisation and the increasing demand for residential units, most large cities remain unaffordable for vast sections of the working population. The lack of inclusive urban planning, he suggested, has pushed people into cramped settlements, informal housing clusters, and long commutes, thereby eroding their quality of life.

Moving from housing to healthcare, the former judge argued that public hospitals and accessible medical infrastructure are indispensable components of a developed nation. He criticised the tendency to prioritise monumental structures over essential services, noting that without robust public healthcare systems, large sections of the population remain vulnerable. “Have we created public hospitals?” he asked pointedly, underscoring the contradiction between India’s development narrative and the lived realities of its citizens.

Justice Oka went on to expand the scope of the discussion to environmental rights, describing them as integral to the “Idea of India” enshrined in the Constitution. Clean air, he noted, is not a privilege but a fundamental entitlement of every citizen. Yet, he lamented that the government has “utterly failed” to enforce this basic right. With pollution levels touching alarming highs across several Indian cities, he emphasised that environmental protection must become a central concern of national policy, not an afterthought. Courts and environmental activists, he added, have often taken the lead where governmental agencies have hesitated or fallen short.

He framed environmental protection as a collective responsibility but made it clear that constitutional institutions have not fulfilled their mandate. Governmental apathy, he argued, has deepened the environmental crisis, leaving citizens to grapple with toxic air, water contamination, and ecological degradation. “Do you find the government or governmental agencies really thinking of protecting the environment?” he asked, pointing out that the burden of safeguarding nature has largely been carried by those outside the power structure.

Former Delhi High Court judge Najmi Waziri, also speaking at the event, echoed Justice Oka’s concerns and urged citizens to acknowledge their responsibility in preserving the environment. He asserted that while institutions have faltered, the absence of an effective system does not absolve individuals of their duty. “There is no one to take care of the environment. No angel would come to take care of the environment; whatever needs to be done needs to be done by the citizens,” Waziri said. His message reinforced the idea that environmental protection requires active participation—whether through sustainable lifestyle choices, civic action, or community initiatives.

Justice Waziri also highlighted a troubling disconnect between constitutional goals and administrative performance. Systems that were created to deliver public services and uphold rights, he said, are either malfunctioning or failing to respond altogether. This institutional inertia, he warned, breeds inequality and undermines the inclusive nature of the Indian republic. “India is not for the rich; it’s for everyone, and everyone has a right to live,” he added, underscoring the need to rebuild systems so that they work for all.

Together, the remarks of Justices Oka and Waziri paint a sobering picture of India’s developmental journey. While progress is often showcased through infrastructure, the deeper pillars of a thriving society—housing, healthcare, education, and environmental wellbeing—remain inadequately addressed. Justice Oka’s critique invites the nation to reassess its developmental priorities and focus on the essentials that make life dignified and humane.

The idea of India, as articulated at the event, is not merely about economic growth or industrial expansion; it is about ensuring that every individual, regardless of background, enjoys the basic conditions necessary to live a full and meaningful life. Affordable housing ensures stability. Public hospitals offer security and dignity. Clean air safeguards health and future generations. And accountable institutions ensure fairness and equality. Without these, the foundation of Viksit Bharat remains shaky.

Justice Oka’s call for introspection is timely. As India aspires to transform itself into a global economic powerhouse, it must examine whether its growth model is inclusive and sustainable. True development, he implied, lies not in the creation of monumental urban icons but in the strengthening of the social fabric that supports ordinary citizens. It means building cities that people can live in—not just visit. It means creating healthcare systems that heal, educational systems that empower, and environmental policies that protect.

In essence, the vision of Viksit Bharat demands more than economic ambition; it demands moral commitment. It requires policymakers, institutions, and citizens alike to engage with the deeper challenges that define the lived experiences of the majority. Only when the basic rights and needs of every individual are prioritised can India claim to be truly developed.