Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, the third-most senior judge of the Supreme Court of India, is set to retire on May 24. His final working day will see him delivering 11 significant verdicts, just days after the passing of his mother, Vasanti Oka. The news of her death was communicated to him on May 21, shortly after he attended a ceremony held by the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCOARA). Following her funeral in Thane, Justice Oka’s commitment to his duties remains steadfast, as he is scheduled to appear in court the day after the services.
One of the critical cases on Justice Oka’s agenda is a suo motu hearing regarding the right to privacy for adolescents, prompted by controversial remarks from the Calcutta High Court last year. After issuing his verdicts, he is expected to sit with Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai in Court Number 1, according to a notice for lawyers from the Supreme Court. Justice Oka had just met his mother the previous week during a function honoring Chief Justice Gavai, underscoring the personal and professional challenges he faces as he approaches retirement.
Justice Oka openly challenged a tradition within the Supreme Court that retiring judges should refrain from working on their last day. “I don’t approve of that tradition… I will be sitting in a regular bench and pronouncing some judgments,” he stated at the SCOARA event, expressing a disdain for the concept of retirement as he continued to take on additional responsibilities in recent months.
Born on May 25, 1960, Justice Oka has a distinguished background in law, holding degrees from the University of Bombay and being enrolled as an advocate in 1983. He began his legal career at the Thane District Court and was elevated to the Bombay High Court as an additional judge in 2003. He became a permanent judge in 2005, later assuming the role of Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court in 2019 before his appointment as a Supreme Court judge in 2021.
Renowned for his judgments upholding personal liberties and free speech, Justice Oka’s tenure includes noteworthy rulings that have made significant impacts on civil liberties. As Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, he declared prohibitory orders by Bengaluru police to restrict protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act as illegal. Furthermore, he quashed an FIR against a Maharashtra college professor accused of making critical remarks about the abrogation of Article 370, affirming that “every citizen of India has a right to be critical” of such government actions.
During the felicitation, SCAORA Secretary Nikhil Jain praised Justice Oka for his profound legal acumen and humanity, stating that his judgments have deeply resonated throughout civil society. SCAORA President Vipin Nair compared Justice Oka’s steadfastness to that of an oak tree, emphasizing his strength and ability to navigate challenging situations within legal proceedings. “We must not forget the oak tree is the strongest in the wild,” Nair remarked, highlighting Oka’s unwavering commitment to justice.
As Justice Oka prepares for his retirement, he leaves behind a legacy defined by his dedication to the rule of law and his impactful contributions to the Indian judiciary. His final days on the bench are marked by both personal loss and professional resolve, underlining a career that has significantly shaped the legal landscape in India.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/meet-justice-as-oka-the-supreme-court-judge-who-returns-to-work-on-last-day-two-days-after-mothers-death-11747967338831.html
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Publish Date: 2025-05-23 08:24:00
