Institute of Legal and Management Studies

Justice Abhay S Oka received an affectionate farewell from the members of the Supreme Court bar on his last working day.

A day after his mother's passing, he rushed to work today to preside over the bench to deliver as many as ten judgments on his last working day. After he rose, lawyers thanked him for his service to the nation and his ability to outrage at injustice.

A ceremonial bench presided by the Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, was held to honour the outgoing judge.

Attorney General for India R Venkatramani said that Justice Oka worked tirelessly to protect liberty, freedom of speech and expression through his judgments and acted as a judge with a strong spine. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta said that Justice Oka always put duty first.

"Though your lordships may not believe in God, I am a believer. May god always be by your side. You were a judge who took a stand. In fact, I and MR.Raju (ASG Raju) were always on the wrong side, at the receiving end. But our love and respect for you were never affected. We respect you for who you are," SG Mehta said.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, former President of the SCBA, said, "You protected liberty like no one else could." "When some judges leave, they create such a vaccum that it can never be filled. Those judges will be remembered who stood up for the cause of liberty. That is why we remember Justice Khanna, Justice Patanjali Shastri," Sibal said.

Senior Advocate Dr AM Singhvi said that interactions in Justice Oka's court were transparent and flowed like water.

ASG SV Raju said that though Justice Oka rejected many of his arguments, he never felt that the cases were decided against him, as they were decided for justice. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan said that Justice Oka was as sturdy as an oak tree.

Senior Advocates Menaka Guruswamy thanked Justice Oka for the directions passed by him to make Delhi's environment more habitable.

Senior Advocates Meenaskhi Arora, Shadan Farasat, Madhavi Divan, Guru Krishnakumar, CU Singh, Sidharth Luthra, Aparajita Singh, Shekhar Naphade, Amit Anand Tiwari, Rahul Kaushik, PV Dinesh, Mukul Rohatgi etc., also expressed their adulation for the retiring judge.

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, describing Justice Oka as an "outstanding judge" and an "extraordinary colleague", said that his judgments affirmed the core values of the Constitution. CJI Gavai praised Justice Oka's commitment to duty, which is exemplified by the fact that he came back to work a day after his mother's death. Even when his father passed away, Justice Oka took only a day off, CJI remembered.

CJI Gavai revealed that both he and Justice Oka won't be taking any post-retirement jobs.

"We both have decided we will not accept post-retirement opportunities and thus we both perhaps can work together after my retirement," CJI Gavai said.

"He has been a professor of law and ethics within the courtroom. He has always reminded that lawyers are first, officers of the court. Behind his firmness is the dedication of a teacher. His courtroom always encouraged ethical advocacy. What is admirable is the sheer energy with which he worked over these years. He did not even take official accommodation when he became a judge," CJI said. CJI also thanked Justice Oka for his efforts behind the establishment of the National Law University at Aurangabad.

Justice Oka, in his reply, said in a lighter vein, "Today is the first and last day of my judicial career where I have not stopped lawyers from speaking," drawing laughter from the packed courtroom.

"I believe that this is one court that can uphold the constitutional liberties, and that has been my humble endeavour. And, I am sure that, with the collective efforts of so many giants who are sitting here, this court will continue to uphold the liberties, because that was the dream of the framers of the Constitution. And it was my honest endeavour to do that. And I am sure that in that honest endeavour I may have offended a few people, a few lawyers.

But I always believed that a Judge has to be very firm, very strict, and a Judge should not hesitate to offend anyone. I remember a great judge who adorned the dias here, he advised me - please remember one thing, you are not becoming a judge to become popular. I followed that advice to hilt. It was indirectly said today that sometimes I was very harsh. But I was harsh for only one reason. I wanted to uphold the principles laid down by our Constitution. And my heart is full." Justice Oka said, thanking everyone.

Justice Oka started his practice in Bombay High Court in 1983. He became a Judge of the Bombay High Court on August 29, 2003. In May 2019, he was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on 31st August 2021.