Today, On 21st May, Justice A.S. Oka was given an emotional farewell by the Supreme Court Bar and Bench. Leaders praised his integrity, with one remarking, “We are saying goodbye to a legacy marked by integrity and courage.”
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) recently organised a warm farewell ceremony for Justice A.S. Oka, as he prepared to retire from the Supreme Court.
The event was attended by several senior members of the Bar and Bench, who paid tribute to Justice Oka’s remarkable legal journey and his contributions to the judiciary.
Nikhil Jain, the Secretary of SCAORA, began the ceremony by introducing Justice Oka.
He praised his judicial work, saying,
“His judgments had a significant impact on the fabric of civil society.”
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He added that Justice Oka’s “profound legal insight and compassion consistently distinguished him,” and pointed out that “his rulings were always well-founded and had a lasting influence.”
Following this, Amit Sharma, the Vice President of SCAORA, highlighted Justice Oka’s reputation as a judge of great honour and integrity.
He said,
“He is one of the most esteemed and dignified jurists of our era. We are saying goodbye to a legacy marked by integrity and courage.”
Vipin Nair, President of SCAORA, reflected on Justice Oka’s entire legal journey from his early years as a lawyer to becoming a judge of great wisdom and balance.
Nair remarked,
“From his days as a passionate lawyer to becoming an exemplary jurist, he has a deep understanding of bar proceedings. He has remained an unwavering figure, much like an oak tree, the strongest in the wild.”
CJI B.R. Gavai, who spoke fondly of his long-standing friendship with Justice Oka.
Recalling the farewell of former CJI Sanjiv Khanna, he said,
“When we bid farewell to CJI Khanna, I didn’t expect to give so many speeches on the same topic. Regarding the thanks for allowing letter circulation and publishing the sequence, I must clarify that after my swearing-in, all the judges came together and passed several resolutions, including this.”
Responding to the remarks about the circulation of a resolution, CJI Gavai clarified,
“Regarding the thanks for allowing letter circulation and publishing the sequence, I must clarify that after my swearing-in, all the judges came together and passed several resolutions, including this.”
CJI Gavai also offered a heartfelt personal memory, saying,
“Justice Oka and I have shared a friendship of more than 40 years. We both studied at GLC and started our legal careers together. He is a workaholic, and even though he has limited himself to consultations after retirement, I know he will remain occupied and never truly be free.”
Justice A.S. Oka then shared his own reflections at the event. Praising CJI Gavai, he said,
“The Chief Justice is a true democrat. Right after taking the oath, he made sure to include all the judges and passed the resolutions together.”
Speaking about retirement, he said,
“I’ve never liked the word ‘retirement’ and never wanted to think about it. That’s why, since January, I’ve taken on many cases, and now Justices Bhuyan, Masih, and I are working hard to finish the judgments.”
Justice Oka further expressed disagreement with a common tradition in the judiciary,
“I told the Chief Justice that I disagree with the tradition where judges don’t work on their last day. That’s why I’ve decided to sit on a regular bench and deliver some judgments on my final day. I believe retiring judges should be allowed to work until the end of the day, and the tradition of a guard of honour during lunch should be reconsidered. Judges should be permitted to complete their duties until 4 pm.”
Also Read: Justice Oka Joins 5-Member Supreme Court Collegium Led by CJI Khanna
He also spoke about improving the legal system through better training for young lawyers,
“I believe young Advocates-on-Record require more training, and the National Judicial Academy could be utilized to train the younger members of SCAORA.”
Justice Oka ended his speech with gratitude and hope for the future of the judiciary.
“When the time comes to retire, I will have a different message. I will always remember the support of the AoRs. The previous CJI gave a new direction to the Supreme Court, and this CJI will continue that journey towards transparency.”
He concluded by saying,
“I seek an adjournment for today and will share my thoughts tomorrow.”
The farewell highlighted Justice Oka’s lifelong dedication to justice, his humility, and his vision for a more inclusive and transparent judiciary.
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