Justice Abhay S Oka retired from the Supreme Court with heartfelt tributes for his fearless judgments and commitment to civil liberties. Lawyers hailed him as a tireless, just, and courageous judge.
Justice Abhay S Oka’s last day at the Supreme Court of India was filled with heartfelt farewells and warm tributes from members of the legal fraternity, who deeply admired his fearless approach to justice, strong stance on civil liberties, and unwavering dedication to his duty.
On his final working day, Justice Oka was part of a ceremonial bench along with Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih.
This came shortly after he delivered eleven judgments while sitting on a Division Bench, highlighting his tireless work ethic even in his final moments on the bench.
Despite the personal loss of his mother on May 21, Justice Oka returned to work the very next day.
His colleagues and fellow lawyers expressed deep sympathy for his loss while admiring his sense of responsibility and dedication to the judiciary.
Attorney General of India R Venkataramani, while addressing Justice Oka, said:
“We join you and your family in sharing our deepest condolences on the demise of your mother, we pray for the departed soul.”
He continued,
“You’ll certainly be remembered for the strong flag you waved for environmental causes. Many lessons have been taught by you in the field of human concern. They are good for governance as they will be for the community…All of us received equal treatment in your court…We thank you sincerely for the tireless work you have done. On the lighter side, it seems that by working so tirelessly, you have set bad standards for your law clerks, that there are days when they forgot to go home!”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also praised Justice Oka’s unmatched dedication and legal preparedness.
He said:
“Most amazing thing is, despite such an irreparable loss, your lordship put duty as a judge first. This is something all of us has to learn, to put duty first…Lordship would always be remembered as a judge who took a stand when required.”
Newly elected President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, highlighted the fairness Justice Oka brought to every hearing, stating:
“Even when lawyers did not win cases, they never felt that justice was not done.”
President of the Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association (SCAORA), Senior Advocate Vipin Nair, described Justice Oka as a naturally gifted judge:
“Justice Oka was a born judge and that he had dispensed divine justice throughout his judicial career.”
Outgoing SCBA President and Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal paid an emotional tribute, recognizing Justice Oka’s firm stand on liberty.
He said:
“The judges who will be remembered (are those) who stood up for the cause of liberty through this institution…You symbolise that. You protected liberty like no one else did in this Court …Thank you for being what you are and what you were.”
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appreciated the impartiality in Justice Oka’s judgments even when the outcomes were not in his favour.
He remarked:
“I never felt judgment was against me, I always felt justice was being delivered.”
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan praised the judge for his humble personality and playfully acknowledged the meaning of his name:
“The Americans say, sturdy as an oak, that’s exactly what you have been for this institution.”
Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy beautifully described Justice Oka’s name and qualities, saying:
“Rarely is a person so appropriately named as you were, Abhay means fearless Oka (stands for) sheltering all. You epitomise the best of a judge. Thank you for teaching us through cases like MC Mehta. You helped move institutions to comply, just by your belief that this city deserves a better environment.”
One of Justice Oka’s first law clerks at the Supreme Court shared his personal experience, appreciating the judge’s mentorship.
He said:
“I learnt what excellence and integrity looked like in practice…The bane is that he has set the bar so high…Briefing him taught me something no textbook could ever – when to speak, how to speak and most importantly, when to be silent.”
Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora praised Justice Oka for his strong moral compass and courage, sharing a memorable comment from a past hearing:
“You truly epitomise that.”
She said he truly lived up to the judge’s oath of working without fear or favour and recalled,
“What a judge truly needs is ‘spine, spine and spine.'”
In response to the heartfelt messages and goodbyes, a visibly emotional Justice Oka gave a short yet powerful statement.
He said:
“Perhaps today is the last and first day where I have not stopped lawyers from speaking…I am very speechless, I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.”
He further added,
“It was part of a judge’s duty to be firm, and not hesitate to offend anyone if required.”
Justice Abhay S Oka’s career and retirement have left a lasting legacy in the Indian judiciary.
Known for his fairness, courage, environmental concerns, and fearless judgments, his absence will be deeply felt by lawyers, judges, and citizens alike.
Also Read: Supreme Court Judge Justice A.S Oka: “Illegal Banners Violate Laws, Affect Public Spaces”
His principles and contributions have set a high benchmark for generations of judges to come.
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Ex CJI Sanjeev Khanna
