Justice S. Ravindra Bhat’s retirement on October 20 led to Justice Oka joining the five-member Supreme Court collegium, now headed by Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna. This reconstitution of both the five-member and three-member collegiums follows the recent superannuation of former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud on November 10.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium has been restructured, now led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, with Justice A.S. Oka joining as a new member.
This reorganization follows the retirement of former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on November 10.
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The five-member collegium responsible for appointing Supreme Court judges will include Chief Justice Khanna, along with Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy, and A.S. Oka. Meanwhile, the three-member collegium in charge of selecting high court judges will consist of the Chief Justice and Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant.
The collegium system the established method for appointing and transferring judges within the higher judiciary.
Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, born on May 25, 1960, is a prominent judge on the Supreme Court of India. He obtained both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Laws degrees from the University of Bombay. His legal career began in 1983 when he practiced at the Thane District Court under the guidance of his father, Shreeniwas W. Oka. By 1985-86, he had moved to the chambers of V.P. Tipnis, a former judge of the Bombay High Court and Lokayukta.
Justice Oka’s judicial journey started with his appointment as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on August 29, 2003, and he became a permanent judge on November 12, 2005. He was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court on May 10, 2019, and was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on August 31, 2021.
Now, as part of the collegium, Justice Oka contributes to crucial decisions on judicial appointments, a responsibility that has sparked much discussion in India regarding judicial transparency and autonomy.
CJI Khanna’s leadership and Justice Oka’s addition to the collegium indicate a balanced team that combines diverse judicial philosophies and regional perspectives, which is critical for maintaining the judiciary’s integrity and independence.
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