As Supreme Court Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka approaches his retirement on May 24, he has spoken candidly about traditions he believes need reform within the highest court of the land. In a heartfelt and assertive address at a farewell function hosted by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), Justice Oka said he disagrees with the custom that retiring judges should refrain from working on their final day.
“I told the Chief Justice of India yesterday that I don’t approve one tradition which is followed in Supreme Court — that retiring judge should not work on the last day,” Justice Oka revealed. “It will take some time for us to get rid of the tradition, but at least I have one satisfaction: on my last day, I’ll be sitting on a regular bench and pronouncing some judgments.”
The outgoing judge also critiqued the established practice of giving a guard of honor to retiring judges at 1:30 p.m., calling for its postponement. “Why should a retiring judge be told to go home immediately after lunch?” he asked. “That practice will also have to be changed so that a judge has the satisfaction of working till four o’clock on the last working day.”
Known for his dedication to the bench, Justice Oka confessed his discomfort with the word “retirement,” sharing that he coped by intensifying his judicial workload since the start of the year. “From January, I decided to take up as many matters as possible,” he said. “Myself, along with my esteemed colleagues, Justice [AG] Masih and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, are all struggling to complete our judgments.”
He even shared a personal glimpse into the pressure he feels: “Every morning, my wife accompanies me for a walk, and the first question she asks is, ‘How many are remaining?’ She knows how touchy and under pressure I am to complete my judgments.”
Justice Oka, known for landmark rulings and unwavering commitment to justice, took time to praise the Advocates-on-Record (AoRs), calling them the “backbone of the Supreme Court.” He advocated for more structured training for AoRs through institutions like the National Judicial Academy to support younger members of the legal fraternity.
“I will never forget the cooperation rendered by the AoRs,” he said. “Earlier CJ gave a new direction to the Supreme Court and this CJI will only take it ahead on the journey of transparency.”
Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, who also spoke at the event, offered a warm tribute to Justice Oka, recalling a 40-year friendship. “He is a workaholic,” said the CJI. “I know he will always be occupied and never be free, even post-retirement.”
SCAORA Secretary Nikhil Jain praised Justice Oka for his deep legal acumen and empathetic judgments, while President Vipin Nair likened his strength and steadfastness to an oak tree. “He has stood like an unshakable rock,” Nair said, also recounting an incident where Justice Oka painstakingly recreated several lost drafts due to a stenographic error.
As Justice Oka prepares to step down from the bench, his words and actions continue to inspire reflection and perhaps, reform within the Supreme Court’s own traditions.
