Supreme Court judge, Justice Abhay S. Oka, on his last working day, highlighted the role of the Supreme Court as the guardian of constitutional liberties.
“I believe that this is one court which can uphold the constitutional liberties… I hope with the collective efforts of the giants sitting here, this court will continue to uphold liberty because that was the dream of the framers of the Constitution,” Justice Oka said on Friday (May 23, 2025).
He was speaking after sitting on the traditional Ceremonial Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai assembled in honour of the retiring judge.
The Ceremonial Bench was held immediately after Justice Oka delivered 11 judgments on Friday.
He could not attend court on May 22 as he had to rush home to native Maharashtra after his mother suddenly passed away.
An outstanding judge: CJI Gavai on Justice Oka
Chief Justice Gavai hailed Justice Oka as an outstanding judge and an exemplary human being.
Chief Justice Gavai said Justice Oka’s contributions on the apex court Bench ranged from environmental protection and that development did not come at the cost of ecological balance to holding government accountable to the people they serve; in safeguarding the freedomof expression even if the voices were inconvenient or unpopular or in upholding the dignity of labour and the rights of most marginalised.
Justice Oka had rendered a series of judgments interpreting the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to protect the basic rights of accused and the right to fair investigation and trial.
“The job of a judge is not to be popular,” Justice Oka said.
Justice Oka’s interventions had moved authorities and law officers into action to lessen the impact of air pollution during the smog-covered winter months.
Chief Justice Gavai described Justice Oka as a “professor of law and ethics in the courtroom”.
“I always believed that a judge has to be very firm, very strict, and a judge should not hesitate to offend anyone… 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 told the assembled crowd of lawyers and litigants in the Chief Justice’s courtroom.
Published – May 23, 2025 01:11 pm IST
