SC has not fulfilled expectations of citizens: Justice Oka in farewell speech

On his last day in office on Friday, 23 May, Justice Abhay S. Oka said the Supreme Court was a "chief justice-centric court" and advocated for a change in light of its composition of 34 judges coming from different regions of the country.

At a farewell event organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Justice Oka said the Supreme Court and the high courts have neglected the trial and district courts which were the judiciary's backbone.

"Citizens of the country had very high expectations from this court. Though no one can deny the contribution of this court, my personal view is that the Supreme Court has not fulfilled the expectations of the citizens of India," he said in a message that was read out to the bar.

At the ceremonial bench earlier in the day, Justice Oka said the Supreme Court is one court which can uphold constitutional liberties, the dream of the Constitution's framers.

Responding to lawyers, bar leaders, Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih, a visibly-moved Justice Oka said, "I must confess, after hearing all that was said for last one hour and 20 minutes, I am speechless, and perhaps today is the first and last day of my professional career where I have not prevented anyone from talking, because I could not stop. I have seen such great love and affection for me from the members of the bar that made me speechless."

The judge also clarified that he would not be giving interviews immediately. "I will need a cooling period of two to three months. The reason is that if I talk to the media today, my mind is full of emotions and I may end up saying something which I should not say,” Justice Oka said.