New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) In a poignant turn of events, Justice Abhay S. Oka, who is set to retire from the Supreme Court on May 24, faced personal tragedy just ahead of his farewell.
His mother, Vasanti Oka, passed away on May 21 in Mumbai, prompting an outpouring of condolences from across the legal fraternity.
The farewell function, originally scheduled for May 22 by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), was postponed to Friday, May 23, 2025, at 4.15 PM in the C-Block Auditorium of the Supreme Court complex.
Chief Justice of India BR Gavai will preside over the ceremony. The event will also be live-streamed via the SCBA YouTube channel.
Despite the bereavement, Justice Oka flew to Mumbai for just a day to attend the cremation, held at Castle Mill Naka, Thane, on the morning of May 22.
He is expected to return to Delhi the same evening to discharge his final judicial responsibilities.
On May 23, Justice Oka will pronounce ten pending judgments, a testament to his unwavering commitment to the law and the people it serves.
Colleagues and members of the Bar have lauded his resolve to work on his final day, choosing substance over ceremony. Known for his meticulous judgments and deep sense of duty, Justice Oka had earlier voiced his disapproval of the tradition that judges refrain from hearing matters on their last working day.
“I hate the word retirement,” Justice Oka said in an emotional reflection. “That’s why I kept taking up matters, even in January. I didn’t want to think about this day.”
Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, a long-time friend and batchmate of Justice Oka from Government Law College, Mumbai, noted during an earlier address, “He is a workaholic. Even post-retirement, he won’t be idle. His commitment to the law is unparalleled.”
Justice Oka’s career on the Bench has been marked by judicial activism, transparency, and a call for institutional reforms. He played a key role in pushing for practical changes such as the advance publication of court listings and digital letter circulation initiatives credited with streamlining court functioning.
The sudden demise of his mother has cast a shadow over what would have been a celebratory farewell week.
But for Justice Oka, the emotional weight of personal loss did not outweigh his inner call to serve till the very last moment. Even as grief lingers in his heart, he returns to the Bench to finish what he began, with quiet dignity and immense strength.
A formal obituary message was circulated by SCORA and SCBA, mourning the demise of Smt. Vasanti Oka, and informing members about the postponement of the farewell.
The message was accompanied by heartfelt condolences from members of the Bar across Mumbai and Delhi, with Senior Advocate Raju Z. Moray among the first to share the heartbreaking news from the Bombay legal fraternity.
This farewell may lack the unclouded joy of celebration, but it will undoubtedly be remembered as one of rare courage, devotion, and a reflection of what it truly means to serve justice with discipline, empathy, and humility.
As he takes his final seat on the Bench this Friday, Justice Abhay S. Oka will not just be retiring as a Supreme Court judge, he will be setting an example for generations of judges to come. As he prepares to step down after an illustrious judicial journey, Justice Oka does so not with a ceremonial pause but with decisions that will impact countless lives even in the shadow of personal loss.
UNI SNG RN