Justice Abhay S. Oka Returns to Supreme Court Bench Two Days After Mother’s Demise

On May 23, 2025, Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, the third-most senior judge of the Supreme Court of India, returned to work just two days after the passing of his mother, Vasanti Oka.  Despite the personal loss, he is scheduled to deliver 11 judgments on his final working day before retirement on May 24. 

Justice Oka received news of his mother’s death on May 21, shortly after attending a felicitation by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCOARA).  He traveled to Thane, Maharashtra, to perform her last rites.  Demonstrating his commitment to duty, he returned to the Supreme Court to fulfill his responsibilities.

During the SCOARA event, Justice Oka expressed his views on retirement traditions, stating:

“I don’t approve of one tradition which is followed in the Supreme Court that the retiring judge should not work on the last day. It will take some time for us to get rid of that tradition, but at least I have one satisfaction that on the last day, I will be sitting in a regular bench and pronouncing some judgments.” 

Justice Oka, born on May 25, 1960, began his legal career in 1983.  He served as a judge of the Bombay High Court, became the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court in 2019, and was elevated to the Supreme Court in August 2021.