"Appeals Should Be Made To Law Students To Take Up Judiciary As A Career As It Is One Of The Best Options Available": Justice Abhay Oka

Speaking at the felicitation function organized in Bengaluru by the Advocates Association of Bengaluru for him and Justice B V Nagarathna, who have been elevated to the Supreme Court recently, he said "I personally feel that there is lot of talent in the members of the bar in our district and taluka courts, but perhaps were are not able to convince the younger members of the bar about the importance of taking up career in judiciary."

He went on to add,

"The Bar councils and Bar Associations, perhaps will have to come together and they will have to go to the law colleges and impress upon students that a career in judiciary is one of the best options available. Perhaps our senior judges need to go to our law colleges and appeal to final year law students to think of the judiciary as a career."

Justice Oka also said, "If we want to have the best judiciary in the country, we need to encourage young members of the bar to opt for this option, that is one area where not only the judges but members of the bar, will have to work hard."

He also urged that the members of the Bar should cooperate with trial and district court judges. He said,

"Because during this period (Covid-19), the worst sufferer is the common man, who has come to the court with great hope that he will get justice, large number of litigants do not have the so called high stake cases, they come to court for simple relief like maintenance, or small share in agricultural land and so many things, it is for this class of litigant for which the judiciary really exists has suffered the most in the pandemic. Now, whether we are part of any court, our first priority should be to give justice to this class of litigants, who have been waiting for justice for a long time."

Fondly remembering his stay in Bengaluru he added, "When the time came to leave Bangalore for the Oath taking ceremony, myself and my wife felt really sad to leave this beautiful city of Bengaluru, for all purposes, Bengaluru has become our second home. It will continue to become our second home and I will have to find a reason to come back to Benagluru."

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who was the Chief Guest at the function while speaking about Justice Oka said,

"He is a very unique, high calibre justice. This is what my observation is. Normally we look at justice through judgements, that is normal course, but he has adopted such a fine course, without really coming to the conclusion of judgement, the course correction measure he has formulated during his tenure is remarkable."

The CM further said, "The method he has adopted has changed the relationship between the legislature and the judiciary. It can work together and at the same time there can be a contradiction." He added, "he was a very compassionate judge, his compassion has gone beyond the normal justice which is delivered."

President of the Bengaluru Bar Association, A P Ranganatha also spoke at the function, "Chief Justice Abhay S Oka, through his judicial pronouncements, his conduct in court as well as an immaculate grip on the administration, set highest standards which may be very hard to emulate."

The Bar Association President added:

"He has stood tall and sent a very strong message against corruption in judiciary, and during his term we have seen more than 25 judicial officers being terminated from service and many more being denied promotion in a message to clean the judicial system. He has been a great source of strength and support to the advocates fraternity and every lawyer, whether senior or junior, has come away from his court with a very pleasant feeling."

"I, as the President of the advocates association say with certainty and without fear of contradiction, that you have been one of the finest Chief Justices, to have adorned the bench of one of the greatest high courts in the country, the high court of Karnataka. Your commitment to justice and upholding the principles of the constitution of India will forever remain not only in memory of lawyers but also on the walls of the High Court of Karnataka for eternity", said Ranganatha as he ended his address.

Senior Advocate Uday Holla spoke highly of Justice Oka's commitment to his work and said, "In the course of my career as a lawyer, I have seen and practised before 24 Chief Justices of Karnataka High Court; without fear of contradiction, I can tell everyone of you that Justice Oka is the most hardworking and most focussed of all the chief justice that I have seen."

He added, "Justice Oka was initially from Mumbai but since the last two years he assimilated with us so much that today he is part of Karnataka, and he is a part of Kannadiga." Justice Oka agreed with him.

Advocate General Prabhuling K Navadgi, agreed with Advocate Holla and said,

"You (Justice Abhay Oka) were the finest Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. Your tenure as Chief Justice, for over a period of two years, had both a stellar role as a judge on the judicial and administrative side. As a judge, because of your scholarly knowledge of law and very sound common sense, you could reach the point of dispute very easily and resolve them in a simple manner."

Pictures From The Felicitation Ceremony: