NEW DELHI: In a candid and reflective farewell address, Justice Abhay S Oka on Friday described the Supreme Court of India as a "Chief Justice-centric court," calling for a more democratic administrative approach in light of the court's diverse composition of 34 judges from across the country.
Speaking at a farewell event organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Justice Oka emphasised the need to shift away from a centralised model of functioning, news agency PTI reported. "The high courts operate more democratically because major administrative decisions are made by a committee of the five senior-most judges," he said. "In contrast, I have found the Supreme Court to be heavily Chief Justice-centric. That image must change," he said.
Justice Oka also raised concerns about the judicial system 's neglect of the trial and district courts, which he called the "backbone of the judiciary." Highlighting the severe backlog of cases, he noted that some matters have remained unresolved for over three decades.
Turning to the Supreme Court’s case listing process, Justice Oka advocated for greater reliance on technology to address inefficiencies. "People question why some cases are listed the very next day while others remain pending for weeks. Unless we reduce manual intervention and adopt AI-driven systems, we cannot ensure fair and rational listing," he said.
He also announced that he would not be engaging with the media immediately after his retirement. "I need a cooling-off period of two to three months. Right now, my mind is full of emotions, and I don’t want to say something I might later regret," he explained.
In a written message to the bar, Justice Oka urged introspection rather than celebration on the occasion of the Supreme Court’s 75th anniversary. While acknowledging the court’s contributions, he stated, "In my personal view, the Supreme Court has not fully met the expectations of the citizens of India."
He also drew attention to the overwhelming backlog in the apex court. "There are over 80,000 pending cases. Despite having 34 judges, we are unable to control the arrears. Reducing this burden requires joint efforts by both the bar and the bench," he said.
Speaking at a farewell event organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Justice Oka emphasised the need to shift away from a centralised model of functioning, news agency PTI reported. "The high courts operate more democratically because major administrative decisions are made by a committee of the five senior-most judges," he said. "In contrast, I have found the Supreme Court to be heavily Chief Justice-centric. That image must change," he said.
Justice Oka also raised concerns about the judicial system 's neglect of the trial and district courts, which he called the "backbone of the judiciary." Highlighting the severe backlog of cases, he noted that some matters have remained unresolved for over three decades.
Turning to the Supreme Court’s case listing process, Justice Oka advocated for greater reliance on technology to address inefficiencies. "People question why some cases are listed the very next day while others remain pending for weeks. Unless we reduce manual intervention and adopt AI-driven systems, we cannot ensure fair and rational listing," he said.
He also announced that he would not be engaging with the media immediately after his retirement. "I need a cooling-off period of two to three months. Right now, my mind is full of emotions, and I don’t want to say something I might later regret," he explained.
In a written message to the bar, Justice Oka urged introspection rather than celebration on the occasion of the Supreme Court’s 75th anniversary. While acknowledging the court’s contributions, he stated, "In my personal view, the Supreme Court has not fully met the expectations of the citizens of India."
He also drew attention to the overwhelming backlog in the apex court. "There are over 80,000 pending cases. Despite having 34 judges, we are unable to control the arrears. Reducing this burden requires joint efforts by both the bar and the bench," he said.
You may also like
Coronation Street's Elle Mulvaney 'loved-up' with mystery man after Liam Scholes split
EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt cosies up to mystery woman for first time since divorce
Ex-Cong MLA Joginder Singh Awana appointed Rajasthan RLD Chief
Prince William and Kate welcome new family addition their kids absolutely 'love'
HMRC tax bill warning as pensioners receive 'simple assessments'
