New Delhi:
A significant observation and calling for improvement, as Supreme Court Judge Oka, whose final working day was on Friday, said the court is the Chief Justice-Centenary and needs to be replaced. Justice Oka also indicated that the change could come under the new Chief Justice, Bra Gavai, who took charge earlier this month and will hold his retirement in November.
Speaking on its farewell organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Justice Oka said that the High Courts function more democratically than the Supreme Court.
He said, “High court works through committees, while the Supreme Court is the Chief Justice of the India-Center. It needs to be replaced. You will look at this change with the new CJI,” he said, “I am very happy that Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna (who retired on 13 May) took us to the path of transparency.”
Pointing to other areas at the top level of the judiciary, Justice Oka said that the Supreme Court and the High Courts have ignored the trial court.
“We should also think about trial courts and common man. There are many cases pending in our trial and district courts … Never called the trial court in a subordinate court.
‘Life becomes justice’
Recalling his judicial visit, Justice Oka said that many people asked him how he felt about the office. “Judges have freedom to do justice and you do not have this freedom when you are not a judge. After 21 years and nine months, and after being a judge of three constitutional courts, the judge becomes life and life becomes justice.”
He emphasized that he had no regrets that he became a judge and he said that perhaps there would be a more financially awarded career.
“When a successful lawyer becomes a judge., They say a sacrifice. I don’t accept it. When you join the judiciary, you cannot get that income, but the work you get, cannot be compared to a lawyer’s income,” he said.
“Once you become a judge, only the Constitution and the conscience control you … in my long innings as a judge, I have never decided a dissatisfaction,” he said.
