"Justice Abhay Oka Was My Senior At Bombay HC, Grateful For His Support During My Elevation": CJI BR Gavai

While speaking at a felicitation event organised by the Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa, Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai recalled the support he received from Justice Abhay Oka during his elevation to the Supreme Court.

Notably, Justice Gavai had been elevated to the Supreme Court under the SC/ST quota by bypassing Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Dharmadhikari, who were seniors to him on the bench. Justice Gavai recalled approaching Justice Oka about his elevation and how the latter supported him at that time.

“Justice Oka, who is my senior and a close friend, explained to me that there were already three judges in the Supreme Court from the Bombay High Court quota. He told me, 'I'll be happy if you make it to the Supreme Court...and eventually become the Chief Justice of India. I have no objection. I'm grateful for the support he extended to me at that time,” CJI Gavai said.

Justices Surya Kant, Abhay Oka and Dipankar Datta released a book which contains 50 notable judgments authored by CJI Gavai. Another book on CJI Gavai's contribution to the judiciary has also been released by his mother Kamaltai Gavai.

Justice Abhay Oka, while speaking in Marathi, said that he has known CJI Gavai for the last 40 years and is "highly proud" of him becoming the 52nd CJI.

"We have got a CJI who is known for following and upholding the ethos of the Constitution of India. The start of his tenure is full of assurance...I would only say that by November, when CJI Gavai demits office, the last glory of the Supreme Court is regained," Justice Oka said.

CJI BR Gavai also addressed the gathering. Speaking in Marathi, he said that he was overwhelmed with the love showered on him.

"Whatever I am today, is because of Dr BR Ambedkar's ideology and also because of the "sanskar" I got from my parents. Because my family was a joint one so I learnt inclusiveness from there. I learnt alot from my father Dadasaheb Gavai and I used to visit various places with him and got used to knowing the social issues," the Chief Justice said.

In speaking of his journey alongside Justice Oka, who was his senior in the Bombay High Court, Justice Gavai said that when his name was being considered for elevation to the Supreme Court in 2019 under the SC/ST Quota, he went to speak to Justice Oka.

"Justice Oka is my senior friend. He explained to me that there are already 3 judges in SC from the Bombay HC quota. I will be happy if you can go to the SC through some other quota and become the CJI. I have no objection, this is what J Oka told me then. I am happy that he supported me then," the Chief Justice recalled.

CJI Gavai in his speech pointed out that he usually doesn't believe in "protocol." 

"Every organ of the Constitution must reciprocate and give respect to the other organ of the Constitution. When the son of this State, who has become the CJI comes to Maharashtra for the first time, if the State's Chief Secretary, Commissioner of Police etc do not want to attend the event, that is best left on their wisdom," he said.