Supreme Court Justice Abhay Oka has strongly criticized the practice of lawyers boycotting work, labeling it as “very criminal.” Speaking at an event organized by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) to commemorate 75 years of the Constitution, Justice Oka emphasized the severe impact such strikes have on citizens and the judiciary ¹.
Justice Oka’s comments come amid a strike announced by the Allahabad High Court’s lawyers over the controversial transfer of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma, who is under scrutiny over cash recovered at his home.
Justice Oka urged lawyers to reflect on their responsibilities, highlighting the consequences of their actions. He noted that if lawyers abstain from work, it can lead to delays in bail pleas, causing prejudice to citizens. “Imagine there are 1,000 bail pleas mentioned, 100 to 150 pleas will be taken up and they may get bail. If lawyers abstain from work, these people may get bail later. Who will be responsible for this?” he remarked.
Justice Oka also reminded attendees of Dr. BR Ambedkar’s warning against unconstitutional means of protest in independent India, emphasizing that lawyers should think about the consequences of taking recourse to such actions.
The judge’s comments underscore the need for lawyers to reconsider their approach to protests and strikes, which can have far-reaching consequences for the judiciary and citizens.