Judges Also Human: Justice Abhay S. Oka Admits Past Judicial Error

Supreme Court Justice Abhay S. Oka recently acknowledged an error in a 2016 judgment he delivered while serving as a Bombay High Court judge. The case involved the interpretation of the Domestic Violence Act, where Justice Oka had initially ruled that High Courts lacked jurisdiction under Section 482 of the CrPC to quash proceedings under Section 12(1) of the Act.

However, a subsequent full bench of the Bombay HC deemed this view incorrect, and Justice Oka, now in the Supreme Court, openly accepted the mistake.

Speaking as part of a bench that included Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Justice Oka emphasized that judges, like all humans, are prone to errors and that the judicial process is a "continuous learning journey."

The bench clarified that High Courts should exercise restraint in quashing DV Act proceedings, as the law is a welfare measure designed to protect women from domestic violence. Justice Oka’s candid reflection underscores the judiciary’s commitment to self-correction and accountability

Read the full article here: Times of India Report