Justice AS Oka sworn in as Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court

Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka was sworn in today as the new Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.

As per media reports, Karnataka Governor, Vajubhai R Vala administered the oath of office to Justice Oka at the Raj Bhavan, in presence of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, judges of the high court and other dignitaries.

The Chief Minister of Karnataka tweeted these images of the swearing-in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan.

Justice Oka’s transfer from the Bombay High Court was notified last month by the Central Government. The Collegium had recommended that he be made the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court by a resolution passed on April 8.

Following his enrolment in 1983, Justice Oka started his practice in the Thane District Court. He has practised in the chambers of his father, Shreeniwas W Oka, and thereafter under VP Tipnis, a former Judge of the Bombay High Court and former Lokayukta. He was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court in August 2003. He was made a permanent judge in November 2005.

Justice Oka today took over the helm of the Karnataka High Court from Acting Chief Justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy. Justice Swamy had been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice in January this year after erstwhile Chief Justice, Dinesh Maheshwari was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court.