Protect Nature or Face Masked Future, Former SC Judge Justice Oka Warns

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Oka has warned that people living in major cities may be forced to wear face masks within the next 20 to 25 years if urgent steps are not taken to protect and conserve the environment.

Addressing an event in Thane as the chief guest on Sunday, Justice Oka (retd) said environmental protection would be the single biggest challenge for future generations.

He said a widespread misconception that humans own the Earth had contributed to environmental destruction, including rampant tree felling, excessive use of firecrackers, noise and air pollution, and contamination of rivers, lakes and oceans.

“A widespread misconception has taken hold among both rulers and citizens that humans own the Earth,” he said, adding that this mindset had triggered a destructive race that was damaging natural ecosystems under various religious and social pretexts.

Emphasising that humans are not the masters of nature, Justice Oka warned that failure to safeguard the environment could make wearing masks a necessity in large urban centres within two to two-and-a-half decades, even in the absence of a pandemic.

He stressed that protecting the environment was not merely a choice but a fundamental Constitutional duty that every citizen must fulfil to prevent irreversible ecological damage.

Justice Oka also urged students to make effective use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for research and data collection. However, he emphasised that students should develop their own thoughts and expressions rather than relying entirely on AI-generated material.

Encouraging young people to study law, the former judge said legal education could help strengthen the country’s democratic framework.

He noted that women account for around 55 to 60 per cent of enrolments across India’s 27 National Law Universities and have consistently performed strongly in mock trials, debates and judgment-writing competitions.

He also pointed to the increasing representation of women in judicial appointments as a positive development.