After boycotting the NITI Aayog General Council meetings for three years due to allegations of financial discrimination against Tamil Nadu by the Modi government, Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin arrived in Delhi on Friday to attend the scheduled meeting on Saturday and advocate for the state’s rightful demands.

Taking advantage of this visit, Stalin met with senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the evening. With the DMK as a crucial component of the INDIA coalition, this meeting underscores the party’s strong alliance with Congress.

The Chief Minister is also seeking support from states not governed by the Congress and from parties that oppose the BJP, particularly regarding the issues of delimitation and Governors allegedly obstructing elected state governments.

Sources reveal that during their meeting, Stalin inquired about Sonia Gandhi’s health, while she reciprocated by asking about the health of Stalin’s mother, Dayalu Ammal. While they did touch on the upcoming assembly elections, they did not delve into details.

DMK sources indicate that Stalin may also meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he has requested an appointment to present a memorandum outlining various demands for Tamil Nadu. This comes as the state has moved the Supreme Court seeking direction for the Union Government to release pending dues of ₹2,192 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). These funds have been withheld because Tamil Nadu has not complied with the Hindi instruction under the three-language formula of the New Education Policy, a policy that the state has opposed in favor of its longstanding two-language practice of Tamil and English since 1968.

Stalin’s decision to attend the NITI Aayog meeting has drawn criticism from the main opposition party, the AIADMK. Party General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami suggested that family interests were behind this change in stance, especially in light of the Enforcement Directorate’s intensified investigation into a purported ₹1,000 crore liquor scam linked to TASMAC, the state-run liquor retailer.

The ED recently conducted raids on TASMAC’s headquarters, private distilleries, and bottling units, and summoned TASMAC MD S. Visakan earlier this week. However, the Supreme Court has temporarily halted further ED investigations, criticizing the agency for breaching federal principles.

On his last day at the Supreme Court, Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka shared a poignant farewell message, emphasizing that a judge’s responsibility is to uphold liberty and constitutional values unwaveringly, even at the risk of disapproval.

Seated on the ceremonial bench with Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, Justice Oka reflected on his judicial journey, expressing gratitude and a steadfast commitment to the Constitution and the principle of liberty that it embodies.

“My honest endeavor has always been to uphold the Constitution. In that pursuit, I might have upset some lawyers, but I firmly believe a judge must be resolute and unafraid to offend others in the name of justice,” stated Justice Oka.

Despite the recent personal loss of his mother, Justice Oka traveled to Mumbai for her final rites and returned to the Supreme Court the following morning, where he delivered an impressive 11 judgments on his final day on the bench.

He recalled a senior judge’s wisdom: “A great judge advised me, ‘You aren’t becoming a judge to become popular.’ I took this to heart. My firmness was always to uphold the Constitution.”

“I believe this Supreme Court can protect constitutional liberties, and that has been my humble goal. I trust it will continue to champion liberty, as that was the aspiration of the Constitution’s framers,” he remarked during his farewell speech.

Known for his secular principles, Justice Oka has previously expressed his disapproval of judges participating in ceremonial lamp-lighting and public expressions of religious affiliation, reaffirming his dedication to judicial impartiality.

During what became the longest ceremonial farewell in recent history, lasting over an hour and a half, Justice Oka was visibly moved by the tributes to his judicial career. “I am truly speechless. I thank you all from the depths of my heart and will cherish the memories made in this court,” he said, emotionally.

Speakers at the ceremony included Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and several senior advocates, all of whom praised Justice Oka’s impact on the judiciary.

Justice Oka, who officially retires on May 24, was born on May 25, 1960. A law graduate from Bombay University, he began his career in June 1983 at the Thane District Court with his father and later trained under former Bombay High Court Judge VP Tipnis.

Elevated to Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in August 2003 and made a Permanent Judge in November 2005, he served as Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court from May 10, 2019, before ascending to the Supreme Court on August 31, 2021.

At a farewell organized by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), Justice Oka expressed his dislike for the tradition of retiring judges abstaining from work on their final day, stating, “I hate the word retirement.” He resolved to address as many cases as possible before concluding his tenure.

Leaving behind a legacy founded on courage, integrity, discipline, and constitutional vigilance, Justice Oka’s career features landmark decisions on civil liberties, rule of law, and executive accountability. His belief in taking unpopular stances for the Constitution serves as a lasting reminder of the judiciary’s role as a protector of fundamental rights.

Justice Oka departs not merely with judgments but with an enduring ethos—a commitment to courage, independence, and fidelity to the constitutional vision—and he has declared he will not accept any post-retirement positions from the government.

Known for his unique ability to blend “legal acumen with human empathy,” Justice Oka remarked at a farewell function organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association, “Unlike a lawyer, whose performance may be constrained by various factors, when a judge presides over a court, the only influences are the Constitution, the law, and one’s own conscience.”

On Friday, Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, urged both Central and state governments to collaborate effectively in the realms of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). He emphasized that technology serves as a transformative force, asserting that “a developed India cannot exist without developed states and Union Territories” and calling for these regions to become strategic, inclusive, and dynamic innovation hubs.

During the Annual Review Meeting of State Science & Technology (S&T) Councils, Singh encouraged the dissemination of information regarding various Central government schemes at grassroots levels, ensuring that stakeholders in rural and remote areas can fully benefit from them. He stated, “Awareness is the first step towards impact,” and stressed that visibility and outreach should be central to the Councils’ strategies for promoting inclusive innovation.

The minister also proposed a framework of peer learning to facilitate the adoption of successful models nationwide. He noted that high-performing states can offer best practices that others can replicate to enhance their own impact effectively. “Cross-learning is the key to accelerating progress,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of regular idea and experience exchanges to strengthen the national STI ecosystem through collective efforts.

Singh recognized the contributions of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in transforming the State Science and Technology Programme (SSTP) through budgetary and technical support. He highlighted the significance of the 23 Patent Information Centres in promoting awareness and facilitation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) throughout the States.

The meeting also reviewed proposals from Jammu & Kashmir for additional assistance to its S&T Council and discussed plans to establish new Patent Information Centres in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, and Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that these initiatives will help foster a more robust and inclusive IPR framework across the country.

The meeting was attended by DST Secretary Prof. Abhay Karandikar, members of the Expert Committee on SSTP, including Prof. Satish B. Agnihotri and Dr. P.K. Agrawal, along with key DST officials, symbolizing a united commitment toward science-led regional development.