Why is equals not mandatory to implement in java.util.Comparator?

Question

Either in Javadoc as well as the code itself, Comparator interface defines:

 int compare(T o1, T o2);
 boolean equals(Object obj);

But then thi

Answer 1

Beczuse every object already implements equals().

In reality specifying equals() again in the Comparator interface definition accomplishes precisely nothing except giving a chance to document the contract and its relationship with compareTo().