38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, March 29, 2024
Judiciary

Gujarat HC Withdraws GHCAA President Yatin Oza’s Senior Advocate Status

By Manthan Pandit      22 July, 2020 04:51 PM      0 Comments
Gujarat HC Withdraws GHCAA President YatinOza’s Senior Advocate Status

The Gujarat High Court removed Advocate YatinOza, who happens to be the president of the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association.

Earlier on in a live Facebook video, the Court had launched contempt proceedings against him over his remarks against judges.

The meeting of the Full Court held on 18th July 2020, agreed to review and recall the decision to appoint Mr.Oza as Senior Advocate which was taken on 25th October, 1999.

The Court has cited Rule 26 of the High Court of Gujarat (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules 2018, which states "In the event, a Senior Advocate is found guilty of conduct which according to the Full Court disentitles the Senior Advocate concerned to be worthy of the designation, the Full Court may review its decision to designate the person concerned and recall the same".

Mr.Oza told sources in response to the development that he would appeal the Court decision. 

"I will fight it in court", he said.

Mr.Ozalevelled the following charges against the High Court and its Registrar during a live conference on Facebook last month, attended by numerous journalists:

  • Corrupt practices being adopted by the registry of the High Court of Gujarat;
  • Undue favour is shown to high-profile industrialist and smugglers and traitors;
  • The High Court functioning is for influential and rich people and their advocates;
  • The billionaires walk away with an order from the High Court in two days whereas the poor and non -VIPs need to suffer;
  • If the litigants want to file any matter in the High Court, the person has to be either Mr. Khambhata or the builder or the company

Taking a strong exception to these "irresponsible, sensational and intemperate" remarks, the bench observed that Mr.Oza had attacked the HC Registry with baseless claims and unverified evidence, challenging the very integrity of the High Court Administration.

Taking suo moto cognizance of the incident, the bench comprised by Justice Sonia Gokani and Justice NV Anjaria observed,

"As the Bar President has by his scandalous expressions and indiscriminate as well as baseless utterances have attempted to cause serious damage to the prestige and majesty of the High Court and thereby of an independent judiciary as also attempted to lower the image of entire Administration and also created demoralizing effect amongst the Administrative wing, this court in the exercise of powers conferred under Article 215 of the Constitution of India, prima facie finds him responsible for committing the criminal contempt of this Court within the meaning of Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act and takes cognizance of such criminal contempt against him under Section 15 of the said Act."

While Mr.Oza had moved the Supreme Court against the notice of contempt, the SC declined to entertain the appeal and told him in the High Court itself to agitate the matter. 

Mr.Oza, as president of the GHCAA, had previously voiced strong protest against the move of Justice AkilKureshi from Gujarat HC to Bombay HC by calling it "unwarranted, unwarranted and unjust"

The Association had also approached the Supreme Court under his leadership against the delay of the Centre to act on the recommendation of the SC Collegium to elevate Justice Kureshi as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh.

He had tendered his resignation as President of the GHCAA in June following differences among the Association's Office Bearers regarding the reopening of physical hearing courts. Mr.Oza had addressed a letter to Chief Justice Vikram Nath urging him to allow the High Court to work "full fledgedly" through video conferencing and to allow hearing of all matters.

Later, he withdrew his resignation, following requests by several members.



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

arvind-kejriwals-plea-for-interim-release-rejected-by-delhi-high-court
Trending Judiciary
Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release rejected by Delhi High Court [Read Order]

Delhi High Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release in money laundering case related to liquor policy scam, pending ED's response.

28 March, 2024 10:50 AM
youtuber-strings-plea-against-youtube-accounts-suspension-andhra-pradesh-hc-issues-notice-to-centre-google
Trending Top Stories
BREAKING: Youtuber String’s plea against Youtube accounts suspension: Andhra Pradesh HC issues notice to Centre, Google

Andhra Pradesh High Court issues notice to the Centre and Google LLC on Youtube journalist String’s plea against suspension of its accounts by Google (which owns Youtube).

28 March, 2024 11:26 AM

TOP STORIES

delhi-liquor-scam-court-remands-arvind-kejriwal-to-ed-custody-till-march-28-read-remand-application
Trending Judiciary
Delhi liquor scam: Court remands Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 [Read Order]

Delhi liquor scam: Arvind Kejriwal remanded to ED custody till March 28. Court grants agency permission for interrogation in liquor policy case.

23 March, 2024 11:53 AM
sc-dismisses-centres-plea-for-review-of-judgment-directing-ed-to-furnish-written-grounds-of-arrest-to-pmla-accused
Trending Judiciary
SC dismisses Centre’s plea for review of judgment directing ED to furnish written grounds of arrest to PMLA accused [Read Order]

Supreme Court dismisses Centre's plea, upholds judgment mandating Enforcement Directorate to provide written grounds of arrest in PMLA cases.

23 March, 2024 03:14 PM
kerala-hc-to-hear-lesbian-couples-plea-against-forced-conversion-therapy-on-april-9
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC to hear lesbian couple’s plea against forced conversion therapy on April 9

Kerala HC will hear a lesbian couple’s plea highlighting that one of them was subjected to forced conversion therapy.

23 March, 2024 03:30 PM
how-can-people-be-compelled-to-vote-madras-hc-asks
Trending Judiciary
“How can people be compelled to vote? Madras HC asks

“How can people be compelled to vote?”, the Madras HC queried in a plea asking employers in Tamil Nadu to demand proof from employees of having voted on polling day.

23 March, 2024 05:04 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email