On Thursday, in plea filed against Gujarat High Court's decision to stripe off his Senior designation, Advocate Yatin Oza has offered before the Supreme Court to make an unconditional apology to the HC for his remarks against Registry.
In backdrop of this, the Supreme Court has deferred the hearing of his petition for two weeks and has hoped that the High Court will consider Oza's representation in the meantime.
The bench, headed by Justice S K Kaul, though was displeased over the remarks made by Oza, who is also the President of the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association.
The Court in this regard said:
"The kind of imputations you made, I don't agree with anything that. If seniors like you begin making such imputations, what about the Juniors who enter the profession?"
It noted:
"The grievances to handle the members of the bar can be conveyed in a better language. Systems can be groomed. Imputations must not be made. In view of unconditional apology by Oza, we take note of the same. He has also said he shall do so before the full court in Gujarat HC. We have also put to the Petitioner that — as a leader of the bar and a senior, his responsibility is greater than others."
Justice Kaul also remarked that it was incorrect of Oza to say that only certain matters were being listed by the Court and that the Registry was working very hard.
He said:
"You got designated so early at the bar as a senior, if anything, you should be a model for the younger generation."
He added:
"Grievances people can have - but to say that only Certain category of matters are being listed, to make imputations that certain other matters are being listed and not the rest — is not correct. The registry is working very hard indeed",
On this, Oza said that he was offering an unconditional apology for his remarks.
"I seek forgiveness. I offer my unconditional apology. I did so before the Full bench in Gujarat HC also. In my career, I have never done something like this. I became a Senior at 44", he said.
Senior Advocate Shekhar Naphade, representing Oza, said that his remarks were out of his anguish about the plight of young Lawyers.
The bench, however, asked Naphade to refrain from justifying Oza's behaviour.
Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, who was present for the next case, told the bench that Oza was a widely respected advocate for his in-depth knowledge of law.
Dave submitted:
"I am not in this matter but I am in item 101. The High Court that is being spoken of here is my home High Court ( #GujaratHighCourt ). I would like to tell My Lords to let him tender an apology before the HC & the Supreme Court as well",
Oza was stripped of his Senior designation for making critical remarks against the HC Registry during a live conference on Facebook last month, attended by various journalists. He alleged that the HC Registry was following corrupt practises, and that the case of only the rich and powerful were being listed and heard.
The Gujarat High Court took strong exception to such 'irresponsible, sensational and intemperate' remarks and initated contempt proceedings against him observing that Oza had, with frivolous grounds and unverified facts, targeted the HC Registry and had questioned the very credibility of High Court Administration.
During the pendency of contempt proceedings, the Full Court of the Gujarat High Court decided to review and recall the decision taken on October 25, 1999 to designate Oza as Senior Advocate.
The case shall be heard next after two weeks in Supreme Court.
