Ahmedabad: President of Gujarat High Court Advocates Association, Yatin Oza has moved to the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Gujarat High Court's 21st July order which had stripped him of his senior advocate position. The entire courtroom of the High Court had given the decision and therefore Oza has moved to Supreme Court to challenge their order.
He emphasised in his plea that he never made statements against the judges but only against the functioning of the registry which, in his opinion, does not amount to scandalising the court.
Contending for the need for a committee to examine such issues before taking the decision of stripping the designation, Oza said that if such practices are followed without committee's approval for senior advocates, it will have a 'chilling effect on the free speech' and no senior would point out the loopholes.
However, he does realise that his manner of voicing his grievances through his show was unwarranted and he should have avoided utterances like 'corrupt practice, gambling den' etc.
"I have expressed my unconditional regret for some emotional utterances, and reiterate it, but I do believe that my conduct does not warrant withdrawal of my designation as Senior Advocate particularly since it is not in any manner relating to or connected with the discharge of my professional duties which would, in any case, be extremely disproportionate," read the plea.
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