New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea by Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association (GHCAA) president Yatin Oza in a contempt notice case and asked him not to level allegations that he was not getting justice.
The Supreme Court also asked Oza to approach the Gujarat High Court, which had taken cognisance of his alleged remarks against the court and its registry and issued a contempt notice against him.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and comprising Justices MR Shah and AS Bopanna told Oza’s counsel and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi: “We are not actually inclined to hear it… we feel you should go back to the High Court.”
During the hearing, the court also remarked: “Don’t make allegations that you are not getting justice.”
The suo motu criminal contempt notice was issued against Oza for his alleged “irresponsible, sensational and intemperate allegations of corruption” against the High Court and its registry on Facebook.
The Chief Justice told Singhvi that the allegations against the petitioner was that he was maligning the concept of justice and not any judge or court. “You reply to the High Court,” the apex court observed.
When Singhvi argued that the petitioner did not intend to say anything against the functioning of justice system, the Chief Justice quipped: “Are you doing us a favour by letting it function?”
As Singhvi contended that the High Court order was passed in anger, the bench replied it was not. After Singhvi sought court permission to withdraw the plea, the apex court said the plea was dismissed as withdrawn.
In a press conference on Facebook Live, Oza had made allegations against the High Court and its registry, following which the High court issued a contempt notice against him. “Scurrilous remarks appear to have been made without any substantive basis and without any intent to know the truth as also without approaching the Chief Justice (of the High Court) for any inquiry as the head of the institution,” the High Court said.
