President of Gujarat High Court Advocates Association (GHCAA), Yatin Oza met Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi to discuss the controversy surrounding the transfer of Justice Akil Kureshi from the Gujarat High Court to the Bombay High Court.
Pursuant to the meeting, Oza has now urged the members of the Gujarat Bar to call off the strike and resume work.
The Bar had been protesting against the transfer of Justice Kureshi and had been on an indefinite strike.
The meeting between CJI Gogoi and Oza took place on November 11 at the residence of CJI Gogoi at 6.15 pm.
According to a message sent by Oza to the Bar members, he apprised the CJI about the high regard and respect that the Bar holds for Justice Kureshi “in view of his unimpeachable integrity and conduct with the members of the bar.”
He also handed over to the CJI, a copy of the resolution passed by the GHCAA on November 1, 2018 to file a petition against the transfer of Kureshi J and to go on an indefinite strike.
The message by Oza states that the CJI was very receptive to the views of the Bar and his “approach was so cooperative and constructive”.
I believe as head of our judiciary we should leave it to him to assuage our grievance and not to precipitate the matter by continuing the strike, Oza states in his message.
In view of above, he and many senior members of the Bar “feel that matter should not be so unnecessarily stretched that it becomes counter-productive and harms the very cause for which the Bar has stood up united.”
He has, therefore, urged the members of the Bar to resume work.
Oza confirmed the same to Bar & Bench but declined to divulge further details regarding his meeting with CJI Gogoi.
Justice Akil Kureshi who is currently the senior most judge of the Gujarat High Court and serving as its acting Chief Justice is being transferred to Bombay High Court as Puisne judge.
It has been alleged that this has been done to prevent him from being the Acting Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court since he had passed adverse orders against leaders of ruling dispensation.
Senior Advocates including Dushyant Dave and Yatin Oza had come out in support of Kureshi J.
Twenty Senior Advocates from Gujarat High Court had also written a letter to the Collegium to reconsider its decision to transfer Kureshi J. from Gujarat High Court.