Yatin Oza elected President of Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association

Yatin Oza has been elected as the President of the Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association (GHCAA).

Oza defeated his nearest rival Babubhai Mangukiya by a margin of 247 votes.

"Bar has done what it has to do. Now it is my duty to return the favour and I will not let my bar down," Oza said.

Besides Oza and Mangukiya, incumbent president Brijesh Trivedi, Darshan Shah and Chitrajit Upadhyay contested for the post of President.

For the post of vice president, Prithvirajsinh Jadeja, Punit Juneja, Ashok Parekh, Virat Popat, Abhiraj Trivedi and Nirav Trivedi were in the fray.

Advocates Hardik Brahmbhatt, Mahesh Bariya, Bhavik Pandya, Devendra Pandya and Vishal Thakkar were in contest for the post of General Secretary.

In 2020, the High Court had withdrawn Oza’s senior designation after he raised allegations of corruption against the High Court Registry.

The Court had also initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against him. In October, he was found guilty and sentenced to a fine of ₹2,000 along with simple imprisonment till the rising of the court. 

Two years later, a Supreme Court judgment led to the restoration of his senior designation for a period of two years. However, the matter is still not over. In August this year, the top court asked Oza to file an affidavit expressing remorse for his remarks against the High Court and its Registry.

In December 2023, advocate Brijesh Trivedi had won the President post with 1,060 votes defeating his nearest rival and former GHCAA President Pravinsinh Jadeja, who had secured 580 votes.