Gujarat High Court’s Strong Stand on Virtual Court Decorum Incident A 42-year-old man joined a virtual court hearing from a lavatory
This case highlights the importance of maintaining decorum and professionalism during virtual court hearings. The Gujarat High Court took strong action against the individual who joined an online session from a lavatory, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable and brings disrepute to the judiciary.
Key Takeaways from the Case:
🔹 Incident Details:
- A 42-year-old man, the son of a litigant, joined the High Court’s Zoom hearing in an indecent manner.
- He was disconnected but rejoined from a lavatory, leading to his immediate removal.
- Despite this, he re-entered the session using the case number as his name.
🔹 Court’s Observations:
- The Court deemed this act shameful, indecent, and unacceptable.
- It emphasized that allowing such behavior would harm the dignity of the judiciary.
🔹 Punishment & Orders:
- ₹2 Lakh fine, to be deposited within two weeks.
- ₹50,000 to be donated to Shishugruh Paldi, Ahmedabad, and the remaining to the Gujarat High Court Legal Aid Services Authority.
- Community Service: The man must clean the High Court gardens for two weeks under supervision.
🔹 Court’s Justification:
- The accused was an educated individual (B.Sc. graduate, Reliance employee), making his ignorance of virtual hearing norms unacceptable.
- The Court rejected his apology and ruled that exemplary punishment was necessary to uphold the institution’s dignity.
Legal Implications:
This judgment reinforces that virtual court hearings require the same level of decorum as physical courtrooms. Disruptive behavior, even unintentional, can lead to legal consequences, fines, and even community service orders.
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