NEW DELHI: A startling video clip emerged showing a man participating in a virtual hearing at the Gujarat High Court while seated on a toilet. The incident, which took place on June 20, involved Justice Nirzar S. Desai presiding over the proceedings.
The approximately one-minute video begins with a man in a yellow T-shirt logging into the hearing via mobile phone. The screen identifies him as “Samad Battery.” To the astonishment of many viewers, he is clearly seated on a toilet seat, with the phone positioned on the floor and its camera pointed upward at him.
Despite the unconventional setting, Justice Desai appeared unaware of the surroundings or the man’s activity. After completing his business, the individual simply picked up his phone and exited the toilet cubicle, all while remaining connected to the live YouTube broadcast of the hearing.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gujarat High Court has permitted both lawyers and litigants to join hearings online. Each virtual session is streamed live on the court’s YouTube channel, ensuring transparency and public access. While this move has greatly improved efficiency and accessibility, it has also led to occasional lapses in courtroom decorum—this incident being a prime example.
Moments after his departure from the toilet, the same man—now without the bathroom backdrop and wearing wireless earphones—rejoined the livestream. Seated in what appeared to be a more appropriate setting, he waited patiently for his turn.
After nearly ten minutes, Justice Desai inquired, “What is your name?” The man responded, “Abdul Samad, resident of Kim village of Surat, and complainant in a case of assault.”
Abdul Samad’s lawyers informed the court that he had filed an assault complaint against two individuals from Kim village. However, the parties involved had since reached a mutual agreement. The two accused had petitioned to quash the First Information Report (FIR), and Justice Desai sought Samad’s consent.
When asked if he objected to the petition, Samad stated, “I have no objection.” With that, Justice Desai granted the plea to quash the FIR, effectively ending the legal dispute.
This incident underscores the challenges of maintaining courtroom decorum in a virtual environment. While technology has made justice more accessible, it also demands a heightened level of professionalism from participants. Legal experts suggest clear guidelines and perhaps mandatory checklists before joining virtual hearings—ensuring that litigants and lawyers alike choose suitable locations and maintain proper conduct.
As virtual proceedings continue to be an integral part of the judicial system, this episode serves as a humorous yet cautionary tale: some settings, however practical in daily life, remain wholly inappropriate for the solemnity of the courtroom
