Man attends Gujarat High Court virtual hearing from toilet, video viral

Ahmedabad, Gujarat — A deeply disturbing video has sent shockwaves through legal circles and gone viral on social media, depicting a man participating in virtual Gujarat High Court proceedings while brazenly seated on a toilet and appearing to relieve himself. The incident, which occurred on June 20 before the Bench of Justice Nirzar S Desai, has ignited a fierce debate about maintaining decorum and professionalism in the era of online justice.

The viral footage initially zeroes in on the man, identified as ‘Samad Battery’ in the virtual log-in, sporting a Bluetooth earphone. As the video progresses, the camera pulls back, horrifyingly revealing him seated on a toilet. The clip further shows him cleaning himself before he eventually moves out of the washroom and later reappears in a proper room. This flagrant disregard for judicial sanctity has prompted widespread outrage.

According to court records, the individual was appearing as a respondent in a case concerning the quashing of a First Information Report (FIR), where he was the original complainant. The proceedings ultimately saw an amicable resolution between the parties, leading to the FIR being quashed.

This latest incident is not an isolated one, highlighting a concerning trend of inappropriate behaviour during virtual court sessions. Just last April, the Gujarat High Court itself imposed a hefty fine of ₹50,000 on a litigant caught smoking a cigarette while attending proceedings via video conferencing. Similarly, a Delhi court in March was compelled to summon a litigant who was also observed smoking during his virtual case appearance.

“The sanctity of court proceedings, whether physical or virtual, must be upheld at all times,” commented a senior legal expert, emphasizing the gravity of such acts. “These incidents undermine the dignity of the judiciary and the seriousness of legal processes. While virtual hearings offer convenience, they demand an even higher degree of self-discipline and respect for the court.”