Rajasthan HC Seeks Identity Of 'Intruder' Who Caused Chaos In Online Proceedings, Directs Admin To Modify VC System To Filter Participants
After an unwelcomed intruder interrupted the online open court proceedings by passing scathe and scurrilous comments, the Rajasthan High Court, asked the Registrar General and Registrar-cum-CPC to ascertain his identity and to explore possibilities of modifying the Webex Meeting System so that a person could not enter the online Court proceedings without the permission of the Court.
“According to this Court, open Court proceedings cannot be conducted in such a manner that any person, alien to the litigation can just barge in and hurl whatever he chooses.”
The bench of Justice Dinesh Mehta also directed the licensor Cisco Webex to provide the mobile number and IP address of the intruder, and further sought cooperation from the Commissioner of Police, Jodhpur in case the High Court administration needed any investigation, with the aid of cyber experts.
The Court was hearing a petition filed by an individual whose license for his meat shop/ non-vegetarian restaurant was cancelled by the State on the grounds of running the shop in front of a temple. The Court issued notice in the matter and granted stay on cancellation of the license thereby allowing the running of the shop.
It was noticed that during hearing of the matter, “some unscrupulous person entered the court proceedings through video conferencing in the name of 'Justice'…and intervened the ongoing proceedings and made scathe and scurrilous comments touching upon Court's view point in the matter.”
The Court observed that many such instances were noticed during the Court proceedings which not only polluted Court's atmosphere but also amounted to interference in the administration of justice.
In this background, the Court took some serious steps. The Registrar General and Registrar-cum-CPC were directed to find out the identity of the intruder and the licensor Webex was directed to provide the mobile number and IP address of the intruder to the Registrar cum CPC, so that appropriate proceedings including contempt proceedings could be initiated against him.
Furthermore, the Commissioner of Police, Jodhpur was directed to cooperate in the matter in case any investigation was needed with the help of cyber experts.
Along with all this, the Registrar-cum CPC was directed to explore the possibilities of modifying the Webex Meetings System so that a person could not enter the Court proceedings and/or speak during the virtual hearing, without the Court's permission.
Title: Mohd. Umar v State of Rajasthan and Ors.
Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Raj) 322