Advocates Not To Appear From Kitchens, Dining Halls, Lawns, Vehicles Etc : Karnataka High Court Issues New VC Guidelines

The notification issued by the Registrar General reads that "It is noticed from the experience of the Video Conferencing hearing in the Court Halls at Principal Bench, Bengaluru, Benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi of High Court of Karnataka that some of the Learned Advocates, Parties-in-Person and the person/s permitted to appear through Video Conference are not adhering to the "Required Protocols and Guidelines" issued along with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at the earlier point of time, which is affecting the functioning of Court Proceedings." Hence, in continuation of the earlier protocols and guidelines, the following additional guidelines are issued for compliance by all concerned in the Video Conference hearings:

1.Hearing of cases through Video Conference replaces open Court Hearing. Hence, even during the course of Video Conferencing hearing, decorum applicable to Court Hall hearing shall be followed.

2. Before joining the Video Conference, the Learned Advocates, Parties-in-Person and the person/s permitted to appear through Video Conference shall ensure that proper Video Conferencing equipment are available with them and shall also ensure the availability of proper bandwidth in their network.

3. The learned advocates while appearing in the Video Conference shall wear the proper robes as prescribed.

4. The Parties-in-Person and the person/s permitted to appear through Video Conference shall be decently dressed considering the dignity and decorum of the Court.

5 Learned Advocates, Parties-in-Person and the person/s permitted to appear through Video Conference shall not make their appearance from any place like, kitchen, dining hall, lawn, vehicle or place which has public nuisance etc., They should participate in the video conference hearing by sitting at a place which is consistent with the dignity and decorum of the Courts.

6.Learned Advocates, Parties-in-Person and the person/s permitted to appear through Video Conference shall, while other cases are being heard, mute their audio and video and un-mute only when their case is taken up for hearing.

7.Learned Advocates, Parties-in-Person and the person/s permitted to appear through Video Conference, shall not indulge in any activities not befitting to the Court decorum such as attending the Phone calls, eating the food stuff, sleeping, chatting with children and other family members and the clients like etc.

8.Learned Advocates, Parties-in-Person and the person/s permitted to appear through Video Conference, shall as far as possible, avoid using cell phones for attending hearing