Representing Case Sitting In Stationed Car In 'A Casual Manner' Amounts To Disrespecting Court Proceedings: Madras High Court

"The learned counsel for the petitioner, by sitting in a stationed car in a casual manner, representing the case, which is impermissible in view of the Video-Conferencing Rules notified by the High Court," said the Court.

The Bench of Justice S. M. Subramaniam also noted that backside of the Car, another person was also sitting while the Lawyer appeared for the Virtual Hearing.

To this, the Court said,

"This Court is of an opinion that such way of representing the case amounts to disrespecting the Court proceedings as per the High Court Video Conferencing Rules."

Lastly, the counsel for the petitioner was directed to file an affidavit on 04^th February 2021 and appear in person before the Court and thereafter, the matter was posted for physical hearing on 04^th February 2021.

In related news, as reported by the PTI, the Delhi High Court on Thursday (04^th February) said that it is "simply shocking" that advocates are arguing or attending matters through video-conferencing while being on "roads, sitting in parks and even running up on stairs", making it difficult for the court to conduct proceedings as are not audible properly.

In November 2020, the Presiding Officer DRT-I Ahmedabad, Vinay Goel had imposed a cost of Rs. 10,000 upon an Advocate Vishal Gori who attended the virtual hearing while sitting inside his Car.

Inter Alia, there have been incidents where Advocates appear for a virtual court in inappropriate dresses.

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday (23^rd September), while taking up a Criminal Misc. Application noticed that applicant-accused No. 1, Ajit Kubhabhai Gohil, who was present before the Court through video conferencing, was spitting openly.

Deprecating such conduct of the accused, the Bench of Justice A. S. Supehia had said,

"This Court is not inclined to take up the matter today looking to the conduct of the applicant-accused No. 1."

Further, the Court directed the applicant-accused No. 1 to deposit a cost of Rs. 500/- before the Registry of this High Court on or before the next date of hearing, failing which the matter shall not be taken up for hearing.

Recently, the Karnataka High Court slammed an advocate who was participating in the video conference proceedings while sitting inside a car.

"Though due to extraordinary reasons, we are forced to hear matters through video conferencing hearing. We hope and trust members of the bar will follow the minimum decorum.", a division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi said

In the month of June, the Supreme Court had accepted the apology of an advocate who had made an appearance before the Court, whilst lying on the bed dressed in a T-shirt, and emphasized on the need to maintain minimum court etiquette during court video hearings.

Rajasthan High Court once adjourned a Bail plea on account of inappropriately dressed counsel in a "baniyan" (undervest) during the Video conference hearing.

Recently, the Orissa High Court condemned the practice of lawyers arguing cases through VC from inside vehicles, gardens & while eating etc.

Furthermore, Calcutta High Court had initiated suo motu contempt action against an advocate-on-record for posting on 'LinkedIn' a screenshot of the virtual court hearing of the day when a favorable interim order was passed by the Single Judge while calling for affidavits.

It was observed by the Calcutta High Court that taking a screenshot of the virtual court proceedings is akin to clicking a photograph of an actual court proceeding. However, the contempt proceedings were later dropped with a warning to the lawyer not to repeat such conduct in future.

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