The Gujarat High Court has recently ordered a man to pay Rs 1 lakh after he appeared in a virtual court hearing while seated on a toilet and relieving himself.
The unusual incident took place during a live online session on June 20, drawing widespread attention and prompting contempt proceedings.
Contempt Proceedings Initiated Following Viral Video
The incident occurred during a hearing overseen by Justice Nirzar S Desai. A video showing the man, later identified as Samad Abdul Rehman Shah, attending the court session from a toilet quickly went viral. This led the high court to start suo motu contempt of court action.
A division bench of Justices AS Supehia and RT Vachhani instructed Shah to deposit Rs 1 lakh in the court’s registry by July 22, the date of the next hearing. The court stated, “The contemnor has admitted to his conduct during the live-streaming proceedings and submitted that he was ready to tender an unconditional apology.”
Shah’s Conduct During the Hearing
According to the court’s report, Shah remained connected to the virtual hearing for about 74 minutes, during which he was clearly seen using the toilet. After finishing, he picked up his phone and left the bathroom area. Justice Desai, unaware of the situation at the time, continued with the proceedings.
Later, Shah logged back into the hearing from a different location, sitting in a room wearing wireless earphones. After around 10 minutes, he introduced himself as Abdul Samad Shah from Kim village in Surat and identified himself as the complainant in an assault case.
Apology Offered & Legal Advice
Shah’s lawyer told the court that his client was prepared to apologize unconditionally for his inappropriate behaviour. When asked, the lawyer confirmed that he had advised Shah to present himself properly during virtual hearings going forward.
The court also ordered the immediate removal and ban of the viral video, stating that it harmed the reputation of the judiciary.
Virtual Hearings In The Pandemic Era
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gujarat High Court has allowed litigants and lawyers to join hearings remotely. These sessions are live-streamed on the court’s official YouTube channel to maintain transparency and accessibility.
Case Background
Shah’s lawyers explained that he had filed a complaint against two individuals but that both parties had since reached a compromise. When Justice Desai asked Shah if he had any objection to a petition filed by the accused to quash the FIR, Shah replied in the negative. The judge then approved the petition.
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