A video showing a man attending a Gujarat High Court hearing while seated on a toilet has gone viral, triggering widespread outrage over recurring instances of inappropriate behaviour during virtual court proceedings.
The incident occurred on June 20 before Justice Nirzar S Desai. The man, logged in under the name 'Samad Battery', initially appeared on screen with a Bluetooth earphone around his neck. Moments later, he adjusted his camera—revealing he was sitting on a toilet. The footage further shows him cleaning himself and exiting the bathroom before rejoining the hearing from another room.
Court records indicate that the man was a respondent in a petition seeking to quash an FIR, where he was also the original complainant. The matter had been amicably resolved between the parties, and the FIR was subsequently quashed.
Many took to social media to mock the incident, while others expressed outrage.
"It's nature's call. Justice can be delayed, but not this call," quipped one user.
In a lighter vein, another X user wrote, "Should he be jailed for five years for not flushing?"
"In a country where justice is delayed, at least this man didn’t delay that call," tweeted another.
One user called for strict action, saying, "Only lawyers should be allowed to attend virtual hearings. If a client wishes to join, it must be from the lawyer’s chamber. Such incidents bring global embarrassment. Imagine the audacity—this must be punished strictly."
However, this is not an isolated incident. In April, the Gujarat High Court fined a litigant ₹50,000 for smoking during a virtual hearing. Similarly, in March, a Delhi court summoned a participant who was caught smoking during online proceedings.
Courts across India have repeatedly reminded litigants and advocates to maintain courtroom decorum during virtual hearings and to approach them with the same seriousness as in-person appearances.
The incident occurred on June 20 before Justice Nirzar S Desai. The man, logged in under the name 'Samad Battery', initially appeared on screen with a Bluetooth earphone around his neck. Moments later, he adjusted his camera—revealing he was sitting on a toilet. The footage further shows him cleaning himself and exiting the bathroom before rejoining the hearing from another room.
Court records indicate that the man was a respondent in a petition seeking to quash an FIR, where he was also the original complainant. The matter had been amicably resolved between the parties, and the FIR was subsequently quashed.
Many took to social media to mock the incident, while others expressed outrage.
"It's nature's call. Justice can be delayed, but not this call," quipped one user.
In a lighter vein, another X user wrote, "Should he be jailed for five years for not flushing?"
"In a country where justice is delayed, at least this man didn’t delay that call," tweeted another.
One user called for strict action, saying, "Only lawyers should be allowed to attend virtual hearings. If a client wishes to join, it must be from the lawyer’s chamber. Such incidents bring global embarrassment. Imagine the audacity—this must be punished strictly."
However, this is not an isolated incident. In April, the Gujarat High Court fined a litigant ₹50,000 for smoking during a virtual hearing. Similarly, in March, a Delhi court summoned a participant who was caught smoking during online proceedings.
Courts across India have repeatedly reminded litigants and advocates to maintain courtroom decorum during virtual hearings and to approach them with the same seriousness as in-person appearances.
