In a recent session, the Delhi High Court criticized a lawyer for virtually appearing for a hearing from a park, underscoring the importance of maintaining decorum even in hybrid court settings. Justice Girish Kathpalia highlighted the incident as a breach of the expected conduct during court proceedings.
The court faced issues with the lawyer who, during the dictation of the court’s order, turned off his video, disrupting the session. Justice Kathpalia stressed that while the integration of video-conferencing in judicial processes offers convenience and enhances the ability of advocates to appear in different courts simultaneously, it does not diminish the seriousness of the proceedings.
“The hybrid courts also are courts only,” Justice Kathpalia remarked, pointing out frequent problems such as poor connectivity and advocates being inaudible or choosing to keep their videos off. He noted that such behaviors compromise the formality and gravitas of court proceedings.
The judge expressed his concerns about the casual approach some advocates take when appearing virtually, which, in this instance, involved an advocate standing in a park. He cited daily court directives that mandate decorum in virtual appearances but lamented their frequent disregard.
To address this issue, the court directed the Delhi High Court Bar Association and all district bar associations in Delhi to better educate their members on the appropriate conduct for virtual court appearances.
Justice Kathpalia, in his order dated January 30, also reflected on the substantial investments made in electronic infrastructure to facilitate video-conferencing in courts. This modernization initiative aims to alleviate the logistical challenges lawyers face traversing multiple court complexes.
