The Gujarat High Court has issued a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting virtual and hybrid hearings, introducing stricter rules for participants and enabling a virtual “waiting room” feature. The updated SOP, dated August 7, 2025, supersedes earlier protocols and aims to streamline online court proceedings while preserving judicial decorum.
The new guidelines were issued following directions of the Court in a suo motu contempt matter (Criminal Misc. Application No. 12821 of 2025) and were approved by the Chief Justice and the Full Court of the High Court.
The High Court had first initiated hybrid hearings on a pilot basis on June 13, 2023, and later expanded them to all benches with effect from September 29, 2023. This revised SOP now consolidates and replaces previous instructions issued under Circular No. ITC/234/2024.
Key Highlights of the Revised SOP
1. Waiting Room Feature Activated:
All participants joining a virtual or hybrid hearing will now first enter a waiting room. Court Masters will admit them after verifying their display names as per the cause list.
2. Mandatory Display Name Format:
Advocates and parties-in-person must prefix their display names with the serial number(s) of their case(s), followed by their full name. Participants without a proper display name will not be admitted.
3. Dress Code Enforced:
Advocates must appear in professional attire. Party-in-persons and litigants must also dress appropriately. Non-compliance may lead to withdrawal of audience rights.
4. Behavioural Norms and Decorum:
All participants must maintain courtroom decorum, avoid multitasking, and stay attentive with their cameras turned on. Participation from vehicles or distracting environments is prohibited.
5. Audio and Device Use Regulation:
Participants must mute their microphones upon joining and unmute only when required. Use of multiple devices in the same location, which may cause echo or disturbance, is discouraged.
6. Restrictions on Recording:
Court proceedings shall not be recorded by participants, in line with the Gujarat High Court (Live Streaming of Court Proceedings) Rules, 2021.
7. Regulation of Participants:
If the number of participants exceeds technical limits, viewers not directly involved in proceedings may be removed. For in-camera proceedings, access will be restricted to parties and their counsel.
8. Disciplinary Action for Misconduct:
Court Masters have been instructed to immediately remove any participant who behaves inappropriately or violates the court’s dignity. Continued violations may attract contempt of court proceedings.
9. Advocates’ Responsibility:
Advocates must inform their clients and litigants about these rules and ensure their compliance.
Court Emphasises Judicial Sanctity
The circular reiterates that virtual and hybrid hearings are judicial proceedings for all legal purposes. “All protocols applicable to physical courts shall apply to virtual/hybrid proceedings as well,” it states.
Notably, failure to adhere to the revised SOP “shall invite contempt of Court proceedings,” the High Court warned.
