The Gujarat High Court has ordered suo motu contempt proceedings against a man who joined a virtual court hearing while sitting on a toilet seat, an act the court described as “contumacious” and damaging to its dignity.
The incident occurred on June 20 during a hearing presided over by Justice Nirzar S Desai. A video of the man, identified as Abdul Samad, participating in the proceedings while using the toilet, was widely circulated on social media, prompting outrage and concern over decorum in virtual courtrooms.
A division bench of Justices A.S. Supehia and R.T. Vachhani took serious note of the incident and, on June 30, directed the High Court registry to initiate contempt proceedings. The oral order was uploaded on July 3.
“The infamous video tarnishing the image of this court is widely circulated in social media and it requires to be immediately banned and deleted,” the bench observed. It directed the Registrar of Information and Technology to inform the court about mechanisms to prevent such incidents in future livestreams. The bench also noted that such “disorderly and uncontrolled behaviour” has become increasingly frequent.
Samad, whose screen name appeared as “Samad Battery” in the virtual court feed, reportedly placed his phone on the floor of the toilet, with the camera facing him. After relieving himself, he picked up the phone and logged out, only to return minutes later from another room.
He was appearing in a matter where two accused persons had filed a petition seeking quashing of an FIR for assault. As the complainant, Samad informed the court that he had no objection to the compromise, and Justice Desai accordingly allowed the plea.
Despite the case being disposed of, the bench directed issuance of notice to Samad under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, asking why he should not be prosecuted for contempt. The matter will be heard after two weeks.
The Gujarat High Court allows litigants and lawyers to join proceedings virtually and streams hearings live on YouTube—a practice initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure access to justice.
