A video has gone viral showing a man attending a Gujarat High Court virtual hearing while using the toilet. The incident occurred on June 20 during a session presided over by Justice Nirzar S Desai.
Logged in under the name “Sarmad Battery,” the man initially appeared on screen wearing a Bluetooth earphone. Moments later, he moved the phone, revealing that he was seated on a toilet. The video captures him flushing, cleaning himself, dressing, and then leaving the washroom—while still connected to the court session.
According to Bar and Bench, the man later returned to the screen from a different room. He was reportedly the respondent in a case seeking the cancellation of an FIR.
The video sparked mixed reactions online. Some users criticized the behavior as disgraceful and indecent, while others attempted to justify it, citing possible health issues. Comments ranged from sarcastic—“From courtroom to washroom”—to concerned, with one user writing, “At least switch off the camera.”
Many called for stricter guidelines or even a ban on virtual court proceedings to prevent such incidents.
Not the First Time
This isn’t the first time the Gujarat High Court has dealt with inappropriate conduct during online hearings. In March, a man named Dhaval Patel was fined ₹2 lakh after appearing indecently from a bathroom during a virtual session—even after being disconnected once. The court condemned his actions, calling them “shameful” and a threat to the dignity of the judiciary.
Of the fine, ₹50,000 was donated to an orphanage, and the remaining amount was directed to the Legal Aid Authority. Patel was also ordered to complete two weeks of community service at the court garden.
Similarly, in February, another man, Vamdev Gadhvi, was fined ₹25,000 for attending a hearing while lying in bed.
These repeated instances have prompted renewed calls for discipline, decorum, and accountability in virtual courtroom settings, with legal experts emphasizing that remote hearings must maintain the same standards as in-person proceedings.