Gujarat High Court Initiates Suo Motu Contempt | Litigant Seen Relieving Himself During Virtual Hearing | Court Says Decorum And Majesty Must Be Upheld
Sanchayita Lahkar
The High Court of Gujarat Division Bench of Justice A. S. Supehia and Justice R. T. Vachhani directed initiation of suo motu contempt proceedings against a litigant who joined live streaming of court proceedings while sitting in a toilet and relieving himself. The Court took serious note of the video widely circulated on social media tarnishing the dignity of the judiciary.
A suo motu oral order was passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Gujarat following publication of a news article in Ahmedabad Mirror dated 28 June 2025. The article highlighted the conduct of a litigant who joined live streaming of court proceedings presided by Justice Nirzar Desai while sitting in a toilet and relieving himself. The Bench noted that the video recording was widely circulated on social media platforms, thereby tarnishing the image of the Court.
As per Rule 5(j) of the Gujarat High Court (Live Streaming of Court Proceedings) Rules, 2021, participants whether appearing in person or through video conferencing are required to maintain utmost discipline and decorum to uphold the dignity and majesty of the Court. Any participant misusing such access for undue publicity may be muted, removed from the video conferencing session, or asked to leave the court if participating physically.
The Rules further stipulate that if required, the Presiding Judge may direct stoppage of live streaming of proceedings for the day in the event of such behaviour. Such an incident must be noted in the Register by the assisting court personnel. Sub-Rule (l) of Rule 5 empowers the Court to initiate proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and other applicable penal laws in case of violations.
The Court observed that such disorderly and uncontrolled behaviour by participants had become frequent in virtual hearings. The Bench therefore directed the Registry to register suo motu contempt proceedings against the person seen in the video, upon appropriate verification. It further directed the Registrar, Information Technology to produce a report regarding mechanisms to prevent participation of contumacious litigants in live streaming proceedings.
The Court ordered that after registration of contempt proceedings, the Registry shall issue notice to the contemnor calling upon him to show cause as to why he should not be prosecuted and punished for committing contempt of court under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The matter was directed to be listed after two weeks for further proceedings.
Justice A. S. Supehia stated “We have taken a serious note of the news article published in Ahmedabad Mirror highlighting the conduct of a litigant in virtual proceedings.”
The Court recorded “The news article refers to a person who joined the live streaming of court proceedings while sitting in a toilet and relieving himself during the ongoing proceedings.”
It was observed “The infamous video tarnishing the image of this Court is widely circulated in social media and requires to be immediately banned and deleted.”
The Bench stated “As per Rule 5(j) of the Gujarat High Court (Live Streaming of Court Proceedings) Rules, 2021, anyone participating in the proceedings whether in person or through video conferencing will have to maintain utmost discipline and decorum for upholding the dignity and majesty of the Court.”
It was further recorded “Any participant found to be misusing the access to the Court for undue publicity through live streaming facility may be muted or removed from video conference session or asked to leave the Court if participating in person.”
Justice Supehia stated “It is further stipulated that in such a situation if required, the Presiding Judge may direct to stop the live streaming of the Board or proceedings of the particular case for the day. Such an event will be noted by the assisting personnel for the Court in the Register.”
The Bench recorded “Sub-Rule (l) empowers the Court to initiate proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and the other applicable penal laws if any violation of the aforementioned Rules is noticed by the Court.”
It was observed “We direct that Registry shall register suo motu contempt proceedings against the person seen in the video upon appropriate verification.”
The Court stated “A necessary report should be produced before the next date of hearing. The Registrar, Information Technology shall also apprise this Court about the mechanism to stop contumacious litigants from participating in the live streaming proceedings.”
Justice Supehia recorded “It is also noticed by us that such disorderly and uncontrolled behaviour has become frequent.”
The Bench stated “After the registration of contempt proceedings, Registry shall issue notice to the contemnor as to why he should not be prosecuted and punished for committing contempt of court as defined under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.”
The Court directed that Registry shall register suo motu contempt proceedings against the person seen in the video upon appropriate verification.
It was ordered that a necessary report should be produced before the next date of hearing.
The Court directed that the Registrar, Information Technology shall apprise the Court about the mechanism to stop contumacious litigants from participating in live streaming proceedings.
It was ordered that after registration of contempt proceedings, Registry shall issue notice to the contemnor as to why he should not be prosecuted and punished for committing contempt of court under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
The Court directed that suo motu contempt proceedings shall be listed after a period of two weeks.
Case Title: Suo Motu vs Samad Abdul Rehman Shah
Bench: Justice A. S. Supehia, Justice R. T. Vachhani
