In a recent order passed on May 28, 2025, the Delhi High Court sternly reprimanded a female lawyer who joined a court hearing via video conferencing (VC) from a public park. Justice Girish Kathpalia, presiding over the bail plea in Suraj Das v. State, NCT of Delhi, expressed serious concern over the continued disregard by some members of the Bar towards the decorum expected during virtual court proceedings.
"Despite repeated directions, certain sections of the Bar have failed to understand the decorum of the Court," remarked Justice Kathpalia.
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The lawyer, while attending the hearing using her mobile phone, informed the Court that she was currently standing in Agra Court, even though she appeared to be in a park. The judge noted that the VC facility was originally introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow counsels to appear from their offices and avoid physically attending multiple court complexes. However, the facility, he emphasized, was never intended for participation from inappropriate locations such as parks.
"The facility of videoconferencing… does not mean that the counsel would appear standing in a park," the Court stated.
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This is not the first time the High Court has addressed such issues. The judge recalled similar instructions being issued in the past and communicated to all Bar Associations in Delhi, urging them to sensitize advocates on maintaining proper conduct during VC appearances.
“Earlier also, such directions were issued and sent to all Bar Associations across Delhi… but it appears that the same has not been done,” the Court observed.
Refusing to mark the appearance of the counsel who joined from the park, the Court, however, chose not to let the litigant suffer due to the lawyer’s conduct. The case pertained to a regular bail application filed by Suraj Das in FIR No. 324/2024 registered at PS Burari under Sections 498A, 304B, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which relate to cruelty towards a woman by her husband and dowry death.
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The Court acknowledged the petition and issued notice to the Delhi Police, directing them to file a status report within two weeks. Nominal rolls were also ordered to be requisitioned in the same time frame.
“A copy of this order be sent to Bar Associations across Delhi with fresh request to sensitize their members about appearance in Courts through videoconferencing,” the judge concluded.
The matter has been listed for the next hearing on August 14, 2025.
Title: SURAJ DAS v. STATE,NCT OF DELHI
