The Gujarat High Court has imposed a fine of Rs. 2 lakh on a man who attended court proceedings via video conferencing from a lavatory. Alongside the monetary penalty, the court has directed him to perform community service by cleaning the gardens within the high court premises for two weeks.
The court rejected the man's justification that it was his first time using the high court’s website and that he had made an unintentional mistake. Noting that the individual, Dhavalbhai Kanubhai Patel, holds a B.Sc. degree and works for the Reliance Group, the court found it unacceptable that a person of his background would not be well-versed with digital platforms. The court emphasized that such an act was not only inappropriate but also disgraceful.
Justice M.K. Thakker, in her order, stated:
"The video, which became viral, prompted a report from the Sola Police Station to identify the individual. It was revealed that on February 17, 2025, at 12:20 PM, an individual joined the virtual hearing under the name 'Kanubhai' in an indecent manner and was disconnected. He attempted to rejoin multiple times, including by using the case number CRA 11948/2023. Since he participated in the proceedings from a lavatory, his actions were unacceptable and shameful."
The incident occurred during the hearing of a petition filed by the Gujarat State Co-operative Marketing Federation Limited. The petition challenged a labor court ruling issued on January 21, 2023, under the Industrial Disputes Act.
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The respondent’s legal counsel explained that his client’s son, Dhavalbhai Kanubhai Patel, had joined the online hearing by downloading the court’s schedule and entering the Zoom meeting credentials for the first time. The counsel added that since it was his first time using the platform, he made a mistake and extended an unconditional apology.
However, a report from Ahmedabad’s Sola Police Station confirmed that the individual present in court on February 20 was not the same as the person appearing in the viral video. Instead, the person in the video was identified as the son of respondent No. 2 in Special Civil Application No. 11948 of 2023.
Considering the gravity of the situation, the court ruled that if such conduct were not addressed firmly, it could undermine the dignity of the judicial system. Consequently, the court imposed an exemplary fine of Rs. 2 lakh on Dhavalbhai Kanubhai Patel. The fine was ordered to be deposited within two weeks, with Rs. 50,000 allocated to Shishugruh Paldi, Ahmedabad, and the remaining amount directed to the Gujarat High Court Legal Aid Services Authority.
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Additionally, the court mandated that Patel report to the Special Officer of the Dedicated Cell at 10:00 AM daily for two weeks to perform community service by cleaning the gardens within the high court premises. The Special Officer was instructed to submit a report upon completion of the service.
This incident highlights the importance of maintaining decorum during legal proceedings, particularly in virtual settings. The court’s stringent measures serve as a warning against any actions that might compromise the dignity and respect of the judicial system.
Case title: GUJARAT STATE CO OPERATIVE MARKETING FEDERATION LIMITED v/s PRESIDENT OFFICER & ANR
