September 25, 2020
Gujarat HC fines Rs. 10K on Advocate found smoking in the car during court proceedings
[ by Legal Era News Network ]
The Gujarat High Court took serious note of an incident in which the counsel appearing on behalf of one of the parties was smoking in his car during court proceedings via video conferencing and penalised him with Rs. 10,000/- fine for doing so.
Justice A.S. Supehia of the Gujarat High Court said, “This Court seriously deprecates such conduct of the advocate Mr. J.V. Ajmera. It was not expected from an advocate to be smoking in the car during the Court proceedings. Such behaviour of the advocate is required to be strictly condemned. The advocates appearing through video conference are required to maintain minimum dignified decorum so that the majesty and dignity of the proceedings as well as the Institution are maintained.”
The Court further stated, “The Bar Council of Gujarat and the Bar Association of High Court shall inform the advocates to maintain a dignified decorum while conducting the matters through video conferencing.”
The Court also asked the Bar Council of Gujarat and the Bar Association of High Court to instruct the advocates that during proceedings conducted through video conferencing, advocates shall either operate from their respective residences or any office space but not any vehicle or any open ground.
It further said that while attending the proceedings and while addressing the Court from their respective residences/offices, the advocates shall also maintain appropriate sitting posture.
The Court directed that the advocate Mr. J.V. Ajmera shall deposit a cost of Rs.10,000/- before the Registry of the Court within a period of one week.
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