The Gujarat High Court Thursday imposed a cost of Rs.10,000/- on a lawyer for smoking while sitting in the car during the court proceedings by way of video conferencing.
"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", Justice A S Supehia said.
Justice Supehia went on to observe that the advocates appearing through video conferences are required to maintain minimum dignified decorum so that the majesty and dignity of the proceedings as well as the Institution are maintained.
Taking serious note of the "irresponsible conduct of the advocate", the Court directed the Registrar Judicial to initiate appropriate proceedings and to submit a report within a period of 10 (ten) days to the Court.
The report, the Judge said, will be forwarded to the Bar Council of Gujarat which will inform the advocates to maintain a dignified decorum while conducting the matters through video conferencing.
The judge added that the Bar Council of Gujarat and Bar Association of High Court will also inform/instruct that proceedings conducted through video conferencing will be either from their respective residences or any office space, barring any vehicle or any open ground.
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