On June 20, something shocking—and oddly comedic—happened in a Gujarat High Court hearing. A man attended the virtual hearing while sitting on a toilet. Yes, you read that right.
The incident took place during a video-conferenced hearing about the quashing of a First Information Report (FIR). Justice Nirzar S Desai was presiding. One of the respondents, who also happened to be the original complainant, joined the session under the name “Samad Battery.” Initially, his camera showed only a close-up of his face and Bluetooth earphones.
Then came the disaster.
Caught With His Pants Down—Literally
Without realizing it, the man adjusted his phone. The camera revealed that he was, in fact, seated on a toilet. What followed was jaw-dropping. He casually wiped himself, exited the bathroom, and reappeared in another room—completely unfazed.
The High Court may have quashed the FIR due to a mutual settlement between the parties, but the internet had other plans.
Can we expect litigants to at least not take a dump while attending court! Hey bhagwan! 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ROT1GimXnO
— sanjoy ghose (@advsanjoy) June 27, 2025
“Contempt in Highest Odour” Goes Viral
Bar & Bench, a respected legal news portal, shared the video. What came next was a storm of comments, memes, and outrage.
“Only lawyers should be allowed to join virtual courtrooms. This is global shame,” one user posted. Another quipped, “Contempt of court in the highest odour—I mean order.”
Others joked, “Motion denied,” and “Contempt of commode.”
Still, not everyone laughed. Many in the legal fraternity condemned the act, calling it disrespectful and demanding stricter rules for virtual hearings.
Not the First Virtual Court Blunder
Sadly, this isn’t the first time someone has made a mess of courtroom etiquette online.
In April, the Gujarat High Court fined a litigant ₹50,000 for smoking during a virtual session. A month before that, a Delhi man was summoned for lighting up on camera during a hearing.
Clearly, India’s High Court system is still dealing with the fallout of post-COVID virtual setups.
Time for Tighter Controls in Courtrooms
The judiciary went online during the pandemic, but some people never logged into proper decorum. This latest incident reignites the call for regulating who can attend virtual hearings—and how.
Maybe it’s time for a rulebook. Or just some basic common sense.
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