Gujarat High Court fines a Lawyer for a sum of Rs.

10,000 for Smoking

during the Virtual Court proceedings
Ahmedabad, 25th September 2020:
The Gujarat High Court on Thursday fined Advocate J. V. Ajmera, a junior
lawyer from Surat with a sum of Rupees 10,000 after he was found smoking
a cigarette during the proceedings held through the virtual court.
The advocates have been instructed by the Bar Council and the Bar
Association that all the proceedings of the Court shall be conducted through
video conferencing due to the outbreak of the global pandemic and that the
advocates should behave in a dignified manner while attending it. Also, such
proceedings shall be attended either from residences or offices of the
advocates and not from a vehicle or an open ground.
Moreover, as per the order - while attending the proceedings of the Court
from their respective residences or houses, the advocates are bound to
maintain professionalism and an appropriate sitting posture while addressing
the Court.
The case involved advocate Ajmera who was attending the court proceeding
in a bail matter from inside his car. He has been directed to deposit the said
amount before the Registry of the Gujarat High Court within a week.
The Single Judge Bench of Justice AS Supehia contented that, “the advocates
are required to maintain minimum dignified decorum to maintain the majesty
and the dignity of the proceedings as well as the Institution.”
Upset by the advocate he also added that, “This conduct from an advocate
was not expected i.e. to smoke in the car while the proceeding is taking place.
Such behavior is required to be strictly condemned.”
Reported by Gayatri Vipul Lachke