Gujarat HC Orders 15-Day Mental Hospital Community Service for Man Seen on Toilet During Online Hearing
Court stressed that although the mens rea was missing from the man's act, it was an act that lowered the majesty and dignity of the court. The man has already deposited the Rs 1 lakh cost;
The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday ordered a man to undergo 15-day community service at a government mental health institution, after he was found attending a virtual court hearing from a toilet seat.
The man, Samad Abdul Rehman Shah, had appeared before the court via video conferencing in a matter related to a plea for quashing an FIR. During the hearing, Shah was seen seated on a commode with the toilet lid open, an act the court termed as "lowering the sanctity and dignity of the court".
A division bench of Justices A.S. Supehia and R.T. Vachhani, which initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Shah last month, noted that Shah had already deposited the cost of Rs 1 Lakh as earlier ordered by the court.
Court further emphasised that all advocates must advise their clients to maintain utmost dignity while appearing before the court online, and that they should not join hearings from public places, but only from decent/suitable settings, such as a proper room at home or an office, which do not in any manner impeach the dignity of the court.
Court had earlier imposed a cost of Rs. 1 lakh on Shah, to be deposited with the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority, after he tendered an unconditional apology for his actions.
Court said that although mens rea was absent in the act, for such conduct, the presence of mens rea is not necessary. Therefore, it went on to impose the community service order on Shah.
Case Title: SUO MOTU V/S SAMAD ABDUL REHMAN SHAH
Order Date: July 22, 2025
Bench: Justices A.S. Supehia and R.T. Vachhani