Gujarat High Court Initiates Contempt Proceedings Against Senior Advocate for Drinking Beer During Virtual Hearing

The Gujarat High Court has initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Senior Advocate Bhaskar Tanna after he appeared to sip beer and speak on the phone during a virtual court hearing last week.

The incident took place on June 26 during a hearing before Justice Sandeep Bhatt. As the proceedings were underway, Tanna—who was appearing virtually—was allegedly seen drinking from a beer mug and speaking on a mobile phone, while his camera remained switched on. A video clip of the hearing surfaced online shortly after, drawing public outrage and prompting judicial scrutiny.

Taking serious note of the incident, a division bench of Justices A.S. Supehia and R.T. Vachhani called the conduct “outrageous and glaring,” stating that such behaviour from a senior member of the Bar threatens to erode public confidence in the legal system.

The court has directed that the video footage of the hearing be preserved and that a formal notice be issued to Tanna. Until further orders, he has been restrained from appearing before the division bench via virtual mode. The matter has been listed for further hearing in two weeks, by which time the high court registry has been instructed to file a detailed report.

Significantly, the bench also hinted at the possibility of revisiting Tanna’s designation as a Senior Advocate. It must consider whether such conduct is compatible with the dignity and responsibility that the title of Senior Advocate entails, the court remarked.

The judges noted that while virtual courtrooms have brought flexibility and accessibility, they are no excuse for abandoning the basic norms of respect and professional discipline that govern courtroom behaviour.

The order has been requested to be circulated, with Chief Justice 's permission, to all benches.