Bombay High Court criticised lawyers appearing for virtual hearings from their cars and directed the Maharashtra Government to immediately provide dedicated cubicles near court premises, ensuring dignity and professionalism in hybrid judicial proceedings.
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MUMBAI: In a move to uphold the dignity of judicial proceedings in the era of hybrid courts, the Bombay High Court on December 8 directed the Maharashtra State Government to provide dedicated spaces or cubicles within or near the court premises for lawyers participating in virtual hearings. The order follows the Court’s objection to repeated instances of advocates addressing the bench while sitting in parked cars.
The direction was issued by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad while hearing a batch of over 100 election petitions related to local body elections in Maharashtra.
During the hearing, the Bench noticed a lawyer appearing on screen while seated inside a car. The Chief Justice sharply questioned the advocate and asked him to disconnect immediately. Shortly later, another lawyer from the Nagpur Bench also joined from her vehicle due to a lack of infrastructure for online appearances.
The advocate explained that she had to attend physical hearings in Nagpur and then switch to the Mumbai VC session, leaving her no option but to connect from her car.
Reacting to which, the Chief Justice said:
“You cannot address the Court sitting in a car.”
The bench emphasized that such appearances compromise the dignity of judicial functioning.
Additional Public Prosecutor Neha Bhide informed the Court that no space was currently available in the Mumbai High Court building and that constraints would persist until the new complex is constructed.
The Court rejected this justification, stating that lawyers require logistical support when navigating between physical and virtual proceedings. The judge observed:
“There must be some place. Usually, the Bar Association provides this facility. There should be some cubicles.”
Directions Issued by the Bombay High Court
1. Immediate Allocation of Virtual Hearing Space
The State must identify and allot appropriate space within the existing High Court building or in a nearby facility to create cubicles for advocates to appear online professionally.
2. Interim Arrangements Until New Building is Ready
The Court stressed that hybrid hearing systems are here to stay and proper infrastructure cannot wait for long-term projects.
3. Directions on Election Petitions
- Three petitions dismissed (one concerning voter lists and two related to nomination issues)
- Six petitions withdrawn with liberty to refile post-election
- Matters on the postponement of Nagpur ward elections were adjourned to December 22
