The Delhi High Court strongly criticised lawyers for joining virtual court hearings from moving cars, observing that such conduct causes inconvenience, wastes precious judicial time, and hampers access to justice, defeating the purpose of using technology in courts.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court criticized the practice of lawyers appearing in virtual court sessions while traveling in moving vehicles.
In an order issued on November 3, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela noted that this behavior has persisted despite multiple reminders to legal practitioners.
The Bench stated in its order,
“Such mode of appearance before the Court not only causes inconvenience to the proceedings of the Court, but in fact results in sheer wastage of judicial time. It also ultimately hampers the right to access to justice, which cannot be the purpose of the Courts walking in tune with the technological developments. The Court does not appreciate such mode of appearance adopted by the parties or the learned counsel,”
These remarks came after a lawyer appeared while traveling, disrupting the flow of her arguments and limiting her to informing the court only that she had filed her vakalatnama for her client on November 2, 2025.
Although the Bench noted the incident, it refrained from issuing any punitive measures. When the case was reviewed, the lawyer appeared in person and expressed her apologies to the Court.
She stated,
“I have always made efforts to appear before the Court in person,”
The Bench emphasized that the respect afforded to the Court and the legal profession hinges on lawyers like her, urging her to remain mindful of this responsibility.
The Bench remarked,
“Dignity of the court is dependent on you. You should be conscious of the dignity, if not of the court, but at least of the law as a profession. This is what disturbed us,”
Ultimately, the case was adjourned to a future date.
A virtual court hearing refers to a judicial proceeding conducted online through video conferencing or digital platforms, instead of in a physical courtroom. It allows judges, lawyers, litigants, and witnesses to participate remotely using secure technology.
Virtual court hearings in India are legally supported by several constitutional and statutory provisions that ensure justice can be delivered even without physical presence in a courtroom.
The foundation for such hearings lies in Article 142 of the Constitution of India, which empowers the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary to ensure complete justice.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court invoked this power to permit and regulate virtual court hearings across the country.
Further legal backing comes from the Information Technology Act, 2000, which provides for the legal recognition of electronic records and digital signatures. Specifically, Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Act validate the use of digital documents, electronic communication, and online filing of cases, making the functioning of virtual courts legally sustainable.