Lawyer fined by Gujarat High Court for smoking during proceedings (Representation)
Ahmedabad:
Putting up an argument screen to defend your client may be normal, but the Gujarat High Court did not take it lightly when it saw a lawyer smoke in a virtual hearing.
Due to the coronavirus crisis, the High Court is hearing cases by video conference. During one of these hearings, Judge AS Supehia found that the plaintiff’s lawyer was sitting in a car and smoking.
The court arrested the lawyer, JV Ajmera, for “irresponsible conduct” and fined him.
“This court seriously belittles such conduct of lawyer JV Ajmera,” he said in an order and told him to deposit 10,000 rupees with the court registry within a week.
“A lawyer was not expected to smoke in the car during court proceedings. Such behavior by the lawyer should be strictly condemned,” the judge said.
The court has now banned lawyers from attending the proceedings from “any vehicle or open ground.”
He ordered the Gujarat Bar Council and the High Court Bar to instruct their members to attend hearings online from “residences or offices.”
