Bluetooth on, pants down: From smoking to relieving on toilet, Gujarat HC virtual hearings get bizarrely lively

Social media users couldn’t believe their eyes when a video of a man attending a Gujarat High Court hearing from a toilet went viral. Within hours, the clip triggered a wave of memes, mockery and even mock-serious suggestions on how to prevent such “public washroom justice” in future.

While many online laughed at the man’s misplaced confidence in his camera angle, others pointed out the embarrassment such incidents bring to the country’s judicial dignity. Some suggested stricter guidelines for clients joining virtual hearings, especially when they forget basic decorum.

Logged in as ‘Samad Battery’, but seated on commode

The video, recorded on June 20 during a virtual hearing before Justice Nirzar S Desai, shows a man logged in as “Samad Battery”. He appears close-up at first, wearing a Bluetooth earphone around his neck. Moments later, he places the phone farther away—only to reveal he is seated on a toilet.

The clip doesn’t stop there. It goes on to show him cleaning up and walking out, only to return to a different room as though nothing happened. Perhaps he thought the camera was off—or perhaps, he thought court and comfort could go hand in hand.

What was the case about?

Court records show that the man was the respondent in a case where a First Information Report (FIR) was being challenged. Interestingly, he was also the original complainant. The hearing ended on a polite note, with the Court quashing the FIR after both parties settled the matter amicably. The toilet cameo did not seem to affect the legal outcome.

Not the first toilet trouble online

This is not the first time a virtual courtroom has been disrupted by poor judgement. In April, the same High Court fined a man ₹50,000 for smoking during a hearing. In March, a Delhi court had to summon a litigant seen lighting a cigarette during his case.

While video conferencing has brought convenience, it also seems to have invited a few too many casual courtroom appearances—sometimes too casual for comfort.