Gujarat High Court.
Gujarat High Court Mandates Gowns for Virtual Appearances, Stresses Courtroom Decorum: Ahmedabad, India – June 30, 2025 – The Gujarat High Court has recently issued a firm reminder to legal practitioners, emphasizing that maintaining courtroom decorum and adhering to the prescribed dress code is mandatory even when appearing for hearings via video conferencing. This directive underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the sanctity and formality of court proceedings, regardless of the mode of appearance.
A bench presided over by Justice M.K. Thakker expressed strong disapproval of lawyers appearing virtually without wearing the traditional gown. The Court unequivocally stated that a virtual presence is equivalent to a physical presence in the courtroom and must therefore be treated with the same level of formality and professionalism.
To reinforce its stance, the Court referenced a series of established legal and procedural provisions. These include the Gujarat High Court Rules, 1993, the Bar Council of India Rules, the Gujarat High Court Rules for Video Conferencing, and the Revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for hybrid hearings issued through a circular in February 2024. The Court noted that these provisions consistently require advocates to appear in proper professional attire, irrespective of whether their appearance is physical or virtual.
Crucially, the bench made it explicitly clear in its order that any advocate found to be in improper dress during a virtual hearing would have their “right of audience” withdrawn. This stringent measure highlights the Court’s determination to enforce compliance and prevent any dilution of professional standards in the digital courtroom.
To ensure widespread adherence, the Court directed its Registrar General to bring the matter to the attention of the Chief Justice. Furthermore, the Registrar General has been instructed to issue an appropriate circular, notifying all concerned parties of this requirement and mandating strict adherence in all future virtual appearances.
This recent directive is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend by the Gujarat High Court to enforce strict decorum during virtual proceedings. Earlier this year, the High Court notably imposed a significant cost of ₹2 Lakh on an individual who attended court proceedings via video conferencing from a lavatory. In addition to the monetary penalty, the concerned person was also directed to perform community service by cleaning the gardens within the high court premises for two weeks, underscoring the judiciary’s intolerance for disrespectful conduct.
Similarly, in 2020, the Gujarat High Court had taken a stern view of the “irresponsible conduct” of an advocate who was observed smoking during the course of court proceedings conducted via video conferencing. That incident resulted in a cost of ₹10,000 being imposed upon the advocate, setting an early precedent for maintaining professional standards in virtual courtrooms.
The latest ruling serves as a comprehensive reminder to the legal fraternity that the gravity and decorum of judicial proceedings extend beyond the physical confines of the courtroom, demanding consistent professionalism in all forms of appearance.
