The virtual courtroom turned unexpectedly frothy after Senior Advocate Bhaskar Tanna was spotted sipping beer during an online hearing, prompting the Gujarat High Court to launch contempt proceedings on its own motion.
A visibly displeased Division Bench of Justices AS Supehia and RT Vachhani slammed the act as “outrageous,” swiftly barring Tanna from appearing virtually before them. The Court’s reaction wasn’t just limited to virtual attendance—it also raised serious questions about his coveted Senior Advocate status, hinting that the title might be on thin ice.
“This indecent act has echoed far beyond the boundaries of this institution,” the Bench remarked, warning that unchecked behavior like this could erode public trust in the judiciary. “If the act which dents the glory and dignity of the institution is disregarded, it will be destructive to the rule of law,” the Court observed gravely.
A video clip that surfaced from a June 26 hearing before Justice Sandeep Bhatt showed Tanna nonchalantly sipping what appeared to be beer from a mug. The visual sparked concern not just about courtroom decorum, but also about the example being set for junior members of the legal fraternity.
“The bar looks up to senior counsel as mentors,” the judges noted. “Such behaviour undermines that very privilege and demands serious reconsideration of the title bestowed.”
The Court directed the Registry to prepare a detailed report and preserve the video as evidence. A formal notice will be issued to Tanna, and the matter is set to return for hearing in two weeks.
If permitted by the Chief Justice, the Court’s directive restricting Tanna’s virtual appearances may be circulated across other benches as well. Until then, one thing is certain: what was meant to be just another digital hearing has now stirred a very real storm in the temple of justice.
