Delhi HC Imposes Rs 1 Lakh Cost On Lawyer Appearing Virtually From Moving Car

The Delhi High Court has imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on a counsel for appearing in a virtual hearing from a moving car, observing that the convenience offered by online proceedings cannot come at the expense of courtroom decorum or disrupt judicial proceedings. The cost was imposed by a single-judge Bench of Justice Om Prakash Shukla on the counsel appearing for the decree holders in two connected enforcement petitions filed by South Indian Bank Ltd and Union Bank of India Ltd against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

At the beginning of the hearing, the Bench noted that advocate Nachiketa Goyal, representing the decree holders, was participating in the proceedings from a moving car. The court observed that although virtual hearings provide convenience, participants must ensure that their surroundings do not interfere with the conduct of proceedings. The Bench pointed out that the court deals with more than 70 matters in a day and that background noise and movement can disrupt the hearing.

The court also referred to its Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, which state that advocates should endeavour not to join proceedings from vehicles except in exceptional circumstances and with the permission of the court. Justice Shukla observed that the requirement was not merely procedural but was intended to ensure that counsel appearing virtually participate from an environment conducive to the proper functioning of the court.

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The Bench further recorded that no exceptional circumstances had been presented in the matter to justify the counsel's appearance from the moving vehicle. It consequently held that the conduct was in violation of the applicable rules and imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the counsel for the decree holder. The amount has been directed to be paid to the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee within one week from the date of the order.

During the same hearing, the Bench also raised an issue concerning stamp duty on an arbitral award dated November 13, 2024, which was being sought to be enforced. The court noted that the stamp duty had been paid on December 24, 2025, which it observed was beyond one month from the date of execution of the award and was not in accordance with an earlier judgment of the High Court.

Advocate Manish Dembla, also appearing for the decree holders, submitted that the stamp duty and penalty had already been deposited before the Collector. He undertook to place proof of the payment on record within one week. The Delhi High Court directed that the proof be filed within the stipulated period and posted the connected matters for further hearing on October 15.

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