Lawyer gets contempt notice for drinking from 'beer mug' during virtual hearing

Gujarat HC has issued a contempt notice to senior advocate Bhaskar Tanna after a video surfaced, showing him speaking on the phone and drinking from a beer mug during a virtual court hearing. The video, which quickly went viral, prompted the court to take suo motu cognizance of the matter, citing concerns over the dignity of the institution and the conduct expected of senior advocates. A bench of Justices A S Supehia and R T Vachhani observed that Tanna's behaviour during the June 26, 2025, hearing before Justice Sandeep Bhatt was "outrageous" and "contemptuous." The judges emphasized that such public conduct has far-reaching implications, especially when seen widely on social media. HC highlighted that ignoring such actions would undermine the rule of law and damage the institution's credibility, especially in the eyes of younger lawyers who regard senior counsel as role models. The bench questioned whether Tanna's advocate designation should be reconsidered, stating that his conduct "defiles the privilege" conferred upon him. Until further orders, Tanna is barred from appearing virtually before the bench. HC has instructed the registry to prepare a report on the incident and present it during the next hearing, scheduled for two weeks later.