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Delhi High Court (Image Source: Internet)
New Delhi: A shocking incident came to light during a hearing underway at the Delhi High Court on April 29. Amidst the proceedings, which were being conducted via video conferencing, an unidentified individual logged in and repeatedly began playing obscene (pornographic) content.
Consequently, the Court was compelled to immediately halt its online hearing (VC). Notably, whenever the VC session was resumed, the same individual would rejoin and repeat the disruptive act.
How Was This Disruption Possible?
The Cisco Webex platform is utilized for online hearings at the Delhi High Court. It accommodates two types of users:
Participants (lawyers, litigants, etc.)
Viewers (journalists, members of the general public, etc.)
Typically, 'Viewers' are granted permission solely to observe, and the screen-sharing option remains disabled for them. However, in this specific instance, the individual somehow managed to gain screen-sharing privileges—or successfully breached the system.
Repeated Disruptions
According to reports, this incident did not occur just once, but on multiple occasions:
The individual also claimed via audio that this was a "hack executed from America" and threatened the court to terminate the meeting.
Court and Government Response
Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya immediately issued directives for administrative action to be taken.
Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma stated that this incident poses a grave threat to the dignity and security of the court. He called for action to be initiated under the relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
What Steps Were Taken Subsequently?
Following the incident, the VC meeting was "locked" to prevent any new individuals from joining without prior permission.
Additionally, all participants were issued a warning to clearly identify themselves; failing to do so would result in their removal from the session.
Investigation and Prior Incidents
The Delhi Police have stated that an investigation will be initiated upon receipt of a formal complaint. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. A similar incident occurred in the Karnataka High Court in 2023, where obscene videos were played during a hearing.
This incident highlights just how sensitive court proceedings conducted on digital platforms can be. Even a minor security lapse can lead to significant disruption. The question now remains: how robustly will the system be fortified to prevent such incidents in the future?
