Employee 'hijacks' proceedings at Tis Hazari court

Have you ever heard of a court staff "hijacking" judicial proceedings?

The peculiar situation was witnessed last week at the Tis Hazari courts complex here when a special court dealing with corruption cases was recording the evidence of a CBI witness from Kolkata through live video conferencing and a stenographer abruptly walked out, telling the court that she was leaving and her cab was waiting outside.

Taking strong note of the act, the court said the woman stenographer dared to "disrespect the chair" and "undermined the authority" of the court by leaving a live hearing.

The court, which described the scene created by the stenographer as a "very sorry state of affairs", said she "hijacked" a live video conference proceedings in the presence ofseveral lawyers, giving a "very shabby impression" to the public at large present there.

The judge, who recorded in detail the conduct of the stenographer in the order, said the court staff created hindrance to the proceedings and the presiding officer as well as lawyers present in the room had to sit idle till another stenographer arrived. "It is pertinent to mention that court had to wait for another 5 to 10 minutes for arrangement of other stenographer.

The scene created by the stenographer... gave an impression as if the proceedings have been hijacked and the same had to be stopped," the judge said in a written order.

The incident happened last week when the stenographer got up at 4:25 PM and said she wanted to leave as her cab was waiting outside.

When the judge reminded her that the court timing were not yet over, she responded saying that by the time she marks her attendance at the superintendent's office before leaving, it will be 5 PM.

Giving further details of the incident in the order, the judge said the woman was warned that she cannot leave in between the proceedings even when the other stenographer, who had a fractured leg, was doing his pending work in the regular court room.