Law students across the country will not only have to wear the same kind of dress, but also in the same colour, if their universities and colleges decide to implement the recommendations of the Legal Education Committee of the Bar Council of India (BCI). The latest letter from the committee to educational institutions puts forth recommendations approved by BCI and suggests a uniform dress code.
The April 7 letter, signed by Joint Secretary Ashok Kumar Pandey, says: “The Legal Education Committee of the Bar Council of India at its meeting held on October 18, 2015, considered the matter regarding uniform dress code in all the law colleges. It has come to the notice of the council that at all institutes teaching law, it has been found that the standard of dresses by the students of law all over the country is gradually detracting and which does not give impression of proper dress code discipline, especially for professional education.”
While suggesting what a ‘preferable’ dress code is, however, BCI has told each institution to take a final call on implementation.
“The committee recommends that the matter is left to each university/college to decide in respect of dress code what is feasible befitting the profession in this regard. It would be preferable, if the college follow dress code white shirt with trouser (white/black/grey). This is for your information and necessary action,” the letter adds.
Though faculty members in law colleges and universities said it is premature for them to comment, the students appeared to be up in arms already.
“I don't see how I dress must be of any consequence to my performance on campus. I cannot comment on the exact incident, but generally the issue of dress code was never brought up till recently,” said a student of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore.
Another student of the university, which was recently embroiled in an alleged case of ‘moral policing’ by a professor, said, “We don't see how wearing jeans affects our learning capacity. The situation has definitely worsened post the incidents in the previous week on campus.”
The idea of a university is to encourage ideas, rebels and learning. What is the point of having a dress code? What should really matter is the quality of education….
Clifton D'Rozario
Advocate, Manthan Law
