Lawyers in lower courts to dress down for summer

Lawyers in subordinate courts do not have to bear the heat in coats and gowns from next summer, though their colleagues in the Supreme Court and the High Courts have not been granted that luxury.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has clarified that advocates practising in subordinate courts, most of which have cramped courtrooms and skeleton facilities, can do away with their long gowns and stuffy black coats. The statutory body recently made the pronouncement on receiving a letter from K. Santhakumari, president of the Tamil Nadu Federation of Women Lawyers, seeking exemption from wearing gowns in summer.

The BCI noted the daily suffering a lawyer undergoes under layers of clothing, made even worse by a starched collar and necktie, in the hot weather.

The missive from women lawyers was taken up in a recent meeting, during which the BCI said a relaxed dress code has already been prescribed under Rules 3 and 4 of the Rules of Bar Council of India.

“The dress-code relaxation during summer is already available for lawyers in the subordinate courts. But the same is not applicable to advocates in the Supreme Court and the High Courts,” BCI secretary J.R. Sharma said.

This is because, Mr. Sharma said, lawyers in the constitutional courts have the benefit of air-conditioned courtrooms, which keeps them relatively cool.

Besides, he said, any change in the dress code has to be made with the approval of the Chief Justice of India.

But Meera Bhatia, executive member of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said it would be “wonderful” to do away with the gown and coat in summer.

“What air-conditioners?” she asked. “At times, the courtrooms in the Supreme Court are chock-a-block with people, litigants and lawyers. There is no point having air-conditioners. Besides, there are no air-conditioners in the Supreme Court corridors. Lawyers and clients have to suffer the heat outside when the court goes into recess.”