Plea in SC seeking to amend lawyers' dress code in summer
May 27, 2024
New Delhi [India], May 27 : A petition has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking directions BCI to amend rules and the Advocates Act to exempt advocates from wearing black coats and gowns in the months of summer in the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi said that he has been facing hardships during the months of summer, due to a part of the dress code, which is the black coat and the Advocates' gown, and urged the top court to direct the Bar Council of India to amend its rules and the Advocates Act 1961, to exempt advocates from wearing black coats and gowns in the months of summer, in the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
In the plea filed through advocate Chand Qureshi, he has urged the top court to direct the the Union of India to set up a committee of medical experts to study how wearing warm clothes in summer affects the health, work capacity, and quality of work for advocates, TTEs, and other employees who have to follow these dress codes. The committee should look into these issues and provide a detailed report with recommendations, the plea further said.
"Comfortable working environment leads to prolificacy and efficiency, whereas suppressing and uncomfortable working conditions may lead to frustration, inefficacy and unproductiveness," the petition said.
"Dress codes are also constituent of working conditions. Uncomfortable dresses/uniforms may cause stress, anxiety and unease. Dress code indeed is a symbol of profession and pride, brings dignity and decorum but striking a prudent balance between the symbolism and favourable working environment is very essential," the plea said.
"Black blazers along with long ceremonial gowns for advocates in parched and dry summers of northern and eastern states of India and humid hot seasons of southern and coastal states, make the heat even more scorching. As black colour absorbs all the wavelengths of light and reflects none, it absorbs the heat most. Therefore, black coats and robes cause the body to heat up more as compared to other colours and cause discomfort in summer season," the petition further said.
Lifestyle, culture, customs and food habits, etc., of any region, country or continent are consequences of its geographic location, vegetation and climate of that region, he further added.
The diverse climatic situations of the country do not permit us to impose the same dress code throughout the country, the petition stressed and said that rule that lawyers must wear black coats during the summer violates several fundamental rights.
