Kolkata: With Kolkata experiencing scorching temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius, Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam of the Calcutta High Court has issued a directive allowing lawyers to forgo wearing their traditional gowns in court.
The move comes as the city and its surrounding districts grapple with a heatwave forecasted to persist for the next five days.
A notification from the high court stated that considering the prevailing harsh weather conditions, the exemption on wearing advocates' gowns will remain in effect until the court reconvenes after the summer vacation. "Taking note of the weather, wearing of Advocates' gown is exempted till the Court reopens after Summer Vacation on June 10," the notification read.
The summer recess for the Calcutta High Court is set to begin on May 19.
This isn't the first time such an exemption has been granted by the Chief Justice during peak summer months. Uday Shankar Chatterjee, a practicing lawyer at the high court, recalled a similar allowance made by the Chief Justice last year during the hottest weeks of the season.
Given the forecast of continued heatwave conditions, the exemption aims to provide relief to lawyers who would otherwise be obligated to wear the traditional gowns, which can be uncomfortable in hot weather.