Plea in SC to exempt lawyers from wearing black coat & gown in Summers

New Delhi: A Lawyer has approached the Supreme Court of India to allow advocates not to wear black coats and gowns in the courts during summer, in Supreme Court and High Courts, Live Law reported.

Through his writ petition, Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi also sought the top court to direct the Bar Council of India to amend its rules to wear black outfits on summers won't be mandatory. He also sought directions to the Bar council of each state to amend their rules to accommodate this. The state Bar councils should determine the months of prevailing summer, temperature and humidity variation for the particular state and shape new amendments according to that, he pleaded.

The petitioner stated that moving between courts wearing a coat and gown in the summer heat is unbearable. Carrying them along are also always not possible due to important files and other items held in hands.

The petitioner further said that all advocates practising at Supreme and High courts could not afford air-conditioned transport. He also said that uncomfortable clothing leads to decreased productivity, increase frustration and vexation leading to irritable conduct. Also, the attire becomes an unnecessary economic burden as it needs regular dry-cleaning due to excessive perspiration, he said.

He submitted his appeal in his petition, citing the United Kingdom's top court, which made relaxation on dress codes on similar grounds. He said that changes are essential in a system to address prevailing problems that may turn into a burden.