Kerala lawyers seek relaxation in dress code during summer months

Sweltering heat and humidity have forced the lawyers of Kerala, who may have to appear in packed court halls with no air-conditioning or proper ventilation, to seek relaxation of the dress code.

The Kerala High Court Advocates Association has approached the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court with a request to do away with the black coat and gown for lawyers during the summer season.

The Bar Council of India Rules, 1975 prescribe that male advocates shall wear a black buttoned up coat, chapkan, achkan, black sherwani and white bands with Advocates’ Gowns, or a black open-breast coat, white shirt, white collar, stiff or soft, and white bands with Advocates’ Gowns. They can also wear long white, black, striped or grey trousers or Dhoti.

Women lawyers shall appear in courts wearing a black full sleeve jacket or blouse, white collar stiff or soft, with white bands and Advocates’ Gowns. White blouse, with or without collar, with white bands and with a black open-breasted coat.

They also have the option of wearing sarees or long skirts (white or black of any mellow of subdued colour without any print or design) or flare (white, black or black, striped or grey) or Punjabi dress churidar-kurta or salwar-kurta with or without dupatta) white or black or traditional dress with a black coat and bands, according to the rules.

Wearing the coat and the gown during summer months is causing extreme discomfort to lawyers besides posing the health risk of dehydration and heat stroke, pointed out M.R. Nandakumar, the secretary of the association in the representation.

The situation in the district and other courts is worrying due to the lack of air conditioners and poor ventilation in the court halls, according to the representation.

The association also pointed out that the High Court had relaxed the dress code during the previous summer.

A Full Court meeting of the judges of the Kerala High Court had last year decided to permit the advocates appearing in the courts in the District Judiciary to wear a white shirt with band, by making the use of black coat and the Advocate’s gown optional. Wearing of a gown was made optional for the advocates appearing in the High Court.