Exempt Advocates From Wearing Black Coat & Gown In Summers : Lawyer's Plea In Supreme Court

A lawyer has moved the Supreme Court of India seeking an exemption to Advocates from wearing black coats and gowns in the months of summer in the Supreme Court and the High Courts.

Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi has filed the writ petition seeking direction to the Bar Council of India to amend its rules to exempt advocates from wearing Black coats and Gowns in the months of summers.

He has further sought directions to the Bar council of each state to amend their rules and determine the months of prevailing summer for that particular state during which Black coats and Gowns can be exempted according to the temperature and humidity variation.

Citing the example of United Kingdom's Apex Court which has made relaxations in the dress code, the petitioner has stressed the importance of changes in a system to address prevailing problems failing which may turn into a burden.

According to the petitioner, moving to and fro between District Courts, the High Courts and the Supreme Court wearing coat and gown in torrid summer heat becomes unbearable, and taking them off and carrying along is not always possible due to important files and other items being held in hands.

Further, the petitioner Advocate has argued that not all the advocates practising at the Supreme Court and the High Courts are affluent enough to afford a mode of conveyance that is air-conditioned and wearing a black coat and gown in the months of summer aggravates the effect of heat.

The petitioner has submitted that uncomfortable attires lead to decreased productivity due to uneasiness and walking the premises of the Courts, wearing the black coat and gown in unbearably hot weather causes frustration and vexation, which reflects as irritable conduct.

The plea has further argued that the coats and blazers impose an unnecessary economic burden of maintenance as due to excessive perspiration, Blazers need to be washed or dry-cleaned regularly.

Case Title: Shailendra Mani Tripathi v. Bar Council of India & Ors.