We Must Reconsider Dress Code Of Lawyers, Strictness Of Attire Shouldn't Lead To Moral Policing Of Women Lawyers: CJI DY Chandrachud

The Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud was invited as the Chief Guest for the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association on 25th November 2022. While encouraging a culture of dialogue through his address, CJI Chandrachud advocated for reconsidering the strict dress-code for lawyers in India, especially in summers. He added that the strictness of attire should not lead to moral policing of women lawyers.

CJI Chandrachud commenced his address by stating that the constitution was constantly evolving to meet the new social realities of the time and that the bar and the bench were equal stakeholders in the process of the court. He said–

"As judges we come and occupy these offices for the terms granted by constitution, but we never believe that we stand apart from the bar. And the bar never believes that it stands apart from the citizens. COVID bought us stark reality on how little security our lawyers have and yet they soldier on. I appreciate the role played by bar at all levels."

However, while celebrating the Constitution, the CJI added that one must be conscious of the history prior to the adoption of the constitution. In this context, he highlighted the issue of the strict dress code for lawyers. He said–

"The legal profession is often described as a noble profession but it must not turn into an elitist profession. We must have a culture of dialogue. The legal profession must shed away its colonial underpinnings. In a country like India where summers include extreme heatwaves as a result of climate change, we must reconsider the strict dress code for lawyers especially in summers. The strictness of attire shouldn't lead to moral policing of women lawyers."

The Chief Justice also urged the senior members of the bar to take some pro bono cases of poor litigants every year and expressed his desire of having this practice be institutionalised. Noting the importance of technology in the justice delivery system, CJI Chandrachud said–

"As we March towards the era of e-governance and online courts, the SCBA can consider organising training sessions with us in the e-committee for members of the bar in acquainting with new processes.  I am thinking of having an online remote access to the judge's library database so that law clerks can easily access resources."

While highlighting that he also considered academicians as members of the legal fraternity, CJI Chandrachud said that he was considering to set up an annual Supreme Court of India lecture series on the 28th January every year as the Supreme Court of India came into being on 28th Jan, 1950.