Delhi Bar Association exempts advocates from wearing black coats during summer

New Delhi: Delhi Bar Association has issued a notice exempting member advocates from wearing black coats during summer sessions in district courts."The members are free to appear in courts subordinate to the Delhi High Court without wearing black coats. However, they must adhere to the other mandatory dress code rules," said the notice dated May 24, signed by the association's secretary, Vikas Goyal.Advocate Sanjay Sharma, commenting on the development, said that the association issued an advisory for the exemption of wearing black coats during summers, while the other rules of the dress code—white shirt, black trousers, and band—are strictly to be adhered to. "This relaxation of dress code has been made keeping in mind the non-air-conditioned courtrooms and extreme heat, aiming to protect advocates' health from heat strokes and discomfort. This decision has been made to ensure efficient functioning of advocates of all age groups," said advocate Sharma.Similar exemptions have long been adopted by bar associations in Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka."Some may view this as undermining courtroom professionalism. However, the Bar Council of Delhi has prioritised advocates' health over traditional attire, balancing court decorum with comfort and well-being," added advocate Sharma."All the members are hereby informed that advocates are exempted from wearing black coats during summer, i.e., from May 16 to September 30, as per the amendment in rule under Section 49(1)(gg) of the Advocates Act of 1961," stated the notice.Section 49(1)(gg) of the act empowers the Bar Council of India (BCI) to make rules regarding the dress or robe to be worn by advocates appearing before any court or tribunal. This includes considerations for climatic conditions.