The Delhi High Court said that a lawyer while representing cases in Supreme Court, High Court or district courts must wear a white band and the law interns must adhere to a dress code of black tie, coat, pant and white shirt.

A single-judge bench of Justice Prathiba. M. Singh was hearing a plea by a second-year law student challenging Shahdara Bar Association (SBA)’s circular asking interns to wear blue coat.

The court said that SBA’s circular asking interns to wear blue coat would not survive as the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD)’s resolution passed mandates black tie, coat, pant and a white shirt for interns.

In view of prescribing a consistent uniform to all interns of different associations, the court had put stayed the SBA’s resolution and had asked the BCD to hold a meeting of all bar associations in the national capital and other stakeholders to reach a consensus on what uniform law interns should wear.

“Considering a large number of interns, a uniform policy ought to be arrived at with the consent of all stakeholders.” Said the court.

A consistent uniform should be prescribed because if different associations prescribe different uniforms, then the interns will be inconvenienced,” remarked the court.

During the hearing, the court was informed that the BCD has passed a resolution wherein it has said that for interns, the distinguishing feature would be a black tie.

Appearing for the petitioner said that the SBA circular is without authority of law as the formulation of rules regarding the uniform of lawyers and interns is the prerogative of the BCD, who has already made the Rule 27 of Bar Council of India Rules of Education, 2008 which is currently in force.

After hearing, the court disposed the plea and said that SBA circular would not survive and shall be superseded by the uniform prescribed by Bar Council of Delhi” which would be followed “uniformly across Delhi”. In order to distinguish interns from lawyers, the SBA had passed a decision restricting interns from wearing black coats in Delhi’s Karkardooma court

They were told to wear white shirt, blue coat, and trousers. The SBA in its resolution had said that the interns would not be allowed to attend courts if they fail to adhere to the prescribed dress code.

Story Update By: Ms. Sai Sushmitha, Correspondent at Lawgic

Edited By: Ms. Nandini Nair, Content-Head at Lawgic