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SC notifies relaxation in dress code for Advocates amid Coronavirus pandemic
In the light of medical exigencies, the Supreme Court via official circular dated 13th May, 2020 relaxed the dress code for Advocates appearing before the Court through video conferencing. This move has been taken as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection under the prevailing conditions.
The Court has said that, on account of medical advice received, it has relaxed the dress code of Advocates, and they may wear “plain white-shirt/white-salwar-kameez/white saree, with a plain white neck band” while appearing in the hearings before the Apex Court of India through video conferencing (virtual courts) until further orders.
Advocates are now free to appear before the Court without gown and blazer which was mandatory before today’s circular. For now, Court has done away with the requirement of wearing gowns.
The Court has directed that the directions must have an immediate effect and until the medical exigency exist or further orders passed, the same shall subsist.
Earlier today, during a proceeding the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde hinted Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal about the step of relaxing the dress code norms for Lawyers and Judges to curb the spread of COVID-19. In morning, the Judge Bench while taking up the hearing via video conferencing appeared sans robes. CJI Bobde have revealed that judges have been told that the Coronavirus gets attached to the gowns and robes wore by judges and advocates.
Several requests under many Courts nationwide have been made earlier to ease the dress code while there are virtual proceedings being conducted.
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