“Approach Bar Council of India”: Supreme Court while refuses to entertain plea seeking change in lawyer’s summer dress code

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Synopsis

The petitioner has contended that the current dress code for lawyers is not summer-friendly for India 

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Indira Bannerjee and Ramasubramanian today refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to relax the dress code for lawyers during the summer time.

The court asked the petitioner to file a representation to the Bar Council of India in this regard. The The bench further told the petitioner that if the Bar Council of India does not act on his representation, he is at liberty to move the court. Owing to this, the petitioner chose to withdraw his plea.

The plea contended that the present dress code for lawyers, comprising of  black robes/coats/ blazers with long ceremonial gowns, does not suit the Indian climate more so during summer tine  in the northern and coastal India.
According to the plea, this dress code causes discomfort and imposes a financial burden on account of the clothes needing to be dry-cleaned and washed.

The bench, while expressing its sympathises with the petitioner, refused to entertain the plea as such a plea cannot be entertained under article 32.

Case title: Shailendra Tripathi Vs Bar Council of India