Delhi HC Releases Fresh Circular On Dress Code For Judicial Officers And Practicing Lawyers

The Delhi High Court has made revisions to the Rule governing the dress code for judicial officers in district courts and practicing lawyers.

In the circular, the high court emphasized that “the dress of the Presiding Officer should be in keeping with the dignity of his office. Shorts and short-sleeves are quite unsuitable for the Presiding Officers of a Court.”

The full court of the Delhi High Court has replaced Rule 30 of the Canons of Judicial Ethics, High Court Rules & Orders (Vol. IV) with a new resolution. According to the resolution, male judicial officers should wear a white shirt and white band, a black coat, and grey or white trousers.

Lady judicial officers are expected to wear a white or black blouse/shirt (full or half-sleeved), white or black sarees, or pants/salwar kameez/long skirt (white, black, or grey). They should also wear a white collar (stiff or soft), a white band, and a full-sleeved black coat, as stated in the circular.

The circular further specifies that the dress code for advocates will be in accordance with the Bar Council of India Rules. The original version of Rule 30 provided different dress codes for subordinate judges, magistrates, district and sessions judges, and lady judicial officers, among others.

The high court stated, “As directed by Hon’ble the Chief Justice and his companion Judges and in partial supersession of the earlier Circular bearing No. II/Rules/OHC dated 07.08.2009, existing Rule 30 of the ‘Canons of Judicial Ethics,’ High Court Rules & Orders (Vol. IV) shall be substituted with a new Rule 30…”

Earlier this year, Justice Prathiba M Singh clarified that advocates appearing before any court, from city civil courts to the Supreme Court, must wear white bands as part of their uniform.

She also mentioned that interns may enter court complexes wearing a black tie, black pants, and a white shirt, as prescribed by the Bar Council of Delhi. This statement came during the hearing of a plea filed by a second-year law student challenging a circular issued by the Shahdara Bar Association, which mandated that interns practicing at the Karkardooma Courts should wear white shirt, blue coats and trousers.