Delhi HC: Advocates Must Wear White Band, Law Interns Can Come To Court Wearing Black Tie, Coat And Pants

The Delhi High Court stated on Thursday that a lawyer appearing before the Supreme Court, High Courts, or District Courts must wear white bands and the law interns must adhere to a dress code of black tie, coat, pant, and a white shirt.

According to Justice Prathiba M Singh, the Shahdara Bar Association’s (SBA) circular asking interns to wear blue coats would not survive as the Bar Council of Delhi’s (BCD) resolution passed mandates a black tie, coat, pant, and a white shirt.

The Court was hearing a petition filed by Hardik Kapoor, a second-year law student, who was challenging the SBA circular.

In an order passed on December 1, the court stayed the resolution and directed the BCD to call a meeting of all national capital bar associations and other stakeholders to reach a consensus on what uniform law interns should wear.

“Given the large number of interns, a uniform policy should be developed with the consent of all stakeholders. A consistent uniform should be prescribed because interns will be inconvenienced if different associations prescribe different uniforms,” Singh stated.

The Court was informed today that the BCD passed a resolution on December 16 stating that the distinguishing feature for interns would be a black tie.

Advocate Ujwal Ghai, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, stated that the SBA circular lacks legal authority because the formulation of rules governing the uniform of lawyers and interns is the prerogative of the Bar Council of India, and the Bar Council of India has already made Rule 27 of the Bar Council of India Rules of Education, 2008, which is currently in force.

After hearing the case, the bench stated that in view of the resolution passed by the BCD, the SBA circular would not survive. Therefore, the Court disposed of the plea.