Last updated: Jan 03, 2023, 4:08 PM IST
The Delhi Bar Association (BCD) has said female trainees are now allowed to wear black and white salwar kameez. (Representative Image)
It had also decided that all practicing lawyers would be required to wear a collar and not a black tie so that the trainee lawyers and barristers could be distinguished.
The Delhi Bar Association (BCD) has said female trainee lawyers are now allowed to wear black and white salwar kameez, not just a white shirt with black tie, black trousers and black jacket, to the courts.
BCD chairman and senior advocate KK Manan told Bar & Bench that the issue raised is important and that the change will be made on Monday itself so female interns will not face any issues.
“The issue raised is important. We will make sure that the change is implemented today itself, so that female trainees who are not comfortable wearing pants and shirt can also go to court in Indian dress,” said Manan.
Following the Delhi High Court order directing the BCD to consult all bar associations in the national capital and reach a consensus on what uniform lawyer trainees should wear, the BCD had said on 16 December 2022 that the dress code for trainee lawyers should be white will be shirt with black tie, black pants and black jacket.
It had also decided that all practicing lawyers would be required to wear a collar and not a black tie so that the trainee lawyers and barristers could be distinguished.
On December 1 last year, Judge Prathiba M. Singh had stopped the Shahdara Bar Association (SBA) decision of November 24 to ban trainees from wearing black jackets in Karkardooma court in Delhi, asking them to wear white shirt, blue jacket and wear pants. from 1 Dec.
With a view to prescribing a consistent uniform for all trainees, Judge Singh 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 should be used by legal trainees should wear.
“Given the large number of trainees, a uniform policy should be established with the consent of all those involved. A consistent uniform should be prescribed, because if different associations prescribe different uniforms, the trainees will be inconvenienced,” she had said.
The court had urged to hold a meeting and reach a common conclusion, taking into account the Rules of Legal Education, 2008. The SBA had said in its resolution that trainees should not go to court if they do not comply with the rules to keep. the prescribed dress code.
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