Women advocates not happy with dress code decree issued by Karnataka Bar Council

BENGALURU: After the city's elite clubs and myriad institutions, it is the turn of the court to impose its dress code. The Karnataka Bar Council, in a circular last month, decreed that advocates appearing in courts shall wear “proper and dignified dress as prescribed by law," with specifics on what women and men lawyers can don. Jeans and indecent dress are not permitted, it said. Collars are compulsory .

The trigger was a recent incident when a woman advocate caught the attention of Acting Chief Justice SK Mukherjee for not wearing a collar in his court. He told the lady to wear a collar always while arguing a case.

Women advocates, naturally , are not happy with the bar council's diktat.

The rules enclosed with the circular prescribe for women advocates black full-sleeved jackets or blouses with white collars and white bands along with their advocates' gowns. Sarees or long skirts should be white or black or any mellow or subdued colour without any print or design, the council said. It contained similar sartorial specifications for men lawyers.

Advocate Anu Chengappa, secretary of the Karnataka High Court's sexual harassment committee, said that the bar council's original rules did not mandate women advocates to wear a collar while in court. In any case, judicial officers do not have the power to direct an advocate what to wear, Chengappa said.

The only dress code is formal wear, she said, adding, “We are giving a representation to the Karnataka Bar Council to withdraw the rule on wearing a collar."

Chengappa explained, however, that the advocate's band and black coat were essential dress code. “One tongue of the band reminds us of our duty towards the court and the other towards the client. We tie it tightly because we should be reminded of both duties each time we argue a case. The black coat reminds us that we arguing for clients," she said.

Men advocates have shirt collars on which they attach their lawyers' bands but collars are not a natural part of women's clothing, said Sumana Baliga, a member of the Women Advocate Association of the Karnataka High Court, which has over a lakh cases pending before it.

Karnataka Bar Council Chairman PP Hegde said there was some confusion on the rule for women advocates to wear collars. “We will call a meeting and discuss about the issue," he said.