Dress code is fixed for many professions in almost all countries including India. Like black coat for lawyers, white coat for doctors, khaki uniform of police and other desk codes. But the question is, can a woman, citing her religion, practice law in court wearing a niqab? Today we will give you information related to this.
advocacy dress code
In many countries including India, lawyers wear only black coats. But recently a case came to light in Jammu and Kashmir, where a woman lawyer appeared on behalf of the petitioners in a domestic violence case. During this time the woman was wearing a lawyer’s dress, but her face was covered. During the judicial proceedings, when Justice Rahul Bharti had asked the female lawyer to remove her niqab to ensure her identity, she had refused to do so.
What are the rules regarding dress code?
- Let us tell you that the dress code prescribed for advocates has been mentioned in Chapter IV (Part VI) of the Bar Council of India Rules. This includes dress codes for male and female advocates.
- According to this, black full sleeve jacket or blouse with white collar, white band and advocate gown for women, alternatively, white blouse with or without collar can be worn with white band and black open breasted coat.
- Apart from this, lower garments include saree, long skirts (white, black or without print or light colors). Designs, flares, or Punjabi attire, churidar-kurta, or salwar-kurta, with or without dupatta in white or black are acceptable. Traditional attire can also be worn, provided it is accompanied by a black coat and band.
- Wearing a lawyer’s gown is optional except when appearing in the Supreme Court or High Court. Whereas during summer, wearing black coat is not mandatory in courts other than the Supreme Court and High Court. There is no mention of hijab for Muslim women anywhere in the dress code.
Cannot cover face in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh
Let us tell you that the Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has made it clear that women lawyers cannot appear in the court with their faces covered. The court said that this decision regarding the dress code of women lawyers has been taken as per the dress code prescribed by the Bar Council of India (BCI).
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