Lawyers Shouldn’t Wear Black Gown and Neckband During Protests: Madras HC

The Madurai Bench of Justices B Pugalendhi and N Kirubakaran, today issued an interim order directing lawyers for not wearing advocate's black gown/coat and neckband while engaging in strikes and demonstration.

Advocate gown or neckband can be worn only within the court campus: Madurai HC

The bench issued this direction while noticing that the lawyer's gown or neckband which can be worn only within the court campus, cannot be taken advantage of by wearing them in strikes and demonstration on roads.

This  direction came in response to a petition filed by Advocate B Ramkumar Adityan to ensure that lawyers maintain a proper dress code during court proceedings and to restrict them from wearing the lawyer’s neckband and gown during strikes, boycotts, agitations and demonstration on streets 

The plea states that some lawyers are found to use their own dress code while appearing before the hon’ble bench. Even, some of the Female Public Prosecutors in subordinate courts don’t come in proper attire which creates a bad impression and diminishes the majesty of the law. 

Moving ahead the petition maintains that, the advocates attending strikes on-road wear their professional attire, even though such demonstrations are the antithesis of their obligations under the Advocates’ Act, 1961. The Petition seeks High Court to pass orders directing lawyers to wear proper dress code and don’t use the same while participating in strikes. 

Accordingly, the petition directs the State Bar Council to make sure of the following points

1. All the lawyers maintain proper dress code during court proceedings and
2. The advocates don’t use neckband and gown during strikes and demonstrations.