Does a strict outfit rule solve security issues at Delhi courts?

A recent directive barring everyone but lawyers from wearing black pants and white shirt at the Rohini court premises has evoked a mixed response from senior bar leaders and former judges themselves — while they acknowledge that the diktat will prevent impersonation and fraud, the question that arises now is: how do you control as individualistic a choice as clothes.

- Arnabjit Sur

"The intention is to distinguish lawyers from others and to bolster court security," said Pradeep Khatri, secretary of the Rohini Bar Association. “We cannot penalise anyone for not obeying the dress code, but lawyers have been requested to sensitise their clients about the rule and the reason behind it. There will be some initial hurdles, but over time, the notice will be followed.”

To be sure, the July 15 directive by the Rohini court bar association does not come with a penalty.

But the notice is not enforceable or legally untenable, and falls outside the Rohini bar's jurisdiction, according to a former Delhi High Court judge and the Bar Council of India (BCI), the apex regulatory body for lawyers in the country.

“Even BCI cannot govern dress codes for litigants or court visitors... a bar association cannot give out such a diktat...It is an outrageous move and jurisdictional powers should be maintained by bar associations,” said BCI co-chairman Advocate Ved Sharma.