Calcutta HC waives black gown requirement for lawyers until June

Calcutta High Court Acting Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam said on Wednesday that due to weather conditions, lawyers will not have to wear black dresses in courts until June 2023, when the HC reopens after the summer vacation.

The acting CJ's order came after a representation by several advocates and senior advocates who prayed to be exempted from wearing dresses amid the prevailing heat waves.

On Monday, Paritosh Sinha, secretary of the Incorporated Law Society, wrote to the acting CJ seeking an exemption. Sinha wrote that the heat and humidity caused immense difficulties for the lawyers. He wrote: "We found ourselves struggling to cope with the heat and humidity while wearing the traditional black gowns/gowns and coat that are mandatory in courtrooms."

According to lawyers, there is a practice in Delhi High Court and Rajasthan High Court, among others, where summers are intense, lawyers and advocates are exempted from wearing gowns and gowns in summer.

A notice issued by the HC registrar general on Wednesday said the acting CJ ordered, "In view of weather conditions, the wearing of gowns by advocates is exempted until the court reopens after the summer vacation in June 2023."