COVID-19: BCI ‘frees’ lawyers across India from black robes

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 14 

A day after the Supreme Court exempted lawyers from wearing black robes in view of COVID-19, the Bar Council of India (BCI) on Thursday said lawyers across the country were not required to wear the customary black coats, gowns or robes.

In an administrative order, BCI said, “…all Advocates may presently wear “Plain White Shirt/White Salwar Kameez/White Saree With Plain White Neck Band” during hearings/ proceedings before all the High Courts and all other Courts, Tribunals, Commissions and all other forums and no coats or Gowns/Robes are/is required to be worn during such time period…”

BCI—which regulates the legal profession in India—said the administrative order will remain in place till the time the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic was looming large or until any other overriding order was passed by it.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had exempted lawyers from wearing black robe “considering the medical advice, as a  precautionary measure to contain spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection under the prevailing conditions”.

A notification issued by SC Secretary-General Sanjeev S Kalgaonkar said “advocates  may wear  “plain  white-shirt/white-salwar-kameez/white saree, with a plain white neckband” during the hearings before the Supreme  Court of India through Virtual Court System till medical exigencies exist or until further orders.”

COVID-19 pandemic has forced many changes in the functioning of Indian courts, which have been functioning via video-conferencing during lockdown to maintain physical distancing to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

Since the beginning of COVID-19 lockdown on March 24, the Supreme Court premises have remained out of bounds for judges, lawyers, litigants with only urgent cases being taken up for hearing via video conferencing with judges and lawyers taking part in proceedings from their respective homes.