The Trivandrum Bar Association issued a notice flagging concerns about junior lawyers wearing calf-length trousers and sleeveless blouses, which according to the association, is disrespectful of the lawyers’ dress code.
The Trivandrum Bar Association has issued a notice flagging concerns regarding what it terms as “indifferent attitude” and “disrespectful behavior” of junior lawyers and warned of disciplinary action if they continue to violate the “dignity of the profession”.
Show no arms and calves: Trivandrum Bar Association warns junior lawyers of disciplinary action for violating dress code
report by @GitiPratap https://t.co/7vzyuiWUx9
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) July 8, 2022
The notice said that the Bar Association has been receiving several complaints regarding the casual conduct and attire of junior lawyers.
“Several complaints regarding the indifferent attitude of certain junior members of the Bar are being received at the office continuously, relating to the disrespectful behavior shown to the Senior lawyers and casual dressing manner and submissions before the Courts“, the notice stated.
The association said that it has also noticed that junior lawyers are improperly dressed by wearing calf-length trousers and sleeveless blouses, which according to the association, is disrespectful of the dress code expected of lawyers.
“It is also noticed that certain junior lawyers are wearing dresses like three-fourth (Calf-length) bottoms, sleeve less blouse causing total disrespect to the mandatory dressing code of our profession. Already a notice was issued on this behalf,” the bar association said.
Therefore, the notice urged senior members of the Bar to advise junior lawyers to amend their ways, failing which the association may be forced to take disciplinary action.
“Senior lawyers of the bar may kindly advice the juniors attached to your office to wear proper uniform to maintain the dignity of our profession. Unless (sic) the office of the TBA will be constrained to initiate disciplinary actions against them“, the association cautioned.
Just a month ago, the Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA) also asked junior lawyers and law interns to maintain decorum and follow the dress code prescribed for lawyers by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the Kerala High Court.
The KHCAA had surmised that it may be due to the shifting of court proceedings to virtual mode during the pandemic that freshly enrolled junior advocates and law interns have been unable to get accustomed to the etiquette and decorum to be maintained in courts.
