Karnataka High Court Exempts Advocates from Black Coats During Summer - 2025-03-13

Karnataka High Court Grants Summer Relief to Advocates: No Black Coats Required

Exemption from Wearing Black Coats in District Courts During Summer Months

Bengaluru, [12.03.2025] – The High Court of Karnataka has issued a circular granting advocates practicing in District and Trial Courts of the state an exemption from wearing black coats during the peak summer months. This directive, issued by the Registrar General, K.S. Bharath Kumar, comes in response to representations from the Advocates' Association, Bangalore, and the Karnataka State Bar Council, addressing the discomfort faced by lawyers due to the summer heat while adhering to the dress code.

The circular, dated 12.03.2025 and bearing number CIRCULAR NO.01/2025, explicitly states that based on resolutions and representations received, the Hon'ble Full Court has resolved to provide this temporary relief.

Key Points of the Circular

The exemption is specifically for advocates practicing in:

• District Courts
• Trial Courts of the State

The period of exemption is:

• From 15th March, 2025 to 31st May, 2025

During this period, advocates are permitted to attend court proceedings wearing:

• White shirt
• White band

Crucially, the exemption is only for the black coat. The circular clearly mentions, "(wearing white shirt with White band is not exempted)", underscoring that the usual dress code concerning the white shirt and white band remains mandatory.

Rationale and Implementation

The decision is a direct result of representations highlighting the difficulties faced by advocates due to the heat during summer court proceedings. The circular references representations dated 03.03.2025 and 04.03.2025 from the President, Advocates' Association, Bangalore, and the Chairman, Karnataka State Bar Council, respectively. The Hon'ble Full Court considered these concerns and passed a resolution on 07.03.2025 to grant this exemption.

The circular directs the Principal District & Sessions Judges and other relevant judicial officers to circulate this information to all courts and bar associations within their units, including Family Courts, Labour Courts, and Industrial Tribunals.

Official Order

The concluding paragraph of the circular reiterates the exemption:

Therefore, it is hereby informed that the Advocates practicing in the District Courts and Trial Courts of the State are exempted from wearing Black Coat for the period from 15th March, 2025 to 31st May 2025 (bdi) while attending the Court Proceedings in the District Courts and Trial Courts (wearing white shirt with White band is not exempted).

This directive from the High Court is expected to provide significant relief to advocates practicing in the lower judiciary during the upcoming summer months, ensuring comfort without compromising the decorum of the court. The order is issued "BY ORDER OF THE HIGH COURT" and signed by K.S.Bharath Kumar, Registrar General.