In a recent ruling, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court held that women lawyers cannot appear before the court with their faces covered. The court pointed out that the Bar Council of India (BCI) does not allow women advocates to wear face veils.
On the 13th of December, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi and Justice Rahul Bharti observed that the Bar Council of India (BCI) rules regarding the dress code for advocates restrict such attire and emphasised the significance of maintaining decorum and professional identification in courtrooms.
This came after a woman named Syed Ainain Qadri claiming to be an advocate came in court on 27th November wearing a face cover. When asked to remove it for identification, she maintained that it was her fundamental right to appear in such face veil. Consequently, the court directed the High Court’s Registrar General to confirm the legal and rule stance on the dress code for lawyers.
Following the submission of the report, the court reviewed the legal framework under the BCI regulations, notably Chapter IV (Part VI), which specifies the dress code for advocates appearing in court. The court stated that under these regulations, women advocates may wear black full-sleeve jackets or blouses, white bands, sarees, or other traditional dress, as well as a black coat. However, there is no mention or provision for the use of face coverings as part of the required courtroom outfits.
“It is nowhere stated in the rules that any such attire is permissible for appearing before this Court,” the court said.
