Due to extreme heat in Delhi, several High Courts have allowed lawyers to forgo their traditional robes and coats during the summer. This adjustment aims to alleviate discomfort and improve working conditions amidst rising temperatures. Although this permission currently applies to at least three High Courts, there is a push for the Supreme Court to implement this relaxation nationwide.
New Delhi: In India’s capital, the soaring temperatures have posed a significant challenge for the court system. The law requiring lawyers to wear heavy black robes and coats, which has been in place since 1961, being put to the test. At least three High Courts have now permitted lawyers to forgo the traditional attire during the summer months, acknowledging the discomfort caused by the extreme heat.
The issue become so pressing that the Supreme Court being urged to make this a general rule for all lawyers in the country. Judges at one New Delhi court have even gone as far as postponing a case until later in the year, citing a lack of air conditioning and water supply. While the Supreme Court and most High Courts equipped with air conditioning, many lower courts and consumer forums rely on fans and have poor ventilation, exacerbating the problem.
The record-breaking temperatures in New Delhi, reaching around 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), forced the authorities to take drastic measures. They have restricted water supply, shut down schools, and set up heatstroke units in hospitals to cope with the extreme weather conditions.
This situation highlights the need for the legal system to adapt to the changing climate and find solutions that prioritize the comfort and well-being of both lawyers and the public they serve. The decision to allow lawyers to shed their traditional attire during the summer months is a step in the right direction, but more comprehensive measures may be necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of the courts and the administration of justice.
The Indian government deployed paramedics to polling stations for the final day of the country’s massive general election on Saturday, in anticipation of potential health issues among voters due to the high temperatures. This decision comes after a 40-year-old labourer died of heat stroke earlier in the week, as the north-western regions of India have been experiencing prolonged heatwave conditions.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the region is expected to witness two to three times the usual number of heatwave days this month, with Delhi experiencing particularly sweltering temperatures that are impacting various aspects of life, including the legal system. At a consumer court in the southwestern district of Dwarka, judges were forced to preside over cases against insurance companies in a courtroom with non-functioning air conditioners, relying only on ceiling fans and open windows to provide respite from the heat. In a written order, three of the court’s judges stated that they declined to hear a case due to the high temperatures in the courtroom, adjourning it until the cooler month of November.
The order stated,
“The courtroom lacks both air conditioners and coolers. The excessive heat is unbearable. Additionally, the absence of a water supply makes it impossible to even use the washroom for relief… Under these conditions, conducting hearings is not feasible,”
In 2021, the Chief Justice of India at the time acknowledged that courts ‘still housed in decaying buildings lacking adequate facilities,‘ which he described as ‘extremely harmful’ to both parties and legal practitioners.
Read Also: Lawyer v. Lawyer: New Delhi Lok Sabha Seat Showdown
Shailendra Mani Tripathi, a lawyer from Delhi, brought this issue before the Supreme Court, seeking an amendment to the longstanding dress code.
Tripathi argues in his submission, which has not yet been reviewed by the justices, that black coats absorb excessive heat and pose a health risk.
He states that requiring lawyers to wear them “is neither just nor reasonable.”