J&K High Court Bar Association bans non-lawyers from wearing black coats

Ziraat Times Team Report

JAMMU: In a significant move to curb impersonation and uphold decorum within court premises, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Jammu, has issued a formal directive prohibiting non-lawyers from wearing the traditional black coat and white shirt attire inside the court complex.

The notice, circulated on Saturday, specifically bars clerks, litigants, and members of the general public from donning the black-and-white dress combination commonly associated with advocates. The Bar Association underscored that the formal black coat with white shirt and black trousers is the exclusive professional uniform of practicing lawyers and must not be imitated by others.

The Bar’s executive committee stated that the decision was prompted by a growing trend of individuals impersonating lawyers, leading to incidents of misconduct, confusion, and security concerns within the court premises.

“Wearing the advocate’s uniform by non-legal persons is misleading and contributes to potential misconduct and disciplinary breaches inside the court complex,” the Bar Association said in its statement.

It further warned that any individual found violating this directive could face disciplinary or legal action, and urged court officials, security personnel, and members of the judiciary to remain vigilant in identifying and reporting such cases.

Legal experts welcomed the move, noting that professional integrity and distinguishability of advocates are crucial for the smooth functioning of judicial proceedings.

This directive comes amidst nationwide concerns raised by various bar councils over non-practitioners impersonating advocates, sometimes to mislead litigants or influence proceedings improperly.

The J&K Bar Association has encouraged the public and court visitors to respect the court’s decorum and ethical boundaries by refraining from dressing in a manner that could create confusion or undermine the sanctity of the legal profession.