The Supreme Court on Saturday relaxed mandatorily wearing traditional black gowns for Supreme Court lawyers while appearing in courtrooms amid the ongoing country-wide heatwave.
The chief justice issued the directive after consulting with senior Supreme Court judges, said a circular issued by the High Court Division registrar Md Golam Rabbani.
The circular said that the directive would come into effect from today as the High Court Division and the Appellate Division would reopen on April 21 after 28 days of the court’s summer vacation.
The circular said that the relaxation would continue until the Supreme Court issues further order.      Â
Earlier on April 4, the Supreme Court relaxed the dress code for lower court judges and lawyers due to the heatwave, until it issues further order.
There is no necessity for wearing black coats and gowns while they would appear in the courtroom, according to another circular issued by the High Court Registrar on April 4.
The Supreme Court for the first time on May 13, 2023, relaxed the traditional dress code for lawyers and judges until October 18, 2023, due to the heatwave.
Earlier in 2022, the Supreme Court in a circular asked the judges and lawyers to wear gowns when the courts started virtual court proceedings due to rapid surge of Covid-19 infection.
A section of lawyers have been demanding amendment to Civil Rules and Orders, Criminal Rules and Orders, and the Bangladesh Bar Council of Rules and Orders to exempt lawyers from wearing black coats and gowns, a dress code for judges of the royal courts, as such dress code is improper for Bangladesh weather.
