Psychological Dependence of Lawyer on the Black Coat is Harmful

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For the past few years lawful permission has been given for not wearing the black coat for three months during the summer period even then one can see lawyers moving around all over Maharashtra and in India in black coat. Some of the reasons advanced are whether they would be considered as lawyers, without wearing the coats they would not feel like lawyers and maintain the decorum of the court. If one examines all these reasons with detachment one can see that these reasons are unnecessary and without any substance.

Why lawyers are not willing to stop wearing the black coat is the 'power' associated with the black coat. The black coat has become a source of power in the affairs of the judiciary. The UNDP and the Law department, Government of India working on 'access to justice' to the common man are conducting a study for knowing the difficulties in accessing the justice. During this study a lot of people have expressed the view that the dress of the lawyers creates distance between the judicial system and the common man.

Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari a retired chief justice of Maharashtra in his speeches always says that the language of the courts is not ours, the laws are not ours, and the dress is not ours. If one takes all these considerations into account, the dress of the advocate comes in the way of the judicial system and the society. To make the judiciary pro-people and participatory the first change that will have to be made is changing of the dress of the lawyers.

The lawyers are themselves exploiting their bodies and treating it with cruelty. The dress of the lawyer is not suitable for the climate and weather of our country. Even then lot of lawyers want to use the black coat because if the false prestige attached to it. There is a need to change the dress code mentioned in the Advocates Act, 1961. But as long as that provision is there we will have to wear the black coat in the courts but wearing the black coat during the summer season even when the lawyers are exempted to be worn is definitely a sign of the servile mentality of the lawyers.

Just think something different, by not wearing the black coat one can experience new ideas and strength and create a mental rehabilitation. Ultimately any change will take place only in stages and development takes place out of fraternity. What is the harm in taking a just view of the situation? It is not difficult for the advocates to stop abusing their bodies.