Karnataka High Court directs advocates to follow normal dress code from February 1

The Karnataka High Court has decided to withdraw the relaxation on the dress code for advocates and has directed all lawyers to follow the normal dress code with effect from February 1..The modified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued in this regard reads,"The relaxation made to the dress code of the Advocates is hereby withdrawn. The Advocates shall follow normal dress code with effect from 1st February 2021.".On June 11, 2020, the Court had relaxed the dress code for lawyers appearing before it via physical hearing and video conferencing..Back then, advocates had the option of wearing plain white-shirt/white-salwar-kameez of any sober colour/saree of any sober colour with a plain white neckband, instead of the dress code otherwise prescribed..This apart, the new SOP contains a number of other changes that will take effect from January 27. There will be an additional counter provided at the Principal Bench, Bengaluru for filing and receiving PF/Court fee, next to the existing counter..The restrictions on use of canteens at all Benches shall be relaxed, subject to condition that seating capacity in the canteens shall be restricted to half of the present capacity, distance of six feet is maintained, and hand sanitizers are provided in the canteens. Staff members working in the canteen shall be subjected to thermal scanning. The canteen contractor is required to give an undertaking that he will ensure that any member of the staff who has symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to work in the canteen and that all the staff members maintain social distancing and wear proper masks at all times..The SOP also reiterates the restricted use of elevators/lifts and mandatory wearing of masks in the Court halls as well as the Court premises..It has been further clarified that the prohibition on the entry of litigants will continue to operate at the principal seat at Bengaluru and Benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi as provided in the existing SOP..The new SOP makes it clear that these measures will be taken on an experimental basis, and that if it is found that advocates and litigants are not following rules of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, the relaxations will be withdrawn..[Read the SOP here]