The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Chairman of Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) to call for a meeting of all the stakeholders including the district bar associations and Bar Council of India (BCI) to evolve a common consensus regarding a uniform dress code for interns.

Justice Pratibha M Singh said that since a larger number of interns enter the premises of Delhi district courts and the High Court, a uniform policy ought to be arrived at by all the stakeholders so that the law students can wear a uniform, which is clearly distinguishable from lawyers’ uniform.

Justice Singh said that the meeting be held on December 12 and a common consensus be arrived at after bearing in mind the Rules of Legal Education, 2008.

The court passed the order while staying the operation of a recent circular issued by Shahdara Bar Association resolving that interns practicing at the Karkardooma Court ought to wear white shirt and blue coat and trousers.

The plea was moved by one Hardik Kapoor, a second year law student, challenging the circular in question on the ground that the same had been passed in contravention of the relevant Rules prescribed by BCI and BCD.

During the hearing, the counsel appearing for BCI referred to an order passed by a single judge on September 12, 2018 wherein a similar notice issued by the Rohini Bar Association directing interns not to wear black coats was set aside.

The plea has been moved through Advocates Ujwal Ghai, Shivek Rai Kapoor, Sanchit Saini and Arpit Sharma.

The plea argues that the impugned circular would cause unnecessary financial burden on the interns who are already working without any stipend or with stipend of meagre amount.

Title: HARDIK KAPOOR v. BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA & ORS