Extreme Heatwave: Attorneys at the Calcutta High Court are permitted to forgo robes

Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam’s directive exempting attorneys from wearing “advocates’ gowns” in the Calcutta High Court comes as the summer heat continues to rage, with daytime highs in the city hovering above 40 degrees Celsius.

According to the Met Department’s prognosis, Kolkata and the neighboring districts will experience a heatwave or very hot and uncomfortable weather for at least the next five days.

According to a notice from the HC, the Chief Justice has ordered that attorneys not wear advocates’ gowns until the conclusion of the summer break in order to provide respite to them, in light of the unfavorable weather and scorching. The notice said, “Weathering of advocates’ gowns is exempt in the middle of the weather until the Court reopens after vacation on June 10.”