In response to the scorching summer temperatures that have gripped the city, lawyers at the Calcutta High Court have been granted respite from wearing their traditional gowns. Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, taking into consideration the ongoing heatwave and uncomfortable weather conditions, issued a directive exempting lawyers from donning their gowns until the end of the summer vacation.
The decision to provide relief to legal practitioners comes as the weather department predicts that the heatwave will persist for at least the next five days in Kolkata and its surrounding districts. The high court notification stated that the exemption would remain in effect until the court reopens after the summer vacation on June 10.
This is not the first time such an exemption has been granted during the peak summer weeks. Uday Shankar Chatterjee, a lawyer practising at the high court, highlighted that a similar provision was also implemented last year.
As the temperature soars to 40 degrees Celsius, the move is expected to alleviate lawyers’ discomfort while attending court proceedings. The summer vacation at the Calcutta High Court will commence on May 19, providing further respite from the sweltering heat.
