Srinagar, Oct. 12, KDC: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued strict directives enforcing a mandatory dress code and identification badges for advocates’ clerks, warning that casual clothing enables impersonators and touts to operate within the court complex.
According to an order issued by the Registrar Judicial in Srinagar, authorities have noted with concern that clerks attached to lawyers are frequently flouting uniform rules and entering the High Court premises in informal attire. The Registry said that this failure to adhere to the dress code undermines the discipline of the institution and creates a loophole for unauthorized individuals to impersonate clerks and engage in touting activities across the Court and Registry.
To address the security and discipline concerns, the High Court has ordered that clerks will only be permitted access to the Registry when found in their proper attire. The Court has mandated strict adherence to the uniform guidelines originally formulated upon the recommendation of the Bar Association and approved by the Chief Justice in February 2005, which were recently reiterated in May 2024.
Under the enforced guidelines, the prescribed uniform for advocates’ clerks is as follows:
Summer Uniform: Navy blue shirt and trousers (pants).
Winter Uniform: Grey coat and navy blue pants; and a shirt or jersey.
Identification: Clerks must wear identification badges placed on the left side of their chest, clearly indicating their name as well as the name of the advocate with whom they are attached or working.
The Registrar Judicial explicitly warned that any breach of these directions or non-compliance shall be viewed with utmost seriousness and will result in disciplinary action against the delinquent individuals. (KDC)
