The petitioner challenged the dress code prescribed by the National Company Law Tribunal for advocates appearing before the Tribunal. Allowing the petition the Court held that Only High Courts can frame rules for dress code for the appearance of advocates before courts and Tribunals, subordinate to it . Tribunals have no authority to issue any instructions determining the dress code for the appearance of advocates before it . Accordingly, Rule 124 of the NCLT Rules states that professionals shall follow the dress code prescribed in their code of conduct, hence the order of NCLT dated 14 -11 -2017 prescribing the dress code for advocates for appearance before the Tribunal is held to be illegal. (WP No. 31852 of 2017 dt 8 -2 2023 )
R.Rajesh v.UOI AIR 2023 Madras 107
Advocate Act , 1961
S. 34: Power of High Courts to make rules – Imposition of dress code for advocates – National company law Tribunal – Only High Courts can frame rules for dress code for the appearance of advocates before courts and Tribunals, subordinate to it -Tribunals have no authority to issue any instructions determining the dress code for the appearance of advocates before it .[ Bar Council of India Rules ( 1975) , Chap .4 , Companies Act ( 18 of 2013) , S. 432 , National Company Law Tribunal Rules ( 2016) R. 16 (f) , 124 ]