Over 100 advocates practicing in Karnataka have appealed to the Karnataka State Bar Council (KSBC) to ensure that law graduates wearing the hijab are not forced to remove it during their enrolment as advocates.
In a representation dated Monday, March 17, a total of 124 advocates urged the KSBC to take necessary steps to prevent such incidents, citing a recent case where a law graduate was asked to remove her hijab during the enrolment process.
The incident reportedly took place on March 7 at the Karnataka High Court, where a Muslim law graduate was instructed to remove her hijab during the interview, which is part of the enrolment procedure. While women candidates were generally advised to tie their hair back or keep it neatly tucked, the Muslim candidate was specifically asked to remove her hijab “without any clear reason,” according to the signatories.
The advocates asserted that the candidate was not in violation of the dress code prescribed for women advocates under Clause 2, Chapter 4, of the Bar Council of India Rules. They stressed that this clause “specifically enables” women advocates to wear a dupatta and/or traditional dress along with a black coat and bands.
“We raise our voice against this incident, especially in the current socio-political climate. As members of the legal fraternity, we view this as an affront to the Constitutional guarantee of dignity,” the advocates stated in their representation.
Drawing parallels with Sikh advocates who wear turbans without objections, the signatories argued that Muslim women should also be permitted to wear the hijab without it “impacting the quality of their practice.”
Additionally, the advocates urged the KSBC to take proactive steps to encourage more women to enter the legal profession. Citing data from the Bar Council of India across 15 states, they pointed out that only 15% of enrolled advocates in 2023 were women. Similarly, statistics from the Supreme Court indicated that just 14% of high court judges were women.
“If any of our sisters from any community surmount all obstacles and seeks to be a practitioner of law, the KSBC as a responsible body must encourage the same,” the signatories stated.