What do advocates wear in court in India?

Advocates in India wear white bands with a black coat or jacket, as prescribed by Chapter IV of Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules. A male advocate in a black open-breast coat wears a white shirt and white collar under it. The advocate's gown is compulsory only in the Supreme Court and High Courts.

What colour shirt must an advocate wear in court in India?

White. Under the Bar Council of India Rules, a male advocate wearing a black open-breast coat wears a white shirt with a white collar, stiff or soft, and white bands. A woman advocate may wear a white blouse, with or without a collar, with white bands and a black open-breast coat.

Do advocates have to wear a black coat in summer?

Not in every court. The Bar Council of India Rules say that, except in the Supreme Court and High Courts, wearing a black coat is not mandatory during summer. Courts and Bar Councils may also issue their own summer dress notices, so check your court's current directions before you leave the coat at home.

What do women advocates wear in court in India?

Women advocates wear a black full- or half-sleeve jacket or blouse with a white collar and white bands, or a white blouse with white bands under a black open-breast coat. They pair it with a sari or long skirt in white, black or a subdued colour without print or design, flares, or a salwar-kurta.

Are advocate bands compulsory?

White bands are part of the prescribed court dress. The Bar Council of India Rules allow a black tie instead of bands only in courts other than the Supreme Court, High Courts, District Courts, Sessions Courts and City Civil Courts.

Is the black gown compulsory for advocates?

Only in the Supreme Court and High Courts. The Bar Council of India Rules make the advocate's gown optional in every other court and tribunal.

How many white shirts does an advocate need?

Five covers a five-day court week with a fresh white shirt every day, while the others are washed and ironed. Buying them as a combo brings the price of each shirt down.

How do I keep a white court shirt from turning yellow?

Wash it with whites only, use a mild detergent, avoid chlorine bleach, rinse well to remove sweat and soap, and dry it in shade. A shirt made to stay white, such as ours, keeps its colour through 100 washes.

Advocate dress code in India: what shirt to wear in court

By the VakalatHouse team · Last updated: 7 November 2026

In short: the advocate dress code in India is set by Chapter IV of Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules. Advocates wear white bands with a black coat or jacket, and a man in a black open-breast coat wears a white shirt and white collar under it. The gown is compulsory only in the Supreme Court and High Courts.

Source: Bar Council of India Rules, Part VI, Chapter IV, made under Section 49(1)(gg) of the Advocates Act, 1961. Read the Rules on the Bar Council of India website.

What the Bar Council of India Rules say

Chapter IV of Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules prescribes the dress advocates wear when they appear before the Supreme Court, High Courts, subordinate courts, tribunals and authorities. In summary:

Male advocates: a black buttoned-up coat, chapkan, achkan or black sherwani with white bands, or a black open-breast coat with a white shirt, white collar (stiff or soft) and white bands. Trousers are white, black, striped or grey, or a dhoti; jeans are not allowed.
Women advocates: a black full- or half-sleeve jacket or blouse with a white collar and white bands, or a white blouse with white bands and a black open-breast coat, with a sari, long skirt, flares or salwar-kurta in white, black or a subdued colour.
Gown: optional, except in the Supreme Court and High Courts.
Bands or tie: a black tie may replace bands only in courts other than the Supreme Court, High Courts, District Courts, Sessions Courts and City Civil Courts.
Summer: except in the Supreme Court and High Courts, a black coat is not mandatory during summer.

This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Courts and Bar Councils may issue their own notices on summer dress, so check your court's current directions.

How to choose a white shirt for court

The Rules ask for a white shirt and white collar under the black coat. A good advocate shirt holds the bands, stays white through constant washing and costs little enough to own one for every court day.

A collar that holds bands. Bands sit on the collar all day, so it should be firm, with a closed front that keeps them flat and centred.
Whiteness that lasts. Court shirts are washed far more often than office shirts. Choose one made to stay white wash after wash instead of turning yellow or grey.
Not see-through. It should not show through under a black coat or courtroom lights.
Comfort and easy care. Long hearings and crowded corridors call for a shirt that breathes and irons quickly.
A price you can buy five of. Big-brand white formal shirts cost ₹1,500 to ₹4,500 or more. Buying in combos keeps a fresh shirt ready for every court day.

Questions advocates ask

What do advocates wear in court in India?: Advocates in India wear white bands with a black coat or jacket, as prescribed by Chapter IV of Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules. A male advocate in a black open-breast coat wears a white shirt and white collar under it. The advocate's gown is compulsory only in the Supreme Court and High Courts.
What colour shirt must an advocate wear in court in India?: White. Under the Bar Council of India Rules, a male advocate wearing a black open-breast coat wears a white shirt with a white collar, stiff or soft, and white bands. A woman advocate may wear a white blouse, with or without a collar, with white bands and a black open-breast coat.
Do advocates have to wear a black coat in summer?: Not in every court. The Bar Council of India Rules say that, except in the Supreme Court and High Courts, wearing a black coat is not mandatory during summer. Courts and Bar Councils may also issue their own summer dress notices, so check your court's current directions before you leave the coat at home.
What do women advocates wear in court in India?: Women advocates wear a black full- or half-sleeve jacket or blouse with a white collar and white bands, or a white blouse with white bands under a black open-breast coat. They pair it with a sari or long skirt in white, black or a subdued colour without print or design, flares, or a salwar-kurta.
Are advocate bands compulsory?: White bands are part of the prescribed court dress. The Bar Council of India Rules allow a black tie instead of bands only in courts other than the Supreme Court, High Courts, District Courts, Sessions Courts and City Civil Courts.
Is the black gown compulsory for advocates?: Only in the Supreme Court and High Courts. The Bar Council of India Rules make the advocate's gown optional in every other court and tribunal.
How many white shirts does an advocate need?: Five covers a five-day court week with a fresh white shirt every day, while the others are washed and ironed. Buying them as a combo brings the price of each shirt down.
How do I keep a white court shirt from turning yellow?: Wash it with whites only, use a mild detergent, avoid chlorine bleach, rinse well to remove sweat and soap, and dry it in shade. A shirt made to stay white, such as ours, keeps its colour through 100 washes.