The Gujarat High Court has raised concerns about requiring advocates to wear full court dress—black coat, gown, and bands—during virtual hearings via videoconference. The court pointed out that the Gujarat High Court Rules, 1993, under Section 440, apply only to in‑court appearances . Additionally, the Bar Council of India’s regulations state that gowns and formal attire are mandatory only in the Supreme Court and physical High Court settings, and not obligatory for virtual proceedings . The High Court has therefore objected to enforcing a gown requirement for advocates appearing remotely, suggesting that such demands may lack legal backing and could be inappropriate for virtual formats.

If you’re interested in the full ruling or want details about how this might affect remote advocacy practice going forward, I can help fetch that too.

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