Pune Court Asks Women Lawyers To Refrain From Arranging Hair During Proceedings, Withdraws Diktat After Backlash

Senior advocate Indira Jaising shared the notice, issued by the Pune District Court, on Twitter on Sunday.

A policeman stands guard at an entrance gate to the district courtroom (Source: File photo/AFP)

New Delhi: A court in Pune, Maharashtra last week issued a notice barring women from "arranging" their hair in the open courts as it "disturbed" the court's functioning, as reported by news agency IANS. In the notice, women lawyers were asked not to groom their hair during the hearing in the court as it "disturbed" the court's functioning.

The Registrar's notice, issued "By Order" read: "It is repeatedly noticed that women advocates are arranging their hair in open court which is disturbing the functioning of the court. Hence, women advocates are hereby notified to refrain from such act."

Though the court withdrew its notice on Saturday after seeing an uproar Sources said that the judge who issued the notice felt that his words were being misinterpreted. 

The order drew a spate of comments and protests on the social media including by senior counsel Indira Jaising who said: "Wow now look! Who is distracted by women advocates and why."

Author Mini Nair asked: "Wonder when they will ask us to cease existing???", and another Twitteratti wondered whether should they (women) all go bald?

Celeb photographer Atul Kasbekar said: "LoLa Men getting distracted to this extent by a woman's mane is fascinating."

Khalida Parveen's comment was: "Seriously, it's a joke.. Usually men fix their hair. Even they carry a small comb in their pockets."

Senior advocate Indira Jaising had shared the notice, issued by the Pune District Court, on Twitter on Sunday.

Wow now look ! Who is distracted by women advocates and why ! pic.twitter.com/XTT4iIcCbx

— Indira Jaising (@IJaising) October 23, 2022

“It is repeatedly noticed that women advocates are arranging their hair in open court which is disturbing functioning of the court,” the notice read. “Hence, women advocates are hereby notified to refrain from such act.”

The notice was signed by the registrar of the Pune District Court.