Pune Court Withdraws Notice Telling Women Advocates To Not Set Hair In Court

After putting up a notice for women advocates, directing them to not set their hair in the courtroom, the Pune Court has now withdrawn the statement. The notice, which received a lot of backlashes online, was taken down recently. It was signed by the Registrar of the District Court in Pune. While some people regarded the notice as important for the disciplinary action, a lot many stated how it is outright demeaning and not required.

The Pune Court's notice had directed the women advocates to refrain from setting their hair in the courtroom citing the disturbing functioning of the court.

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Pune Court notice women advocates

The notice was issued on October 20 and it mentioned how women advocates should not make their hair in open court because it leads to disturbance. The notice read: "It is repeatedly noticed that women advocates are arranging their hair in open Court, which is disturbing functioning of the Court. Hence, women advocates are hereby notified to refrain from such act."

The notice received severe backlash after Senior Advocate Indira Jaisingh brought it up on Twitter and criticised the Court's directive. "Wow, now look! Who is distracted by women advocates and why," she wrote. Jaisingh later shared how the notice is finally been taken down, and for good.

A lot of social media users condemned the act by the Court stating how the notice was nothing but demeaning and misogynistic. "What an absolutely absurd notice. The extent of patriarchy is ridiculous," commented a Twitter user. "Wear Hijab, Don't wear Hijab. Has never got anything to do with religion - Insecure Men need to control women in any way they can," wrote another.

While most users stood against the directive, some Twitter users stated that the notice has nothing to do with demeaning women, rather it was a disciplinary action. "Discipline, not distraction. The Courts get distracted by the indisciplined activities of male advocates too (like unnecessary nodding of the head when the judge speaks). Don't make every issue anti-women," wrote one.

While this debate sparked endless comments, a Twitter user mentioned how the problem really lies in the fact that there aren't many female-friendly places in professional setups in the country, and that common rooms for women can be a huge help in this regard. "The Registrar/Court administration in the District Court should offer sufficient common rooms for women advocates rather than authorising such humiliation.