Court withdraws ‘lungi’ ban after protests

Patna: A local court in Bihar has withdrawn its order prohibiting people from coming to the court premises in “lungi” (a type of sarong) under heavy protests from lawyers and the local residents. “Lungi” is a traditional wraparound garment worn from the waist to the ankles.

The protests began soon after a notice, issued at the level of the court manager, banned clients from coming to the premises of Muslim-dominated Kishanganj court in the “lungi”. The order was issued earlier this month just before the court was closed for a fortnight for Diwali holidays. Kishanganj is the only district in Bihar where Muslims outnumber Hindus and the “lungi ban” was affecting them much.

The notice issued to two district bar associations of Kishanaganj suggested them to ban their clients from coming to court dressed in lungis. It cited no reason behind the “lungi ban” though.

The move met with strong protests as some people shared their photographs wearing “lungis” on various social networking sites as a mark of protests, while the advocates opposed the order tooth and nail, saying it was just impossible for them to go against the local culture.

“Lungi is the most popular dress of the local Muslims in this part of Bihar. Here, even the son-in-law visits his in-laws’ home in a lungi. How can we stop them?” asked district advocate association secretary Om Kumar.

Another lawyer Mohammad Aslamuddin termed the order “bizarre” saying how could they ask the clients not to visit them in their traditional dress. “A person visits the court with his grievance. How can we ask them not to come in lungi?” asked Aslamuddin.

He vehemently opposed the order stating there was no such ban for Indian politicians attending Parliament in Lungis. “We have seen politicians like Venkaiah Naidu and P Chidambaram attending Parliament in lungi. But, why such a ban for my clients only?” he asked.

A well-known scientist from Kishanganj, currently a research associate with the University of Cambridge, Mumtaz Naiyer went to the extent of seeking the arrest of the official issuing such notice.

“An FIR should be lodged against the Kishanganj civil court manager for issuing a false circular. There is no dress-code mentioned anywhere in the law books of our country for a commoner visiting court premises. Dress code is there for lawyers and judges only. I think a criminal case must be initiated against this person for putting a false circular which caused much unrest in the society. District administration must take note of this circular and report to the state govt,” Naiyer wrote in his Facebook post.

Eventually the authorities withdrew the order in the weekend. “Though the letters dated 5/11/2018 were advisory in nature, sent by the court manager, Kishanganj Judgeship to you, if not interested, let that order be treated as redundant,” said the District and Sessions Judge, Kishanganj in its order issued in the weekend. The withdrawal of the order has brought cheer among the local populace.