Why Calcutta High Court judges wear colonial British-style robes and wigs

RN Ravi taking oath by Justice Sujoy Paul (Image: ANI)

• RN Ravi sworn in as West Bengal Governor at Raj Bhavan
• Justice Sujoy Paul donned colonial wig and red robe at ceremony
• Calcutta High Court's attire reflects British colonial traditions

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The swearing-in of RN Ravi as the 22nd Governor of West Bengal at Raj Bhavan on Thursday became a talking point not only for the political transition but also for a striking visual detail.

The oath was administered by Sujoy Paul, Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. During the ceremony, Justice Paul appeared in a bright red robe paired with a colonial-style court wig -- a sight that quickly drew attention online.

Justice Paul wore the same attire when he took oath as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court in January this year by by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose -- following the tradition adopted by the previous judges.

Judicial wigs, rooted in 17th-century British legal tradition, are rarely seen at Indian swearing-in ceremonies today.

Their appearance at the ceremony therefore stood out, prompting questions about why judges at the Calcutta High Court sometimes appear dressed in attire that resembles that of 19th-century British judges.

The answer lies in the colonial origins of India’s higher judiciary. During British rule, courts in India adopted the same traditions followed in England.

Judges and lawyers wore robes, bands and wigs similar to those used in British courts. Many of these customs continued even after independence.

The Calcutta High Court itself was created during the colonial period, having been established by Queen Victoria’s Letters Patent in the 19th century, and a number of its ceremonial practices still reflect that legacy.

The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India, established on July 1, 1862. Established under the High Courts Act of 1861, it holds jurisdiction over West Bengal and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Although Bombay and Madras High Courts were also founded in 1862, Calcutta was the first to be functional

Legal dress codes for advocates also carry forward those traditions. Bar Council rules continue to require lawyers to wear black coats or sherwanis along with white neck-bands -- a style inherited directly from British courtroom attire.

The persistence of such traditions within the Indian legal system has often been noted. Former Supreme Court Justice VR Krishna Iyer once observed that “even after six decades…Indian courts … have borrowed even their costume, including the collar and bands, from the British”.

In everyday court proceedings, High Court judges typically wear long black gowns with wing collars and white bands while sitting on the bench.

The design closely mirrors what British judges historically wore. On ceremonial occasions, however -- such as oath-taking events -- judges in Calcutta may appear in scarlet robes and traditional wigs, echoing historic British High Court ceremonial regalia.

Even in Britain, High Court judges still wear a furred scarlet robe and a full ceremonial wig for state occasions. Because the Indian legal system evolved from the same framework, similar elements of dress survived in courts established during the colonial era.

The clothing originally served a symbolic purpose: to convey authority, dignity and continuity in the administration of justice.

Yet the tradition has also faced criticism in modern India. Some observers consider the attire outdated, and calls have occasionally been made for a distinct Indian judicial dress.