R. MUTHUKRISHNAN Vs. UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY THE SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS SHASTRI BHAWAN, NEW DELHI 110 001. 2. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD., REP. BY ITS GENERAL MANAGER, "INDIAN OIL BHAWAN", 139, MAHATMA GANDHI ROAD, CHENNAI 600 034. 3.BHARAT PETRO

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner in this writ petition is an Advocate and the writ petition has been designed as a Public Interest Litigation with a prayer to issue a writ of Declaration, declaring that the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme for Liquefied Petroleum Gas announced by the Union of India is inconsistent with public law and the constitutional requirements.

(2.) When the case was posted for admission on 17.03.2014, the petitioner appearing in person appeared with his robes. The petitioner was asked as to whether he being the petitioner in this writ petition would be entitled to argue with his robes. The petitioner insisted that he is an Advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and in terms of the Rules framed under the Advocates Act, in particular the Rules governing Advocates given in Appendix I of the Rules, is duty bound to wear Bands and Gown while appearing, failing which he would be contravening the statutory provisions and therefore, was entitled to represent the matter with his robes. On such insistent, this Court framed the following preliminary question for consideration:-

(3.) We have heard the petitioner on the above preliminary question and considered the matter.