Kerala Govt says saree not compulsory for teachers, calls idea 'outdated'

NEW DELHI: Kerala higher education minister R Bindu recently clarified that there is no dress code for college teachers and said “One's choice of dressing is an entirely personal matter. No one has the right to criticize or interfere in another's sartorial choices.”

The minister issued a clarification after a recent interaction with a young lecturer. “Happened to talk to a young lecturer a few days ago. She was telling me about an experience she had at an edu institute in Kodungallur about a month ago. Though she has the necessary qualifications, the staff apparently put forward a condition that she had to wear a sari…,” she wrote on Twitter using hashtags #WomensRights and #DressCode.

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Explaining why dress code is not mandatory for school and college teachers, she said, “While a teacher has several responsibilities, adhering to such outdated & obsolete ideas is not one of them. One's choice of dressing is an entirely personal matter. No one has the right to criticize or interfere in another's sartorial choices.”

Kerala government had already issued a circular on dress code of teachers on May 9, 2014. However, several educational institutions have been still practicing the same policy, the minister said.

Therefore, the higher education minister issued another circular on dress code for teachers stating that “the teachers can wear any kind of dress that is decent and comfortable while working”.

Though the govt had already issued a circular dated 09-05-2014 clarifying this, it has become clear that several institutions in the state continue to practice such policing. Hence, the Higher Edu Dept is issuing another circular to this effect. #DressCode #WomensRights pic.twitter.com/alIzxfXO4w

— Dr R Bindu (@rbinducpm) November 12, 2021