Moral policing of a different class: Lecturers in Mysuru get dress code - only saris!

Joint Director of Collegiate Education asks principals in Mysuru district to impose dress code for lecturers This was affected after a complaint to the Higher Education Minister Lecturers are livid at the circular, say the authorities can't be moral police

As bizarre as it could sound, lecturers in Mysuru district have been told to wear only saris to their work, now. A circular to this effect was issued by the joint secretary of Collegiate Education Department following a complaint to the Higher Education Minister that women lecturers are wearing salwar-kameez to classes which is inappropriate.

It is reported that R Satish Kumar of Kolar had complained to the minister Basavaraj Rayareddy that why there was dress code for students alone, when this should be extended to even lecturers (women) too. His complaint also said that lecturers wear salwar-kameez to classes which is inappropriate. Satish had also taken objection to lecturers using phone during class hours.

Following this, Umanatha MK, Joint Director of Collegiate Education has asked the principals of all the colleges in Mysuru district to ensure that women lecturers wear only saris to work. He also sought a status report from the colleges of its implementation, reports Kannada Prabha.

But the circular has certainly angered the teaching community. "Usage of mobile phones in classes is certainly not right. But the government cannot impose dress code on lecturers. No teachers wear inappropriate dress to the classes. In fact, it is better to allow lady lecturers to wear salwar-kameez than the sari. However, the authorities concerned should weigh the issue before implementing it," reports Kannada Prabha quoting Dr H Prakash, president of Karnataka State Government Colleges Lecturers' Association.

Another teacher in Mysuru told Bangalore Mirror that is are the authorities moral police to impose dress code on them? "We are teachers and we know our limits," reports Bangalore Mirror quoting the teacher.