Jeans, t-shirts banned: Dress code for Maharashtra govt employees

The Maharashtra government employees will no more be allowed to wear jeans, t-shirts and slippers to office, according to a state government circular. According to a new dress code, the employees also been advised to wear khadi at least on Fridays.

The government has further asked its employees to refrain from wearing clothes having “deep colours and strange embroidery patterns or pictures,” according to a circular dated December 8.

The circular asked women to wear sarees, salwars or chudidars, kurtas, trouser pants and shirts along with dupattas, if required. The men have less choice: they can wear shirts and “pants or trouser pants”. Instead of slippers, men can wear shoes or sandals and women can wear chappals, sandals or shoes.

The circular said it has been observed that several officials/staff don’t wear attire suitable for government employees, thereby sullying the image of government staff among the people. It sought to remind its staffers that people expect “good behaviour and personality” from all government officials and employees.

“…if the attire of officials and employees is unsuitable and unclean, it also has an indirect impact on their work,” the circular said.

“Clothes with deep colours and strange embroidery patterns or pictures should not be worn. Besides, employees and staff should not wear jeans and t-shirts in offices,” the circular ordained. The attire should be “proper and clean”, it said.

Earlier this year, the Madhya Pradesh government had issued a similar circular, asking its staffers in Gwalior division to wear “dignified and formal attire”. Faded jeans and t-shirts were also banned in the offices, according to a NDTV report.