After Hijab, Mumbai College Now Bans Jeans, T-Shirt In Campus

Acharya and Marathe College in Chembur have introduced a new dress code that bans students from wearing jeans and T-shirts. This decision follows the Bombay High Court's dismissal of a petition filed by nine students challenging the college's previous ban on hijabs, as reported by the Indian Express.

The new dress code, along with other regulations, prohibits clothing items such as torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses, and jerseys on campus. According to the college's principal, Dr. Vidyagauri Lele, this notice was issued in response to several incidents of indecent behavior reported by students.

The notice, signed by Dr. Lele, states, "Students should wear formal and decent dress while on campus. They can wear a half-shirt or full-shirt and trousers. Girls can wear any Indian or western outfit. Students shall not wear any dress which shows religion or cultural disparity. Naqab, hijab, burkha, stole, cap, badge, etc shall be removed by going to common rooms on the ground floor, and then only they can move throughout the college campus."

Dr. Lele explained that the college administration aims for students to dress formally, reflecting the attire they will be expected to wear in professional settings. She told the news daily, "...have asked them to wear formal Indian or western clothes. After all, they will be expected to wear those once they are employed."

Furthermore, she mentioned that students were made aware of the dress code when they were admitted to the college.

She pointed out that students attend college for only 120-130 days out of the year, questioning, "what problem should they have to adhere to a dress code for these days?"