Mumbai College Bars Students From Wearing T-shirts, Torn Jeans After Hijab ban

The Chembur Trombay Education Society's N G Acharya and D K Marathe College have prohibited students from wearing torn jeans, T-shirts, and revealing dresses.

Mumbai: A city-based college, previously in the spotlight for banning the hijab, has now extended its dress code to prohibit students from wearing torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses, jerseys, or any attire that displays religious or cultural symbols, as reported by news agency PTI.

The Chembur Trombay Education Society's N G Acharya and D K Marathe College issued this directive on June 27, emphasizing that students should wear formal and decent clothing on campus. 

According to the notice, male students are required to wear half or full shirts and trousers, while female students may choose any appropriate Indian or Western outfit.

This directive follows a decision by the Bombay High Court on June 26, which declined to challenge the college's earlier ban on hijabs, burkas, and naqabs, ruling that such regulations do not infringe upon students' fundamental rights.

"Students shall not wear any dress which reveals religion or shows cultural disparity. Nakab, hijab, burka, stole, cap, etc shall be removed by going to the common rooms on the ground floor and then only (students) can move throughout the college campus," the notice said.

"Torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses and jerseys are not allowed," it said.

Students belonging to the Muslim community from Shivaji Nagar, Govandi and Mankhurd areas are enrolled at the college, located in Chembur.

The notice also states that 75 per cent attendance is compulsory.

"Discipline is the key to success," it added.

Subodh Acharya, general secretary of the college governing council, said no notice with new directives has been issued by the college, referring to a circular issued by the institute earlier this year.

"The notice is not new. We are only asking students to follow the dress code which states not to wear revealing clothes. We are also not asking students to wear sarees or attire of any particular colour," he said.

"Students can come to college wearing a hijab or burka, change it in the college common room and then do their work," college principal Vidyagauri Lele said.

Last month, students challenged a college directive in the high court, which imposed a dress code prohibiting the wearing of hijabs, naqabs, burkas, stoles, caps, and badges inside the premises.

On June 26, the high court upheld the college's dress code, stating it is intended to maintain discipline and falls under the institution's fundamental right to "establish and administer an educational institution."

The high court noted that the dress code applies to all students regardless of religion or caste, and subsequently dismissed a petition filed against the ban by nine female students.

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