No jeans or T-shirts: Sena MLA seeks action against Mumbai college for imposing dress code; dubs it 'Talibani fatwa'

Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday demanded action against a Mumbai-based college for banning students from wearing "jeans and T-shirts". The Chembur Trombay Education Society's N G Acharya and D K Marathe College, in the notice issued on June 27, banned students from wearing torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses and jerseys, or a dress that "reveals religion or shows cultural disparity".

The students should wear a formal and decent dress while on campus, it said. Speaking in the assembly, Sarnaik said the notice issued by the college was a "Talibani fatwa". More than 70 -80 per cent students wear jeans and jackets, he said. "Will you ban a swimming suit for a swimming competition and T-shirts, shorts for sports competitions?" the Sena legislator asked.

The education minister should take action against the college authorities for the Talibani fatwa, Sarnaik added. Last month, the students of the same college moved the Bombay High Court, challenging the directive issued by the college imposing a dress code under which they cannot wear hijab, naqab, burka, stoles, caps and badges inside the premises. The high court on June 26 said a dress code is meant to maintain discipline which is part of the college's fundamental right to "establish and administer an educational institution".


After that, the college issued a second notice in which it banned the students from wearing torn jeans and T-shirts.