No casuals at meetings: Tripura government to officials

Guwahati: The BJP-led Tripura government has asked district magistrates and additional district magistrates to adhere to a formal dress code for official meetings and avoid casual wear such as jeans and cargo trousers.

Sushil Kumar, principal secretary to the Tripura government for education, revenue and information & cultural affairs, said that during his previous tenure as revenue secretary, he had advised the state’s top officials that due regard must be given to the dress code at state-level and high-level official meetings chaired by the chief minister, deputy chief minister, ministers and chief secretary.

“For example, certain casual attire like jeans and cargo pants should be avoided,” Kumar said in a memorandum dated August 20. “Despite my specific advice, one particular individual chose to disregard instruction.”


The secretary said even during his three decades of service with the Central government, he had not seen an officer from and of the services attend office in casual attire.

“At best on holidays when concerned officers choose to come to office, they occasionally wore that when no meetings were scheduled,” he said.

Kumar noted that officials continued to read and send messages on their mobile phones during official meetings. “This conduct is a mark of disrespect to the chair. It can be appreciated that some important messages or calls need to be attended by some persons but for that purpose the concerned officer/s should seek permission of the chair… It is advised that due courtesy should be shown to the chair,” he said.