Punjab Government on Tuesday virtually tore apart its own “regressive” order on dress code a day after it was issued. The government also gave a dressing down to two of its “erring” officers by placing their services under suspension.
The State Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary took a strong notice of a matter concerning issuing a letter regarding dress code containing very denigrating language to the female teachers “without proper authorisation”.
Acting strict, two officers responsible for the same — Deputy Director Amrish Shukla and Assistant Director Amarbir Singh — were suspended.
The Minister of State for Education said that the notification, issued “without taking higher authorities into confidence”, used denigrating language and any affront to the dignity of the “nation-building teaching community” would not be tolerated.
“Such a language, in respect of the female teaching staff, smacks of regressism and such a mindset needs to be condemned in this age of women empowerment,” said the Minister while adding that the controversial letter has been withdrawn.
The orders — issued to circle education officers and district education officers of the state on Monday — talked about imposing the dress code on government school teachers, especially females, asking them not to wear jeans, tops and bright suits as the outfits have a “bad” effect on students.
For the same, it cited complaints received from the parents of students regarding the “bright outfits” worn by women teachers.
“In Government schools, teachers, especially lady teachers, are wearing bright dresses while being on duty. Some teachers wear jeans, tops and several types of provocative fashionable dresses when they are on duty. It has an effect on students,” said the order.
“Therefore, the dress code should be implemented in government schools and regular checking should be done to ensure implementation of the order,” it added.
Condemning the Congress-led state government for issuing such a diktat, Democratic Teachers’ Front’s general secretary Davinder Punia said: “The language used in the order is intolerable for teachers. This is not the way such directions should be passed on to the teachers. We strongly condemn this order.”