After Hijab Ban, Mumbai College Bans Jeans And T-Shirts On Campus

Following the Bombay High Court’s dismissal of the petition challenging Chembur’s Acharya and Marathe College’s ban on hijab, N. G. Acharya & D. K. Marathe College has enforced a new dress code prohibiting jeans and T-shirts.

Torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses, and jerseys are not allowed as per the notice issued by the college titled “Dress Code and Other Rules” on June 27. Signed by the college principal, Dr. Vidyagauri Lele, the notice outlines the new dress code, wherein ‘formal’ and ‘decent’ dresses are advised for students to wear on campus premises.

Read Also: Bombay High Court Dismisses Petition Challenging College’s Hijab Ban

“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,” stated the notice.

According to The Free Press Journal, a huge number of students who were prohibited from entering the campus due to their clothes were seen crowding outside the campus premises.

Dr. Lele stated that the college administration wanted students to wear “decent clothes,” such as formal Indian or western clothes. “After all, they will be expected to wear those once they are employed,” said the principal of Acharya and Marathe College, as quoted by the Indian Express. She also added that the students were informed of the dress code during their admissions.

Meanwhile, students expressed their grievances over the matter, which they claim is taking a toll on their education.

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Ateeque Khan from the Govandi Citizens Association stated that the college had banned hijab last year, and now jeans and T-shirts, worn by all youngsters regardless of religion and gender, have also been banned. Khan, who was approached by several students, said, “We do not understand what they are trying to impose on the students by bringing such impractical dress codes.”

Last year in May, the Chembur College banned hijab, niqab, and burqa from the campus, claiming it was a disciplinary action for the uniform dress code and not against the Muslim community. Approaching the High Court on June 14, the students from the two colleges challenged the directive. However, on June 26 this year, the Bombay High Court refused to interfere in the decision taken by Chembur Trombay Education Society’s N. G. Acharya and D.K. Marathe College in Mumbai.