‘Attire is a citizen’s choice’: Kerala HC backs school headmistress over attire row

The Kerala High Court has affirmed that "a citizen’s attire is their choice, and nobody can insist that it conform to society’s customs, especially when there is no law backing it." This observation was made by Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan while considering a petition filed by the headmistress of Eeswara Vilasom High School, Kottarakara, Kollam, who sought to disqualify the school's manager.

The headmistress alleged that the manager had denied her entry into the school for wearing churidar-kameez, insisting she wear a sari instead. In addition to seeking the manager's disqualification, she also requested police protection for the remainder of her tenure at the school. The court, however, noted that it was not necessary to direct the manager's disqualification at this stage, as an inquiry into the matter was already in progress.

To ensure the headmistress could perform her duties unimpeded, the court directed the Station House Officer, Kottarakara, to provide necessary protection. The petitioner claimed that the manager had threatened her against wearing churidar-kameez to school and had instructed security personnel to prevent her entry if she did so. She further stated that she had to seek police assistance to gain access to the school premises after being stopped by security staff.

Central to her argument, the headmistress cited a circular issued by the Directorate General of Education, which she maintained entitled her to wear churidar-kameez to school. Following the alleged incident, the District Educational Officer, Kottarakara, visited the school and subsequently produced a prima facie report. This report was forwarded to the Deputy Director of Education, Kollam, for potential disciplinary action against the school manager.

The manager, in his defense, refuted all allegations, claiming instead that the headmistress was derelict in her duties and had been issued several notices. The court, however, refrained from making any observations on this particular contention, stating that it was a matter for the appropriate authority to address. The court’s decision underscores the principle of personal liberty in attire, especially in the absence of specific legal mandates dictating dress codes for citizens.

What to watch: The outcome of the ongoing inquiry against the school manager and its implications for dress code policies.

Editor's note: The draft accurately captures the legal context, the nature of the dispute, and the court's current stance without overstepping the provided source material.