Jeans Ban Sparks Controversy Among Hisar Municipal Corporation Employees

A new dress code introduced by the Hisar Municipal Corporation commissioner in Haryana, which bans employees from wearing jeans, has stirred opposition from various quarters.

Vaishali Sharma, a 2017 batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, issued the directive on Wednesday. The order stated, “All officers and employees of Hisar Municipal Corporation are required to wear formal attire during duty hours. Wearing jeans or similar clothing during work hours is prohibited. These orders must be strictly followed.”

An official defended the decision, stating that it was necessary to maintain "official decorum."

However, employee representatives have demanded a reversal of the order, labeling it a "Tughlaqi Farman" (autocratic decree).

Naresh Kumar Shastri, president of the Haryana Nagar Palika Karmchari Sangh, argued that the directive was inconsistent with service rules. “Such orders should only apply to employees like sanitation workers, for whom uniforms are provided by the department. For other employees, the choice of attire should be left to them,” he said.

Sharing similar views, Subhash Lamba, president of the All India State Government Employees’ Federation (AISGEF) and a Haryana native, questioned the rationale behind the order. “Why shouldn’t the matter of clothing be left to the employees?” he asked.

This isn’t the first time such a rule has been implemented. In May 2023, the Ambala Cantonment Municipal Council also imposed a dress code banning jeans during office hours. At that time, an officer had justified the order by saying, “Employees should dress decently when coming to the office. They have been instructed to wear only formal attire. Indian culture does not endorse showiness.