Women panel slams govt college over dress code
Patiala, October 26
The Punjab State Commission for Women today condemned Government Medical College’s (GMC) instructions to first-year MBBS girl students to wear “suit salwar with dupatta”.
Terming the order ‘unfortunate’, the commission said it would soon take action against the authorities for infringing upon the freedom of the students.
Notably, Dr Gurdeep Kalyan, head of the anatomy department, had asked the first-year girl students to wear “suit and salwar” and avoid wearing jeans and leggings in the class. The professor had insisted that jeans and other clothes violated the decorum of the medical college.
Despite widespread reporting of the incident, the authorities have not taken any action and students are following the dress code.
Manisha Gulati, chairperson, Punjab Women Commission, said no one had the right to tell students what to wear or not. She said, “It is very sad to hear about such incidents. No one should ask girls what to wear or not. It is their personal freedom, therefore, the directions are a violation of their (girls) rights.”
Gulati said she would be talking to the GMC authorities, after the Diwali break, and would take action in the matter. On the other hand, the professor maintained his earlier stand that students should wear decent clothes during the classes.
Former MP Dharamvira Gandhi said the directions were regressive. He said, “The authorities should immediately withdraw such instructions.” — TNS
