A city-based college, previously in the news for banning hijabs, has now extended its dress code to prohibit torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses, jerseys, and any attire that signifies religion or cultural disparity.

The Chembur Trombay Education Society’s NG Acharya and DK Marathe College issued this notice on June 27, stating that students must wear formal and decent clothing on campus. Acceptable attire includes half or full shirts and trousers for all students, with girls permitted to wear any Indian or Western outfit.

This directive followed the Bombay High Court’s June 26 decision not to intervene in the college’s hijab, burka, and naqab ban, affirming that such rules do not infringe on students’ fundamental rights.

The notice specified that students should avoid clothing that reveals religion or shows cultural disparity, and required items like hijabs, burkas, stoles, and caps to be removed in common rooms before moving around the campus. Torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses, and jerseys are also banned.

The college, located in Chembur, enrolls many Muslim students from Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, and Mankhurd areas. The notice also mandates 75 percent attendance, emphasizing discipline as key to success.

Subodh Acharya, the college governing council’s general secretary, clarified that the dress code notice is not new and merely reiterates the requirement to avoid revealing clothing. The college is not enforcing any particular color or specific attire, just adherence to the dress code.

Principal Vidyagauri Lele added that students can wear hijabs or burkas to college but must change in the common room before proceeding with their activities.

Previously, students challenged the dress code in court, arguing against the ban on hijabs, naqabs, burkas, stoles, caps, and badges. However, the Bombay High Court upheld the college’s dress code on June 26, recognizing it as a measure to maintain discipline, applicable to all students regardless of religion or caste, and dismissed the petition filed by nine female students.

Also read: Hijab ban part of dress code, not against Muslims, Mumbai college tells HC