A legal challenge has been mounted against Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding his attire during official functions. The Madras High Court received a petition from lawyer M Sathya Kumar, urging that Stalin adhere to the formal dress code mandated for government officials.
The petition highlights instances where Udhayanidhi Stalin has been spotted in casual clothing like T-shirts and jeans at government events, which Kumar argues breaches the expected formal decorum. The plea is particularly critical of Stalin’s display of the DMK party symbol on his attire during these official engagements, asserting this act contravenes the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
A government order from 2019 cited in the petition specifies that “Government Servants are required to wear neat, clean, formal attire that is appropriate to the workplace setting, so as to maintain the decorum of the office, while on duty.” It dictates that male employees should opt for formal pants or veshti (dhoti), and female employees should wear saree or salwar kameez, explicitly advising against casual attire.
The petitioner contends that as Deputy Chief Minister, Udhayanidhi is bound by this directive and criticizes his casual dressing as an undermining of the office’s dignity. The inclusion of political symbols during official duties is also highlighted as a significant legal and ethical misstep.
The issue has not only legal implications but has also sparked public and political discourse. Former AIADMK Minister D. Jayakumar has echoed the sentiment, criticizing Stalin’s informal attire as disrespectful to the office’s stature.
The plea asserts that upholding a professional standard is crucial for public servants to maintain public trust and delineate clearly their official responsibilities from political activities. The court’s upcoming deliberation on this matter is poised to potentially set precedents regarding the enforcement of dress codes for public officials and the legality of displaying political symbols in official capacities.
