SWATI PURKAIT Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Court: The seven Petitioners in this Article 226 petition dated December 18, 2008 are some members of the teaching staff of Singur Golap Mohini Mallick Girls' High School in Singur of the district Hooghly. They are questioning the oral directions of the secretary of the institute to obey the dress code made by its managing committee specifying white sari for the teachers at work.

(2.) The Petitioners objected to the dress code and the steps taken for its enforcement on the grounds that the whole thing has been sought to be imposed upon them unauthorisedly and illegally. In the opposition dated August 31, 2009 affirmed by the secretary of the committee the decision to make the dress code and enforce it has been justified citing tradition and acceptance by the other women teachers in the institute.

(3.) Mr. Bari, counsel for the Petitioners, has argued as follows. The statutory provisions regarding dress code having been omitted from the regulation concerned and in the face of an advisory letter of the Director of School Education dated August 16, 2004, Annexure P2 at p.28, the managing committee of the institute could not make any dress code or the women teachers working therein and enforce it.