The Kerala High Court ruled that a citizen’s choice of attire is personal and cannot be imposed by society when no law mandates it. Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan delivered the opinion while reviewing a petition filed by the headmistress of Eeswara Vilasom High School in Kottarakara.
The headmistress sought the disqualification of the school’s manager after the manager allegedly denied her entry for wearing a churidar‑kameez instead of a sari. She also requested police protection to continue her tenure. The petitioner claimed that the manager threatened her about her attire and instructed security to block her from the premises, forcing her to seek police assistance.
The court decided that it was unnecessary to order the manager’s disqualification because an inquiry was already underway. It directed the Station House Officer in Kottarakara to ensure that the manager did not impede the headmistress from performing her duties. The court also noted that a District Educational Officer had visited the school and filed a prima facie report with the Deputy Director of Education for disciplinary action against the manager.
The manager denied the allegations, asserting that the headmistress had been negligent and had received several notices. The court declined to weigh on this counter‑claim, stating that such matters were for the relevant authority to address.
