Kerala medical college bans girls from wearing jeans, noisy ornaments'

Thiruvananthapuram: A government Medical College here has asked its students to shun jeans, leggings, short tops and 'noisy ornaments' while attending classes and interacting with patients.

The circular in this regard was put up by the Principal of the Trivandrum Medical college yesterday.

Women students have been asked not to come to classes and attend to patients wearing short tops, jeans, leggings, chappals and 'noisy ornaments' and instead?wear churidars or saris with their hair put up.

Male students cannot wear jeans, T shirts or any other casuals and chappals and should instead wear 'neat and clean' dresses.

Some students said they have the freedom to wear dresses of their choice and cannot be forced to wear dresses to suit the patients.

When the issue turned controversial, the medical college authorities clarified today that the circular is brought out every year when new students are admitted.

Like all years, this year also the circular was issued, Vice Principal Dr K Girija Kumari said in a statement.

The college maintained that a majority of students adhere to the dress code and none of them have made any complaints. Only a very small percentage of students do not follow the dress code, it said.

According to the college, the dress code is only when students attend classes and visit patients in wards. "Inside the campus, when there is no class and they are not with patients, there is no bar and they can wear any dress of their choice," the Vice Principal said.

She said a majority of students from the second to fourth year spend most of their time at the hospital with patients and future doctors ought to be dressed properly, which was important. They should also wear overcoats and carry identity cards.

This year the medical college has decided to strictly implement the dress code.

Patients and teachers have several times complained that students are not coming to classes dressed properly. Due to this circular was brought out once again, the college stated.