Centre lays down new rules, bans dress code for women in varsities

The Centre has banned imposition of “discriminatory rules” against women students, like dress code, on the pretext of their safety in higher educational institutions.

In a new set of regulations for dealing with cases of sexual harassment of women students and employees on campuses, the Centre has also restricted all higher educational institutions from imposing two different sets of hostel rules for men and women students.

The provisions, recently notified by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), separately, are binding on the universities and colleges affiliated to the two regulatory bodies. Any violation of the regulations may lead to withdrawal of recognition granted by the two bodies.

“Concern for the safety of women students must not be cited to impose discriminatory rules for women in hostels as compared to male students. Campus safety policies should not result in securitisation, such as over monitoring or policing or curtailing the freedom of movement, especially for women employees and students (sic),” stipulates UGC and AICTE regulations.

The regulations providing restriction on over monitoring and policing of women students and employees in university and college campuses assumes significance as several higher educational institutions have imposed discriminatory rules against women in absence of such clear cut provisions.

A few months ago, the Hindu College–affiliated to the Delhi University–imposed a dress code for women students, asking them to wear clothes as per the “normal norm of society” in common areas of the campus. The college administration, however, had to withdraw the dress code as it stoked a huge controversy leading to protest by students.

A UGC official said: “The regulations have been formulated keeping in view the trends in the higher educational institutions. There are often reports about universities over imposing discriminatory rules for women. It is the responsibility of the institutions to ensure safety of women in the campus. But this does not mean you curtail their freedom.”