DG&IGP Neelamani N. Raju issues order to be implemented with immediate effect

Bengaluru:  Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) Neelamani N. Raju has issued an order making trousers and shirts compulsory and prohibiting sarees for women Police Constables on Saturday last.

A decision to this effect has been taken by the DG&IGP at a recent meeting convened on Sept.3 to discuss the issue of new dress code for women Police Constabulary. The decision was taken to make it easier for women Police to react faster in the event of a crime.

It may be recalled that senior Police Officers including women Constables who were present at this meeting had expressed their opinion before an order was issued to this effect. In particular, the issue of catching chain-snatchers and managing large crowds were highlighted in the discussion.

As per this new dress code circular, women Police Constables are barred wearing flowers besides leaving their hair open and wearing glass bangles.

However, metal bangles are allowed. They can wear small bindi but they must tie their hair with neat black net. They were also banned from wearing ear rings. Earrings, if worn, should be small in size with no dangling parts; Women can dye their hair black and not opt for any     other colour.

While high ranking women officers wear shirts and pants, Constables in the State still continue to wear khaki sarees. From now on, sarees will only be permitted on special occasions. They should wear standard khaki uniforms consisting of pants and shirts along with belt and boots.

The decision will apply to all women Police officials in Karnataka. There are around 5,000 women Police officials in the State, which is less than 5% of the overall strength of 95,000 Police officials.

Earlier in July, the Karnataka State Reserve Police had taken a similar decision to do away with sarees and make trousers and shirts mandatory.

The DG&IGP has directed all the sub-ordinate officials to implement this new dress code order from immediate effect.

One of the senior Police official who wished to remain anonymous told that the Department had took this decision after holding serious discussion as it was a very sensitive issue as women Police Constables also attend crime detection and riot control etc. “Wearing sarees always creates a lot of problem for them. Keeping the Departmental discipline in mind, this new dress code has been finalised,” he said.