World · South & Central Asia · 2 hrs ago
Kerala High Court backs headmistress’s choice to wear churidar-kameez
The Kerala High Court said a citizen can choose what to wear when no law requires clothing to follow social customs.
The case involves the headmistress of Eeswara Vilasom High School in Kottarakara, Kollam, who said the manager barred her from entering because she wore churidar-kameez instead of a sari.
She asked the court to disqualify the manager and provide police protection while she remained in the post.
The court did not order the manager’s disqualification, because an inquiry into the matter was already under way.
It directed the local police station officer to ensure the manager did not prevent the headmistress from doing her job.
The manager denied the allegations and said the headmistress had neglected her duties; the court left that issue to the relevant authority.
The inquiry and any disciplinary action remain with education officials, who had received a preliminary report after a district education officer visited the school.
The Kerala High Court backed a school headmistress’s choice to wear churidar-kameez rather than a sari.
Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan said nobody could insist that a citizen’s attire conform to society’s customs without a law requiring it.
The court directed Kottarakara police to ensure the school manager did not obstruct the headmistress from doing her duties.
The headmistress alleged the manager had threatened to bar her from school for wearing churidar-kameez.
The manager denied the allegations and said the headmistress had neglected her duties.
- Who
- The headmistress of Eeswara Vilasom High School and the school’s manager.
- What
- The Kerala High Court backed the headmistress’s choice to wear churidar-kameez and ordered police to ensure she could perform her duties.
- When
- Published on October 8, 2026; the article also lists October 17, 2026, as its publication date.
- Where
- Eeswara Vilasom High School in Kottarakara, Kollam, Kerala.
- Why
- The headmistress sought court action after alleging the manager tried to deny her entry for wearing churidar-kameez.
The headmistress
The school manager
Attire
The headmistress
She said she was entitled to wear churidar-kameez and alleged the manager threatened to deny her entry.
The school manager
He denied the allegations.
Work performance
The headmistress
She sought protection to continue her duties as headmistress.
The school manager
He claimed she was derelict in her duty and had received several notices.
The District Educational Officer visited the school and produced a prima facie report for disciplinary action against the manager.
The headmistress allegedly sought police help to enter the school after security personnel stopped her.
The Kerala High Court directed Kottarakara police to ensure the manager did not impede her duties.
- School
- Eeswara Vilasom High School
- Location
- Kottarakara, Kollam, Kerala
- Attire at issue
- Churidar-kameez rather than a sari
- Judge
- Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan
- Police direction
- Station House Officer, Kottarakara, to prevent obstruction of the headmistress’s duties
What people are saying
A citizen’s attire is their choice, and nobody can insist that it conform to society’s customs, especially when there is no law backing it