Shimla, March 18: The Himachal Pradesh Government has issued a fresh directive tightening the dress code for all state employees, explicitly barring the use of jeans and T-shirts in the workplace. In an official communication dated March 16, the Department of Personnel instructed all administrative secretaries and department heads to ensure strict compliance with the new rules. The order affirmed that government staff must wear formal and modest attire in sober colors to maintain the decorum and dignity of public service during office and court proceedings.
The state government declared that male employees are advised to wear shirts and trousers, while female staff members are required to wear sarees, formal suits, salwar-kameez, or kurtas with a dupatta. Officials maintained that these instructions follow a trend of employees failing to adhere to previous guidelines issued in 2017. The administration asserted that any deviation from the prescribed dress code could lead to disciplinary action against the concerned staff members.
Beyond the dress code, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government has also introduced stringent regulations regarding the digital conduct of its employees. The order stated that staff are now prohibited from sharing government documents without authorization or posting content that criticises the administration. Joint Secretary Neeraj Kumar affirmed that government employees must maintain decorous conduct both on and off duty, ensuring that no public statement reflects poorly on state policies.
The government maintained that expressing political or religious views in public forums, including blogs and vlogs, is strictly prohibited without prior approval. Invoking the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, the administration cautioned that personal opinions shared on digital platforms must be clearly marked as private. Officials declared that these measures are essential to preserve the image of the state government and prevent any unauthorized promotional activities by public servants.
