The Karnataka government warns employees to dress “decently” at work or face disciplinary action. The policy was instituted through a formal circular following complaints about inappropriate workplace attire in government offices.
The directive was issued on December 18, 2025 (Thursday), by the Department of Personnel Administration and Reforms (DPAR), and was sent to heads of departments, deputy commissioners, senior secretaries, the Chief Minister’s Office and district-level officials. It outlines a set of dos and don’ts for state employees when it comes to their attire and other workplace actions.
As per the circular, DPAR received complaints from members of the public and organisations that claimed that the government employees were not dressing in a “decent” manner. The complaints apparently claimed that this way of dressing undermined the image of the state’s administration.
“Though the employees are told to wear decent outfits, many are not following the instructions. We have taken it seriously,” assured the Karnataka state government.
As per the officials, though the government offices do not have a formal dress code like corporate workplaces, certain forms of attire are still deemed unacceptable. “Some youngsters dress like college-goers, which is not acceptable. They wear torn jeans, sleeveless dresses and outfits that are too tight,” they explained.
Employee representatives, like C.S. Shadakshari, President of the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association, have welcomed the policy.“One’s dress should not embarrass others. Decency should be maintained in government offices,” said Shadakshari, highlighting why such a policy is necessary in his opinion.
The circular also addressed the lapses in adherence to existing attendance and accountability rules. The government has already introduced a movement register and a cash declaration register to combat these issues, but compliance with the same remains dicey.
The movement register tracks employees’ attendance and movement during office hours. As per the policy in place, Karnataka state government employees are expected to report to work by 10:10 AM and are expected to remain at their desks until the end of the working day. The circular mandate that any official movement outside the office during working hours must be recorded in the register, the circular said.
Similarly, the cash declaration register mandated that the employees declare the amount of cash they are carrying when they enter and leave the office. This was instituted to improve the transparency and accountability within the state government office.
