Dress decorum, attendance rules tightened for Karnataka government staff

DPAR issues strict circular after public complaints, warns employees against indecent dressing and lax office discipline.

The Karnataka government has issued a strong advisory to its employees, urging them to dress appropriately and follow office discipline without deviation. The Department of Personnel Administration and Reforms (DPAR) circulated the directive after receiving multiple complaints from the public and various organisations.

The circular has been addressed to top officials, including heads of departments, deputy commissioners, senior secretariat officers, the Chief Minister’s Office, and CEOs of zilla panchayats, clearly outlining acceptable conduct and workplace norms.

DPAR noted that complaints highlighted instances of staff attending office in unsuitable clothing, which authorities believe reflects poorly on the government’s image. Although there is no fixed dress code for state employees, the department stressed that maintaining basic decorum is compulsory.

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Officials observed that some younger staff members were dressing casually, similar to college students, by wearing torn jeans, sleeveless outfits and excessively tight clothing. The circular stated that such attire is not appropriate for a government workplace and confirmed that the matter is being treated seriously.

The decision has been welcomed by the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association. Its president, C.S. Shadakshari, said employees should ensure their attire does not cause discomfort to others and emphasised that dignity must be upheld in government offices.

In addition to dress norms, the circular reminded employees to strictly follow existing administrative procedures. It pointed out lapses in maintaining the movement register and the cash declaration register.

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Under the rules, employees are required to report to office by 10:10 am and stay at their workstations until the end of official hours. Any movement outside the office for official purposes must be duly entered in the movement register.

Staff members must also record the amount of cash they carry while entering and exiting the office in the cash register. The government has made it clear that failure to comply with these instructions will invite strict action.