Chennai

A division bench of the Madras High Court has given one week for the petitioner and Tamil Nadu’s Advocate General to investigate whether any rules exist regarding a dress code for ministers. This request came during a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s choice of casual attire.

The judges, Justices D. Krishnakumar and P.B. Balaji, directed the petitioner, M. Sathya Kumar, and Advocate General P.S. Raman to gather relevant information to present during the next hearing. Sathya Kumar, a lawyer from Selaiyur in Chennai, filed the case because he was concerned about Udhayanidhi wearing T-shirts featuring the DMK’s election symbol, the rising sun, at official events.

In the PIL, Sathya Kumar requested that Udhayanidhi adhere to a Government Order issued on June 1, 2019, which outlines a dress code for government employees. The Advocate General clarified that this order applies only to government staff and does not impose restrictions on ministers, who are also considered public servants. He noted that the 2019 order merely advises against casual attire, rather than prohibiting it entirely.

The Advocate General defended Udhayanidhi’s choice of T-shirts, emphasizing that many global CEOs wear casual clothing at public events. The judges asked the Advocate General to provide a detailed response in a week. In his affidavit, Sathya Kumar expressed disappointment at the Deputy Chief Minister’s casual dress, asserting that it contradicts the DMK’s commitment to Tamil cultural identity and the legacy of previous leaders.