After facing the heat from various quarters, the Punjab government finally called-off the dress code for the women teachers in government schools and suspended two officers.
Deputy Director of Education Department, Amrish Shukla and Assistant Director, Amarbir Singh were suspended by the Aruna Choudhary, Education Minister for issuing the order for dress code without any proper authorization.
The order issued was controversial and so the language used in it. The order said " jeans, tops, bhadkeela pehrawa (brightly colored clothes) and fashionable dresses worn by women teachers had a bad influence on students".
The order also directed education officials to conduct inspections in government school on regular basis in order to make sure that the women teachers are not breaching the orders issued.
Chaudhary said the letter contained "very denigrating language (about) female teachers" and told that the officers responsible for the act have been suspended.
"Any affront to the dignity of nation-building teaching community will not be tolerated. Such a language in respect of women teaching staff smacks of regressive thinking and such a mindset needs to be condemned," the Minister said.
However, the officers concerned justified the order saying that the reports about women teachers wearing "bhadkeela pehrawa" were received and therefore, the action was taken.