Local authorities in the north Indian city of Chandigarh have ruled that bars and discotheques with “scantily dressed” women, an "indecent" or "seditious" character could be closed. The move soon came under heavy criticism on social media.
The new policy titled “Controlling of Places of Public Amusement” was issued by the Chandigarh administration and came into effect on Apr. 1. It rules that authorities can refuse permissions to bars with “exhibition or advertisement of scantily-dressed women” and “indecency”, or those that are “seditious and likely to excite political discontent”. The criteria for what is considered to be “scantily dressed” has not been specified.
The new rules were formed after a series of violent incidents in the city's discos and involved a greater degree of bureaucratic control over its nightlife.
There have been similar attempts to impose dress codes for women in bars, colleges and airlines in other parts of India. In 2014, a minister spoke of banning women in bikinis and short skirts from Goa’s beaches and clubs. In June 2015, a Kolkata college banned short skirts but later revoked it due to criticism. Last November, a female passenger was stopped from boarding a flight in India because of the "inappropriate" length of her dress.
On Twitter, the news led to jokes and angry comments.
Wait. #shortskirts are seditious?! Did they mean to say scandalous? I bet they were drunk when they passed it! Oh #Punjab, you! #Chandigarh— Raksha Kumar (@Raksha_Kumar) April 20, 2016
Zeenat Aman: "Where are you going?"
Dharmendra: "Getting the hell out of Chandigarh" pic.twitter.com/2ZUhdoSnsK— Akshar (@AksharPathak) April 20, 2016
Chandigarh, where short skirts are indecent and dance clubs are seditious. #Whatever https://t.co/CsMg9jaoXS— Mitali Saran (@mitalisaran) April 20, 2016
Sachin is also short. Ban him also in Chandigarh.— Buntykranth (@podidosai) April 20, 2016
Chandigarh should ban men. https://t.co/ry9lZWtHhQ— PJ (@stereowrite) April 20, 2016
Wait. #shortskirts are seditious?! Did they mean to say scandalous? I bet they were drunk when they passed it! Oh #Punjab, you! #Chandigarh— Raksha Kumar (@Raksha_Kumar) April 20, 2016
The perfect clubbing attire for women in Chandigarh. pic.twitter.com/J4lMczoCpM— Sahil Shah (@SahilBulla) April 20, 2016