Photo Source: ANI
No Jeans or T-Shirts: Himachal Government Issues Strict Decorum and Social Media Directives
Shashi Bhushan Prohit
SHIMLA / KULLU (Himachal Pradesh), March 18, 2026: The Himachal Pradesh government has issued a fresh set of mandates for its employees, enforcing a strict professional dress code and disciplined social media usage. The directive warns that any violation of these norms will result in formal disciplinary action.
In an official communication dated March 16, the Department of Personnel instructed all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, divisional and deputy commissioners, and officials of boards, corporations, and autonomous bodies to ensure absolute compliance.
Strict Dress Code Protocol
The order reiterates that government servants must wear appropriate, formal, clean, and modest attire in sober colors while attending office or court proceedings. Casual or "party wear" has been strictly prohibited.
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Male Employees: Advised to wear formal shirts and trousers or collared shirts with pants, paired with appropriate footwear.
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Female Employees: Required to wear sarees, formal suits, salwar-kameez, churidars, or kurtas with a dupatta, along with suitable footwear.
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Prohibitions: The government has specifically barred the use of jeans and T-shirts in the workplace, emphasizing that attire must reflect the professionalism and dignity of public service.
The directive noted that despite similar instructions issued in 2017, compliance has remained inconsistent. The new order underscores that proper grooming and personal hygiene are also mandatory.
Social Media Conduct and Discipline
Regarding digital conduct, the government reminded employees of their obligations under the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964. The state emphasized that government servants must maintain integrity and impartial behavior both on and off duty.
The specific restrictions include:
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Policy Comments: Employees are cautioned against making unauthorized comments on government policies or leaking official information via personal social media accounts.
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Public Forums: The order prohibits expressing political or religious views on social media platforms, blogs, or vlogs without prior authorization.
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Confidentiality: No official documents or internal information may be communicated to unauthorized persons.
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Criticism of Government: Citing service rules, the government stated that any public statement leading to the criticism of policies or affecting inter-government relations may invite disciplinary action.
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Personal Views: Employees participating in public discourse must explicitly state that their views are personal and do not represent the government.
Compliance and Enforcement
Departments have been instructed to ensure these directions are strictly followed. The government stated that any breach of conduct will be viewed seriously, with disciplinary measures tailored to the nature of the offense. These instructions are to be widely circulated and formally acknowledged by all concerned officials.