Facing flak over its order to girl students to wear only "salwar kameez" along with a "dupatta" on the varsity campus, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) administration Saturday withdrew it.
A senior official told IANS that the move was aimed at ensuring discipline on the campus and hostels but had been taken back "after society raised objections".
The administration had earlier this week posted notices at its girls hostel ordering them to wear only "salwaar kameez", which is "proper, decent-looking and appropriate dress".
The order, signed by the provost of Abdullah Hall for Girls, had also come with a warning that if the hostel inmates were found breaching the rule, they would have to cough up a fine of Rs.500.
The girls were also barred from keeping more than one mobile phone.
The girls, unlike boys, are not entitled to Sunday excursions out of the campus, as it is felt it could "vitiate the moral standards and norms of a decent society", a professor said.
Earlier in June, in another controversial order, AMU's Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. (retd) Zameeruddin Shah had, in an open letter, instructed male students to wear "sherwanis" if they wanted to meet him.
AMU is a public university, funded by the central government and a seat of quality education for millions ever since educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan founded it in 1875.
