While we must be done with listening to stories of body shaming and moral policing, such incidences haven’t ceased to exist yet. Months ago, a man took to Reddit and shared how he was shamed by SBI employees for wearing shorts to the bank.
Now, a techie from Bengaluru took to Twitter and shared how he was allegedly harassed for wearing shorts to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) at Jnanabharathi.
According to a report by Times Now, the man identified as Nitish Rao, a resident of Nagarbhavi, went to the RTO to enquire about his driving license when he was turned down because he was wearing shorts.
Taking to Twitter, Rao shared that an employee of the RTO declined to look into his case.
I was harassed by a RTO official because I went to the RTO office in shorts. The guy said he wouldn’t see my case because I was wearing shorts. Can’t seem to understand this crass behavior @OfficeOfNG @Karnataka_DIPR @CMofKarnataka @Govt_Karnataka
— Farrago'us Meti-quirk-e (@dankchikidang) January 18, 2022
He further told the Times Of India, “There was some issue with Aadhaar-based authentication and I was not able to get learners license (LL) online. I went to the RTO office at Jnanabharathi to check the process to get it. But the moment they saw me in shorts, RTO officials were clearly irritated and started arguing with me. There was some exchange of words and they insisted they will not share any details just because I was wearing shorts.”
However, on listening to his complain, Transport Commissioner N Shivakumar said that even though there is no dress code, people are expected to come in ‘proper attire’ to government offices.
“There are no written rules, but we will not entertain those who are not in proper covered clothes,” he said.
Responding to Shivakumar’s statement, the complainant Rao said, “When there is no dress code for driving licence applicants at RTO, how can they deny a service to me? In fact, I didn’t see any helpdesk to get information to avail RTO services.”
This is how people reacted to his ordeal:
This is what happens when people have some power, they like to flaunt. From security guard outside a shop to bosses in pvt firms to sarkari babus like this people like to flaunt it. https://t.co/fP4ub8jEct
— Abhijeet M (@Abhijeetrm) January 19, 2022
Oh wow. https://t.co/EN3fQhe2nz
— Sukrutha (@ToReachSukku) January 18, 2022
Many also penned similar experiences they had.
The inspector who was supposed to take my DL test failed me at first because I came dressed in shorts. Couldn’t exactly argue, so I remember driving early in the morning to find somewhere I could buy trackpants.
This was at the KR Puram RTO in 2020.— Rithwik/ (@thel3l) January 19, 2022
It’s some archaic rule they follow. Husband also got ticked off by the lady at the entrance “illi ella Knicker hakondu barakagalla”. He tried explaining to her that he even goes to office like that. She wasn’t impressed at all. 😂😂
— Loveleen Arun (@LoveleenArun) January 18, 2022
I remember “travel docs processing dept ” of one of the companies that I worked for didn’t accept visa document from my colleague because he came to office in chappal to submit document ..😀 It happens..😁
— Ananth Kumar (@anantkkumar) January 18, 2022
My brother’s DL test was cancelled because while talking to rto he 2as wearing sunglasses
— Nikhil Kulkarni (@nikhilkulkwadhe) January 18, 2022
When i went for DL test drive I was wearing photochromatic glasses 2 decades back.. since I have power… I was asked to drive without spectacles… Thankfully I managed.. not surprising… We live in fools world!
— 🎆🧨🪔🚩ದಮಯಂತಿ🚩🪔🧨🎆 (@Purvabhaadra) January 19, 2022
During passport police verification, constables at Yeshvantpur Police station did not allow me inside because I was wearing shorts. https://t.co/8WXU3pz4wC
— Ashwin Deshpande (@trollpwnde) January 18, 2022
Same thing happened to me in 2016 😭
I was in shorts too
🥺 https://t.co/RsR06K7oIk— Suhas Ravindra (@SuhasRavindra1) January 18, 2022
I remember when I went for DL ABT 2 decades back.. i was told not to wear jeans for practical exam .. i went in salwar kameez with dupatta over my head.. 😅😅
Karya vaasi katte kaalu hidi anta gaade… 🙊 Nothing has changed in 2 decades https://t.co/H9fQie4ouh— 🎆🧨🪔🚩ದಮಯಂತಿ🚩🪔🧨🎆 (@Purvabhaadra) January 18, 2022
Some were also in agreement with the employee at the RTO:
Respected sir, we are in India. Yes dressing is our personal choice but please dress up in an appropriate way when you visit government offices. They might be civil servants but even they need some respect. Dressing in a proper way sends a signal of respect. Thank you.
— Suhas Chitrashekar (@suhascshekar) January 18, 2022
Common sense bro….. It's a office, not a kids park https://t.co/StkuEblSmI
— Prameela (@Prameela_rp) January 19, 2022
Have you proof? Without proof how can blame govt officers? Don't underestimate our Indian officer mind it foreign return guy… https://t.co/hfqnR1B2KT
— . (@ganuhgd) January 19, 2022
This is interesting. Think there is conflict of generations involved here. Would you go to office in shorts ? Would you meet your customers in shorts. It’s an office and certain decorum is expected. Whether it’s actually needed or not is secondary question https://t.co/nY6RbeFXYx
— Manoj 🇮🇳 (@pattaazhy) January 19, 2022
Glad RTO officials put this guy in his place. RTO is not a picnic or part place.
Will you go to an office meeting in shorts ? https://t.co/OJTyiO5NXy— Avinash (@avinash_b01) January 19, 2022
People seem to be divided in this matter. What are your views on it? Share with us.