An advocate from Chennai, M Sathya Kumar, has moved the Madras High Court, raising concerns over Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s attire at official events, which he claims violates the formal dress code outlined by a 2019 government order. The petition, filed on Saturday, seeks a directive for Udhayanidhi to adhere to the stipulated dress code when attending government functions.
According to the petition, Udhayanidhi’s informal clothing choices, such as wearing T-shirts, jeans, and casual footwear at public events, contradict the government's mandated formal dress code. The advocate also raised concerns about the display of DMK party symbols during official functions, arguing that this violates constitutional provisions and the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Kumar contended that mixing political symbols with government duties is both unconstitutional and illegal.
Kumar also pointed out that former DMK leaders like C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi had maintained a balance between modernity and tradition by wearing western-style shirts paired with traditional veshtis (dhotis). This attire, he said, represented Tamil pride and a modern, progressive approach.
Furthermore, the petition argues that Udhayanidhi, as a public servant, should not display political party symbols while performing his official duties, as it could be seen as indirect campaigning for votes, which is against the law. The petition is yet to be taken up for hearing by the court.