Overview

• A young man was denied entry to a regional passport office in India for wearing shorts and slippers, prompting a public discussion on appropriate attire in official settings.
• The security guard argued that shorts were inappropriate and could make women and elderly visitors uncomfortable, citing a lack of respect for office decorum among younger generations.
• The man’s father intervened, requesting a one-time exception from the passport officer, which was granted after explaining their long journey to the office.
• The incident, shared online by Vineeth K, a witness and startup founder, has led to divided opinions on social media about whether dress codes should be enforced or explicitly defined for government services.
• Critics of the denial emphasized the need for clear, published guidelines, while others supported the guard's stance, pointing to broader cultural expectations of formal attire in public offices.