Dwarka: Men under the shadow of moral policing in Sanmati Kunj Apartments

Dwarka: While the policing of what women wear is not uncommon to witness, in a residential society in Dwarka, men have also come under the radar of moral policing. In Sanmati Kunj Apartments, Sector 6, Dwarka, the management put up a circular citing that a man roams around in the society in a sleeveless vest, which is ‘improper’ and makes people around him uncomfortable. It also says that if any such complain is received further, the Managment Committee (MC) will go to authorities concerned. 

Since the circular has made rounds in the WhatsApp groups of the society’s residents, it has sparked discussions over moral policing. Divakar Sharma, a resident of the society says, “This is irrational and not acceptable. While walking or doing any sports activity, one can wear sleeveless and there shouldn’t be any question on that. This is our fundamental right and such notice is raising question on that. The internal group where the notice has been shared is not open for everyone to express their views, only admins can send messages there, which closes gates for democratic discussions.”

According to the residents, most of them are against this notice and are questioning the tone in which it has been written. Ankur Malhotra, a resident says, “This is ironic that such type of circular is being circulated in 21st century. We are not any school or institution, we are a community and we can wear what suits us. This is obvious that a person would wear comfortable clothes while playing. If there is any complaint, then the management should have taken a stand and not sent the notice in this way. How can they use such a language saying sleeveless cloths are indecent?”

On the notice, Manoj Kumar Matta, secretary of the society says, “We sent the circular on the complaint of some member of the society. We are neither against not in favour but we are there to address the complain. If they still wear such cloths and there comes another complaint, we will go the legal way. The person in question should wear which doesn’t make others uncomfortable.”

To understand whether an MC can send such circular or not, CitySpidey talked to Ashish Pal, an advocate. He is of the view that no managing committee has right to send such notice that sleeveless shorts or shirts are not decent. He says that it is a violation of fundamental rights of an individual. “The circular is referring the entire society and that is not valid in any case. It doesn’t even have any legal stand as far as the definition of clothes is concerned.”