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Chennai’s First Woman Dafadar For First Woman Mayor Says She Was Transferred From Her Post For Disobeying Orders To Not Wear Lipstick, Mayor Denies Claim

The Commune
Chennai's First Woman Dafadar For First Woman Mayor Says She Was Transferred From Her Post For Disobeying Orders To Not Wear Lipstick, Mayor Denies Claim 
Image Source: TOI

S.B. Madhavi, the first woman dafadar of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), has sparked controversy after alleging that her transfer to the Manali zone was due to her decision to wear lipstick, which she claims violated an informal directive from her superiors. Madhavi, who previously held a ceremonial role accompanying Chennai Mayor R. Priya, expressed outrage over the transfer, citing it as an infringement on her personal rights.

The 50-year-old dafadar received a memo on 6 August 2024 accusing her of “dereliction of duty, not coming to work during working hours, and disobeying orders from her superiors.” Madhavi responded by demanding proof of these accusations, particularly challenging the claim that she had not been punctual or had failed to follow instructions. She clarified that she was late by only 30 minutes on the day in question due to a leg injury and denied disobeying any order, except the one related to wearing lipstick.

According to Madhavi, the issue began when Mayor Priya’s personal assistant, Siva Sankar, instructed her not to wear lipstick, claiming that it was inappropriate given the high-profile visitors to the mayor’s office, including ministers and embassy officials. Madhavi, however, defied the directive, stating, “If this is a crime, show me the government order (GO) which prohibits me from wearing lipstick.” Shortly after her refusal, she was transferred from the mayor’s office to the Manali zone, with her previous post remaining vacant.

The controversy escalated further when it was revealed that Madhavi had participated in a fashion show during Women’s Day celebrations at the Ripon Buildings, the headquarters of the GCC. Mayor Priya acknowledged that Madhavi’s performance and appearance in the show had drawn criticism, particularly her choice to wear a matt shade of lipstick. Priya said that her office conveyed this feedback to Madhavi but denied that her transfer was related to the lipstick issue. “The transfer has nothing to do with the lipstick, but the criticism of her performance in the fashion show was shared with her,” Priya told Times of India.

Madhavi also alleged that the mayor’s assistants regularly asked her to “tone down” her lipstick and refrain from wearing bright saris, further claiming that she was prohibited from speaking with officials from other departments within the GCC headquarters. “These restrictions are a violation of human rights,” Madhavi said in her response to the memo. She questioned the lack of any formal government order banning lipstick or her interaction with other departments.

Despite Madhavi’s claims, Mayor Priya and her office have maintained that the transfer was not directly linked to the lipstick incident. However, the decision to move Madhavi to the Manali zone, which is farther from her residence, has raised concerns. Madhavi pointed out that she could have been posted to zones closer to her home, such as Anna Nagar, Ambattur, or Valasaravakkam, suggesting that her reassignment was punitive in nature.

Siva Sankar, the mayor’s personal assistant who issued the memo, declined to comment on the allegations. Meanwhile, the controversy has ignited a broader debate about workplace dress codes and the extent to which employers can dictate employees’ personal choices, such as their attire and appearance.

(With inputs from Times of India)

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