In a circular issued to schools across Mizoram yesterday, higher Technical Education Secretary Esther Lalruatkimi said short skirts and low-waist pants in schools were banned.
Any offender was liable to be slapped a fine of Rs 300 for first offence, which might increase to Rs 500 for second offence and expulsion from school for third offence, the circular said.
The prohibition applied to all schools, from primary to higher secondary, government and private in Mizoram.
The move came after Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the state's apex students body, raised concern over the short skirts and low-waist trousers and formerly asked the government to impose decent dress code for school-going teenaged students.
The government order stated that the skirts should reach up to the umbilicus and cover the knees.
Besides the dresses, the girls are not allowed to colour their hairs or cut them too short, while the boys are also not allowed to don spiky hairs or use too much hair gel.
''Skin-showing dresses made fashionable by rock stars find their way to Mizoram almost instantly. Even school students catch on to atrocious styles, going to the extent of tweaking their uniforms,'' MZP President VL Krosshnehzova said here today.
''We are very happy that the government has imposed decent dress code for students,'' he added.