Eyewear brand Lenskart has found itself at the centre of a social media debate after users alleged inconsistency in its workplace grooming guidelines, claiming that store employees were permitted to wear hijabs but not bindis or kalawa (sacred Hindu wrist threads).

The controversy began after internal policy excerpts were shared online, sparking criticism and accusations of unequal treatment of religious symbols. The discussion quickly gained traction on X, with users questioning the company’s stance on religious expression.

 

Several posts on X amplified the controversy, with users directly tagging Lenskart leadership for clarification.

One post read, “So I confirmed, this is genuine. This is what @peyushbansal tells his employees, hijab is okay, but bindi/tilak/Kalawa is not…”

The user also shared screenshots, referring to the document as part of Lenskart’s internal style guide and pointing specifically to a section outlining dress code rules for store employees.

Lenskart CEO Peyush Bansal responds

Responding to the growing criticism, Lenskart co-founder and CEO Peyush Bansal clarified that the document in circulation was not an HR policy, but an outdated internal training document.

He acknowledged that an incorrect reference related to bindi/tilak had been included in error and should not have existed in the first place.

“The document currently circulating is an outdated internal training document. It is not an HR policy.”

He added that the company identified and removed the outdated content on February 17, well before the issue became public.

“When we discovered this on February 17, well before this became a public conversation, we immediately removed it.”

Bansal also accepted responsibility for the lapse, stating that the error should have been caught earlier at the leadership level.

“But I should have caught this earlier. As Founder and CEO, the responsibility for such lapses is mine.”

He further said the company has tightened internal review processes and is investigating how outdated material was included in training documentation.

Reiterating Lenskart’s position, Bansal strongly denied any restriction on religious identity or expression in the workplace.

“Let me be absolutely clear. Lenskart does not and will never restrict any form of respectful religious expression. This includes bindi, tilak, or any such symbols of faith. Our team members have always been, and will always be, free to express their beliefs with pride.”

He also thanked users for raising concerns, saying feedback helps improve internal systems and policies.

The discussion comes amid wider online conversations around workplace sensitivity and corporate conduct in India, where social media scrutiny of HR and grooming policies has increased significantly in recent years.

Separately, there have also been reports and allegations circulating regarding workplace misconduct investigations in other companies, including claims related to a TCS BPO facility in Nashik.