Tiruchy: Amid continuing protests on campus, Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU) Vice-Chancellor V Nagaraj has issued a clarification on his remarks about students’ attire, stating that his comments were made with safety concerns in mind and not as an attempt to enforce any dress restrictions.

In a statement released on Sunday, Nagaraj said he would readily apologise if his words had caused distress among students, faculty, or staff.

He explained that the April 15 interaction with student representatives was primarily focused on routine administrative matters, including hostel access, campus facilities, student elections, and financial issues.

However, the meeting could not be completed due to time constraints.

According to Nagaraj, the discussion on attire came up informally after the official agenda, when he asked students how the institution’s overall reputation could be strengthened within the network of National Law Universities.

It was in this context, he said, that he spoke about dressing habits, emphasising that he was not proposing a dress code but encouraging students to be mindful of their surroundings.

He pointed out that the campus sees frequent movement of construction workers, vendors, and visitors from varied backgrounds, which, he said, requires a certain level of awareness from students.

The Vice-Chancellor added that his observations were partly shaped by anonymous complaints received by the university’s Internal Committee, including reports of alleged harassment where perceptions around clothing were mentioned.

He maintained that he intended to promote caution and awareness, while reiterating the university’s responsibility to ensure a safe environment and take complaints seriously.

Nagaraj also criticised the circulation of what he described as “unauthorised minutes” of the meeting, stating that no official record had yet been approved.

Appealing for normalcy, he urged students to withdraw their protests, return to classes, and focus on upcoming examinations.

The controversy had triggered unrest on campus earlier this week, with over 100 students staging demonstrations on April 16 and 17 along the Tiruchy-Dindigul National Highway, objecting to the Vice-Chancellor’s reported remarks on women’s clothing.