Berhampur, Sept. 4: The dress code for students of Khallikote Junior College here has been changed in an attempt to curb indiscipline on the campus.

“There was a common uniform for our junior and degree college. Since most classes are conducted in the degree college building, we had trouble distinguishing the junior college students from their seniors. Often, degree students would sneak into Plus Two classes and vice-versa. So, we decided to change the uniform,” said college principal Bibekananda Panda.

But degree college authorities said they did not know about the implementation of a separate dress code. “I have no knowledge of any allegation of our students intruding into the classes of junior college students,” said Gourang Chandra Mahanty, principal of Khallikote Autonomous College.

“Anyhow, a new dress code is a welcome step. It will help distinguish between students of the two colleges sharing the same campus,” Mahanty said.

Panda said second-year students could, however, continue to wear their old uniforms, as they would complete their Plus Two studies in another six months.

This is the first time that the dress code of the college has been changed after the concept of uniforms was introduced in 2005. Two years ago, students of BJB Junior College had been successful in coaxing the government to change their dress code.

Khallikote Junior College boys will have to wear blue, red and white checked shirts with deep navy blue trousers instead of the current cream shirt and brown pants. For girls, it is half-sleeved blue, red and white-checked kurta teamed with deep navy blue salwar or churidar. A matching dupatta is compulsory.

“We have displayed the samples for the new dress code on the notice board and also mentioned it in the college calendar that was handed to students during admissions,” Panda said.