CHENNAI: SB Madhavi, the Greater Chennai Corporation’s first woman duffedar (marshal), has been transferred from her position in the mayor’s office after allegedly defying an order not to wear lipstick during an official event last month.
Madhavi, 50, reportedly received her transfer order shortly after questioning Mayor R Priya’s personal assistant, Siva Sankar, about the prohibition on wearing lipstick. In her response to an August 6 memo, Madhavi stated, “You asked me not to wear lipstick, but I did. If this is a crime, show me the government order prohibiting it.” She further argued that the memo, which cited charges like “dereliction of duty” and “disobeying orders,” violated her rights, emphasizing that such instructions were unwarranted in a professional environment.
Since her transfer to the Manali zone, the duffedar position remains vacant. Mayor Priya, a DMK member, explained that Madhavi’s participation in a fashion show during Women’s Day celebrations had drawn criticism. She noted, “This was conveyed to her. The duffedar wore striking matte lipsticks, which was inappropriate for our office, as we frequently host ministers and embassy officials.”
However, the mayor insisted that Madhavi’s transfer was not solely related to the lipstick issue. Madhavi, a single parent, described her new posting in Manali as a “punishment,” noting that other zones like Anna Nagar and Ambattur would have been more convenient for her.
