Accountants’ body suggests proper way to cover up

MUMBAI: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has recommended a dress code for its members that shall be applicable when they attend statutory proceedings or official meetings.

The code favours the national sartorial conventions: long, buttoned-up coat on dhoti or churidar pyjama, and sarees. But it also accommodates the standard full-sleeves shirt, trousers, and shoes for men, and salwar kameez, or shirt and trousers for women.

Members would be encouraged to wear a suit or blazer with tie, preferably with the ICAI emblem.

Some CAs say there was no need for a dress code because they follow conventional corporate practice and turn out in trousers and shirt or in salwar kameez. “On Saturdays, we dress casually because we do not have any meetings,” a CA from Marine Drive said. “If the institute intends to introduce dhoti, I would take at least a month to learn how to wear it.” The CA said he, like most of his colleagues, attends quasi-judicial meetings in a suit or a Jodhpuri.

Other members of the institute believe they can breathe easily for now as nothing binding has emerged. “It is only a recommendatory note and the code is still under formulation, more like bitter medicine,” said Kamlesh Vikamsey, past president of the institute. “Subject to climatic conditions, wearing of suit or blazer has been recommended.”

That weather was indeed CAs’ primary concern did not strike Vikamsey as a significant worry. “If lawyers can wear their black coats in scorching heat, there should be no issues with the CAs,” he said. “Especially, when they are appearing before a judicial forum or attending meetings.” The institute is of the opinion that chartered accountants are recognised professionals and their brand value ought to be developed. “We are working on a logo that CAs can use on their cars, visiting cards,” said an ICAI official from New Delhi.

“We had obtained suggestions from CAs whether there should be a dress code,” the official said. “Also, people in the South are used to going to their workplaces in dhotis, so a similar dress code should not be difficult for all CAs to implement.”

As for sarees, a CA who has recently become a member of the ICAI said, “The code could have been accepted provided we had comfortable means of commuting in the city.” She thought salwar kameez a more practical option. “Wearing a saree to work is not feasible,” she said.