Tuesday, August 30 2005 13:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A group of women lawyers in the capital yesterday (August 29, 2005) came to the defence of Nalini Chidambaram, wife of Finance Minister, saying the approach of those attacking her appearance in a case for the Income Tax department was "disturbing and regressive" in this era of women empowerment.

"We are deeply anguished about the unnecessary controversy regarding Nalini Chidambaram appearance for the Income Tax department in the Chennai High Court.

"Mrs. Chidamabaram is one of the very few women senior counsels in the male-dominated legal profession in India. She is a highly reputed lawyer pursuing her independent professional career in Chennai with substantial experience in tax laws," the women lawyers said in a statement.

They said the approach of those raising this issue was disturbing and regressive in this era of women empowerment and where women professionals were being encouraged to pursue independent careers and achieve greater success.

The lawyers said just because Mrs Chidambaram, who is a professional is also the wife of a political leader, does not mean she cannot pursue her own independent career or that she has to take the consent of her husband before accepting professional matters.

She has already explained the circumstances in which she allowed herself to be persuaded to appear for the tax department.

"It is surprising that this controversy is being raised when she has appeared to protect the interest of the tax department rather than act against it. We sincerely hope that this unnecessary controversy comes to an end at the earliest," they said.

The statement was signed Pallavi Shroff, Ritu Bhalla, Meenakshi Arora, Anuradha Dutt, Lakshmi Menon, Indu Malhotra and Fereshte Sethna.