The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ( ICAI ) has banned its member holding Certificate of practice (CoP) to list themselves and their services with Online Service Provider Aggregators.
In an announcement by ICAI said that, It has come to the notice of the Institute that members in practice are listing with certain online Application based service provider Aggregators, wherein other businessmen, technicians, maintenance workers, event organizers etc. are also listed.
The ICAI also reminded the relevant provisions regarding the publication of members name for professional gain.
The entries in respect of Chartered Accountants and Chartered Accountant Firms are permitted in the following circumstances:- 1.“Publication of Name or Firm Name by Chartered Accountants in the Telephone or other Directories published by Telephone Authorities or Private Bodies” (Pages 137 – 138 of Code of Ethics, 2009):-
The ICAI clarified that, “the Application based service provider Aggregators are having features which are not covered exclusively in any one of the Guidelines. Further, these Application based service provider Aggregators are also having certain features which are not covered in both of the abovementioned Guidelines. Therefore, it is not permissible for members to list themselves with such Application based service provider Aggregators”.
“Any failure to do so would be deemed as violative of the provisions of Clauses (6) and (7) of Part-I of First Schedule to The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, resulting in professional misconduct, whether or not the professional services mentioned by them are actually provided through such Aggregators. The disciplinary proceedings would be initiated accordingly”, the ICAI also added.
Subscribe Taxscan Premium to view the Judgment
