Monday, August 22, 2016

Any dishonest act of CA isn’t a professional misconduct if it is done in Individual capacity

Chartered Accountant Act, 1949: Where a CA sold his shares but continued to receive dividends declared by the Company by cheating upon transferee, such activity could not be said done in relation to practice as CA as such act of dishonesty was done in individual capacity. Thus, disciplinary committee’s proposal to remove CA’s name from registers of members of ICAI for 6 months was to be set aside.

Facts:

1) A Chartered Accountant sold his shares in November 1999 however, share transfer deed for transfer of shares was lodged on November 04, 2004. In the meantime, CA continued to receive dividend declared by company for 5 years.

2) The transferee made complaint about this conduct of CA before the Disciplinary Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. The Disciplinary Committee found that the conduct of CA was wholly unworthy and amounted to professional misconduct.

On appeal the High Court held as under:

a) In the instant case the respondent was acting as an individual in his dealings with the complainant which were purely commercial. While selling the shares held by him the respondent was not acting as a Chartered Accountant. He was not discharging any function in relation to his practice as a Chartered Accountant.