ICAI warns CAs, students against objectionable social media posts

So why is the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) asking CAs and students exercise caution while sharing their thoughts on social media?

The ICAI in its advisory has said that certain posts shared by its members and students are bringing disrepute to the profession as these posts are ‘highly objectionable which have the potential to create social and communal harmony, threaten peace, tranquility and disrupt security of the nation, public order and relations with neighbouring nations’.

It also points to the fact that some of the material posted by the CAs and aspiring CAs have been found to be false and misleading tarnishing the image of the CA community and the Institute.

The advisory also points to the fact that students took to social media on the conduct of CA exams and some even directly wrote to the ministry of corporate affairs.

In a veiled threat, the ICAI reminds the members of Part IV of the first schedule of the Chartered Accountants Acts, 1949 which says that a member, whether in practice or not, will be deemed guilty of misconduct if he/she brings disrepute to the profession or institute as a result of his action whether or not related to his/her profession.

The advisory warns students of cancellation of their registration if found guilty of misconduct.

Insolvencytracker.in talked to a few CAs, who say that the CA community is miffed at the recent arrests of CAs by the GST department as well as by the abolition of GST audit which is a setback for the profession. “This led to some angry social media posts directed at the government, specifically, the finance minister. This was raised by the FM in a recent meeting of the outgoing president of the ICAI. The advisory came immediately after that,” says a chartered accountant.

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