A KRISHNAMURTHI Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is a reference under Section 21 of the Chartered accountants Act, 1949, respecting the conduct of a chartered accountant, Mr. A. Krishnamurthi, one of the partners of a firm of chartered accountants, Messrs. Rowe and Pal. It arises out of a complaint filed by the Government of Madras in the following circumstances : Messrs. Rowe and Pal were appointed by the Government as inspectors to investigate the affairs of two companies, viz. , Sandur Tobacco company Ltd. and the Sandur Plantations Ltd. , Sandur, and to report thereon. It is common ground that after entering on their office as Inspectors, one of the partners, namely, the respondent entered into a private arrangement with the directors and managing agents of the companies to bring about a compromise between different groups of creditors and the companies, for which services a separate remuneration was fixed. Admittedly, neither the respondent nor the firm obtained the permission of the Government to undertake this work. It is not suggested that the Government was even informed of this. The Inspectors duly sent up a report. The Government fixed a sum of Rs. 2, 500 as remuneration for their work and made a demand on the companies to pay the same. It was only then it was discovered that a sum of Rs. 1, 500 had been paid already by the companies to Mr. Krishnamurthi and it was alleged by Mr. Krishnamurthi that a sum of Rs. 1, 000, out of this was for his service in connection with the compromise sought to be effected between the creditors and the companies.

(2.) THE government thereupon filed a complaint requesting for an inquiry by the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India into their conduct for having undertaken a private work or behalf of the companies, whose unsatisfactory condition they were asked to investigate, without the knowledge of the Government. THE Government also made a further charge that when the investigation was in progress the Inspectors had entered into some surreptitious agreement with the managing agents of the two companies for the purpose of sending up a favourable report regarding the conduct of the directors and managing agent of the companies. THE Council thereupon, after notice to the respondent, conducted and enquiry into the two charges. On the first charge, they held that the respondent should not have undertaken the private work of truing to effect a compromise between the creditors and the companies without the knowledge of the Government. In their opinion, the conduct of the respondent, to say the least, was indiscreet on his part. THE council found the respondent guilty of misconduct, but they held that it was not of such magnitude as to render him unfit to be a member of the Institute. THE Council further held that the second charge had not been proved and therefore failed. As regards the second charge, the finding of the Council is the only one which could be arrived at one the evidence, and we accept it.