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STORM IN THE TEA CUP
It appears my Editorial in the
last issue of this journal, has gathered storming comments from some of my
professional brothers. At the outset I say that I have highest regard for
Chartered Accountants who are virtually nurtured and flourished on the fields
provided by the STPAM for the last few decades. I cannot forget Chartered
Accountants like N.C. Mehta, C. N. Sanghavi, Shri P. L.Choudhary, M.S. Vyas, and
a host of other seniors who have attained expertise in sales tax. I have drawn
inspiration from them. However the field which has provided a common platform
for all practitioners including Advocates and Chartered Accountants seems to be
corroded by a serious measure of depriving majority of the common players in the
same field. There are brilliant persons in all categories including Sales Tax
Practitioners, Advocates and Chartered Accountants and this Association is proud
for having them within the bond of fraternity under the STPAM. When I said in my
Editorial “majority of the audit reports……….”, I did not mean that they were
signed by my fellow brothers in the field, particularly the professionals bred
by this Association. My main cry was against those who had nothing much to do
with sales tax and yet would sign the Audit Report. I am sorry for those who had
nothing to do with sales tax and who have ventured in the virgin field without
the prerequisites of having capacity to do what they are venturing to do. This
is also what has been stated as a fact by the various petitioners before the
Court on solemn affirmation. The truth is that there are brilliant knowledgeable
Chartered Accountants who have graced the membership of this Association and we
have no grievance against them.
At no time in the past there
was difference of opinion between the Sales Tax Practitioners, Advocates and
Chartered Accountants who have been regularly practising in this field or
profession. The question is why this episode arose? When a representation was
made by the STPAM to allow STP’s and Advocates to undertake Audit, strenuous
attempts were made to deny them the aforesaid right when under the Draft
amendment of Rules, it was proposed that those who have been practising in the
field of the Sales Tax for over seven years would be allowed to undertake Audit.
The Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India intervened in the Writ Petition filed by the STPAM and
though a large number of Chartered Accountants are the Members of the
Association, opposed the Petition. This certainly created a different atmosphere
as a result of reservation of Audit only for Chartered Accountants.
Introspection from Chartered Accountants is necessary especially when
Legislature lately on 15th August, 2007 has already conferred that right also on
Cost Accountants.
Anyway, the matter can be still
looked into de-novo if the Chartered Accountants support the demand of the other
Members of the Association who are not only in the city of Mumbai but spread all
over Maharashtra. Real adverse effect is felt by members or practitioners from
remote places, who are virtually driven out of their profession, thereby loosing
their source of livelihood.
Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra
V.P. Patkar
Editor |
