25 July 2009

PDICAI Daily News Roundup Thursday, July 23, 2009



  Posted to the desk of CA. DUDHARA RAJESH BANSILAL Thursday, July 23, 2009
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Professional News

INCOME TAX
Higher refunds dent Q1 direct taxes growth
Delhi : A big jump in refund payout of Rs 17,600 crore has dented the Centre's net direct tax collections growth rate for the first quarter this fiscal.In April-June 2009, the net direct tax collections stood at Rs 59,465 crore, up 3.65 per cent over the Rs 57,373 crore collected in the same quarter last fiscal.
SERVICE TAX
Service tax not for individual lawyers
Uttar Pradesh : Allaying apprehensions on the levying of service tax on lawyers as has been proposed in the General Budget-2009-2010, the office of chief commissioner, customs, central excise and service tax in its release has clarified that the proposed service tax will be charged only on the `business entity` providing any service, advice, consultancy or assistance in any branch of law to an other `business entity`.
VALUE ADDED TAX
Maharashtra Govt firm on not waiving VAT on CNG
Maharashtra : The Maharashtra Government is in no mood to accede to the demand of the taxi and auto-rickshaw unions to waive the 14 per cent value-added tax (VAT) on compressed natural gas (CNG).
SEBI
IPO scam accused ordered to pay Rs 6 cr
Maharashtra : The Securities and Exchange Board of India has directed Mr Dushyant Natwarlal Dalal and his wife Ms Puloma Natwarlal Dalal to pay Rs 6 crore by way of disgorgement for their involvement in the IPO scam.
Sebi amends equity-listing agreement
Maharashtra : Market regulator Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has notified the amendment to the equity-listing agreement, prohibiting listed companies from issuing shares with superior rights with regards to voting or dividends for shares that are already listed.
MTN meeting India regulator on Bharti deal-report
Maharashtra : Officials from MTN (MTNJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research) are meeting India`s capital market watchdog and stock exchanges to understand regulatory issues on a proposed deal between the South African firm and Bharti Airtel (BRTI.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), the Economic Times reported on Thursday.
RBI
Soon, shop for money with debit card
Maharashtra : The Reserve Bank on Wednesday allowed cash withdrawals using swipe machines at retail shops. The facility will initially be available to the 14.3-crore people holding debit cards issued in India. You will be able to withdraw up to Rs 1,000 in a day.
Online biz may dip on new RBI verification rule
Delhi : THE new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, which becomes effective from August 1, to provide a third factor identification for all online transactions may trigger a decline of 25-30% decline in daily business.
IRDA
Insurance regulator caps charges on Ulips
Maharashtra : Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (Irda) on Wednesday announced a cap on overall charges that life insurance companies can levy on subscribers of their unit linked insurance policies (Ulips).For those products which have maturity of 10 years, insurance companies have to maintain the difference between gross yields and net yields at 300 basis points.
FDI Policy
India slips in FDI ranking
 India has dropped to third place in global foreign direct investments (FDI) this year following the economic meltdown, but will continue to remain among the top five attractive destinations for international investors during the next two years, says Unctad (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) in a new report on world investment prospects.Last year, India was ranked second in global FDI flows after China.
Misc. Corporate Laws & Other Commercial Policies
Planning Commission sets out guidelines for infra JVs
Delhi : The Planning Commission has worked out broad guidelines for establishing joint venture companies between public sector undertakings (PSUs) and the private sector in infrastructure that strengthen PSU interests and aim to clarify areas of uncertainty that have dogged several partnerships so far.The draft guidelines are being prepared to provide PSUs with clear directions that they lacked so far when they sign joint venture agreements with private companies for large infrastructure projects and will be put up for Cabinet clearance soon.
Antony raises objections against FTA with Asean
Delhi : Defence minister A K Antony has expressed reservations against the free trade agreement (FTA) with Asean, which comes up for clearance at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.Mr Antony, whose views matter, has conveyed to the leadership that signing of FTA should be postponed in the light of the changed global economic environment .
DoT may dial tower firms for licence fee
Delhi : The department of telecommunications (DoT) is considering including telecom infrastructure providers such as phone tower firms under a new uniform licence fee regime, according to three senior officials of the department.
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS(AS)
Accounting for carbon credits
Delhi : A number of Indian companies generate carbon credit under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The amount involved is material enough to the overall viability of a project.Under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) had issued an interpretation IFRIC 3 (Emission Rights), which was withdrawn in June 2005.
Finance & Money Markets
Ulips may fetch 150 bps more on new fee cap
Andhra Pradesh : Retail investors in unit-linked insurance plans (Ulips), arguably one of the hottest investment products, could see a 150-basis-point rise in returns.The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has put a cap on charges that insurance companies, which sell Ulips, collect from investors.
MFs give arbitrage funds a break, stop fresh inflows
Maharashtra : At a time when domestic mutual funds continue to aggressively scramble for more money to boost their asset base, they have made an exception for one category — arbitrage funds. Several top arbitrage schemes of mutual funds have stopped accepting fresh money from investors.
Consumers pay price of futures trading ban  
Delhi : The aggregate production shortage of pulses, year on year, is just 0.1 million tonne (mt): in 2007-09, India produced 14.76 mt, which has slipped to 14.66 mt this year. But that small fluctuation is enough to send retail prices of pulses soaring by at least 18% for chana in just three months.
Hedge funds make a comeback
Delhi : Hedge funds had net inflows of $6.2 billion and returned an average 0.2% in June, rounding off a record three-month rally, Eurekahedge Pte said. The advance by the Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index, tracking more than 2,000 funds, follows 3.2% and 5% gains in April and May, respectively, and brings its 2009 advance to 9.5%, according to a report by the Singapore-based research firm.
HDFC to raise Rs 4,000 cr thru debentures
Maharashtra : Housing finance company HDFC Ltd on Wednesday said it would raise up to Rs 4,000 crore through issue of warrants and secured redeemable non-convertible debentures to qualified institutional buyers.
Budget 2009
House adopts Finance Bill
Kerala : The Assembly adopted the Finance Bill 2009 on Wednesday exempting cement or concrete frames for doors and windows and paper bags, including paper covers, from value added tax (VAT). The tax on sweets and bakery items sold under unregistered brand names, tread rubber and red oxide stands reduced from 12.5 per cent to four per cent.

Economy

 India
At $14b, India gets generous with IMF
MSMEs to get 6% of net bank credit
Asia's pension funds key to long-term growth, says ADB
Full recovery of IT sector not before next fiscal Q2
Maran invites Japanese textile cos to India
FIIs, NRIs can invest in Indian Depository Receipts
Chennai, Kolkata air passengers also to pay development fee
 
 International
World trade to shrink 10 pct, Asia leads recovery: WTO
 

Markets Today

NSE

4,523.75

2.84%

BSE

15,247.91

2.73%

NASDAQ

1,926.38

0.00%

     
USD

48.42

 
EURO

68.89

 
JPY(100)

51.27

 
GBP

80.02

 
 

Corporate Watch

Wipro net rises, guidance flat
Delhi : The country's third-largest software firm, Wipro, beat its own guidance and outperformed market forecasts to post a 12% rise in net profit at Rs 1,016 crore for the quarter ended June 30, compared with the same quarter last fiscal. This is in line with its two bigger rivals, TCS and Infosys, whose quarterly numbers also surpassed market expectations. The company's revenue stood at Rs 6,274 crore, up 5% year-on-year, but down 2.7% sequentially, according to Indian GAAP. However, net profit was marginally up sequentially at 0.6%.
RCom signs Rs 10,000-cr deal with Etisalat to share facilities
Maharashtra : Telecom operator Etisalat DB, formerly known as Swan Telecom, has decided to outsource its telecom infrastructure requirements to the Anil Ambani Group company Reliance Communications as part of a Rs 10,000-crore deal spread over the next 10 years.According to the agreement announced on Wednesday, Etisalat DB would outsource its telecom infrastructure requirements for the 15 telecom circles for which it has received licences to set up mobile services. While Reliance Communications will provide transmission infrastructure, Reliance Infratel Ltd, another ADAG group company, will provide the tower facility."This significant development is part of our overall commitment to provide consumers with quality service and reach at the time of launch.
India Cements' Rajasthan plans to be thru Indo Zinc
Tamil Nadu : India Cements plans to route its proposed investments in Rajasthan through Indo Zinc Ltd, a company in which it recently acquired a 53 per cent stake.It had announced a 1.5-million tonnes (mt) cement plant with a 20 MW captive power plant in Rajasthan. This will now be set up by its subsidiary Indo Zinc, which owns limestone mining leases.Mr N. Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, India Cements Ltd, told reporters that the company would invest Rs 300 crore as equity and subordinated debt in Indo Zinc and guarantee the balance Rs 300 crore debt to be raised by Indo Zinc for the project.
BSNL's mega GSM contract stuck on pricing
Delhi : Apart from legal issues, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd's mega GSM contract for 93 million connections is now stuck on pricing issues. BSNL's internal vigilance officials have raised concerns that the bid amounts quoted by the two successful companies – Ericsson and Huawei – may be on the higher side.While the two bidders have quoted above Rs 7,000 per line for 3G equipment, sources said the amount quoted for 2G gear is around Rs 3,000. This is only for supplying the radio equipment and does not include IT, software, billing solution or passive infrastructure.
Sun Pharma arm faces class action suit in US
Maharashtra : Caraco Pharmaceuticals, the US arm of Sun Pharma, has been slapped with a class action suit in the United States for allegedly not disclosing adequate information about US regulatory action that hurt its shares, rendering India's most valuable drugmaker vulnerable to the prospect of hefty payouts as damages.US-based law firm Izard LLP filed the case on behalf of some of Caraco's shareholders in a Michigan court on July 17. The law firm has also asked other shareholders, who bought Caraco shares between May 2008 and June 2009, to join the litigation.
 

Tenders & Assignment

Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited
Description :Appointment of Internal Auditors for the year 2009-10.

Last Date : 29/07/2009
 
Address :(A Government of Karnataka Undertaking)
Regd. Office: 4th Floor, Coffee Board Building, No.1, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Banglore-560001.

Phone :080-22283074-78

E-Mail :knnl@knnlindia.com
 

Reminders

 Tenders
Axom Sarba Siksha Abhijan Mission 27/07/2009
 
Notifications & Circulars
INCOME TAX
NOTIFICATION NO. 48/2009 /S.O. 1492(E) (Delhi) 16/06/2009
SECTION 138(1)(A)(II) OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 - DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION RESPECTING ASSESSEES TO SPECIFIED OFFICER, AUTHORITY OR BODY PERFORMING FUNCTIONS UNDER ANY OTHER LAW - NOTIFIED AUTHORITY
CUSTOMS
Notification No. 92 / 2009-Customs (N.T.) (Delhi) 20/07/2009
Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority
Notification No. 93 / 2009-Customs (N.T.) (Delhi) 20/07/2009
Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority
Notification No. 94 / 2009-Customs (N.T.) (Delhi) 20/07/2009
Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority
Notification No. 95 / 2009-Customs (N.T.) (Delhi) 20/07/2009
Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority
Notification No. 96 / 2009-Customs (N.T.) (Delhi) 20/07/2009
Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority
Notification No. 97 / 2009-Customs (N.T.) (Delhi) 20/07/2009
Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority
Notification No. 98 / 2009-Customs (N.T.) (Delhi) 20/07/2009
Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority
Notification No. 99 / 2009-Customs (N.T.) (Delhi) 20/07/2009
Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority
Notification No. 100 / 2009-Customs (N.T.) (Delhi) 20/07/2009
Amends Notification No. 113/2005-Customs(N.T.), dated 28th December, 2005
Notification No.75 / 2009-Customs (Delhi) 30/06/2009
Regarding imposition of provisional safeguard duty on imports of Phthalic anhydride into India
Notification No. 76/ 2009-Customs (Delhi) 30/06/2009
Rescinds notification No. 9/2009- Customs, dated the 29th January, 2009
RBI
Notifications RBI/2009-10/105 (Delhi) 22/07/2009
Cash Withdrawal at Point-of-Sale
Notifications RBI/2009-10/106 (Delhi) 22/07/2009
Issue of Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs)
 

Announcements

National Convention for CA Students at Siliguri on 4th-5th September, 2009
Announcement Regarding Service Tax for November 2009 Examination
Certificate Course on Enterprise Risk Management at Mumbai from August 22, 2009
 
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The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, ICAI Bhawan, Indraprastha Marg, Post Box. No. 7100, New Delhi - 110 002.

Abhishek Gupta: CA can use Tax Consultant?

I am a chartered accountant not in practice. I want to know whether i can hang a board containing My name as a chartered accountant and tax consultant on My relative shop.
If Yes, then what size of the board i can use and what information i can write on the board about me.

Sanjay Salgia: Cash Subscription by Directors

I have a query regarding the shares issued to the promoter directors of a private limited company. The memorandum has a subscription page wherein the promoter directors declare that they have subscribed to the shares. But as the company does not have a bank account, does this imply that share capital has been bought in cash.

Or is it just an undertaking that they will be subscribing to the shares.

Anand Wadadekar: Going Concern

If a Company's net worth is eroded 100% and the auditors have commented in their report that its not a going concern or the going concern concept is questioned,
 
1) what the Directors should do and how much they will be responsible if there is no willful fraud or action which contributed to the situation?
2) Is the compulsory winding up the last route left for directors?
3) Will the officer in default be also liable? If yes, how and to what extent? 
4) if the directors keep the company going even after the audit report, will the directors be liable for continuing trading while insolvent?
 
Assuming SICA is not applicable.
 
Waiting for inputs from elite professionals of the group. Your response will be highly appreciated.

Contact Book of Ashwn Nagar

23 July 2009

Gujarat Budget 2009-10

માહિતી કમિશનરની કચેરી,
                                          ૭/૨, ડો.જીવરાજ મહેતા ભવન,
 
                                         ગુજરાત રાજય, ગાંધીનગર.
                                          તારીખઃ-  /૭/૨૦૦૯

 

 

 

સ્નેહી શ્રી

        ગુજરાત રાજયનું  વર્ષ ૨૦૦૯-૧૦ નું બજેટ વિધાનસભામાં રજુ થયેલ છે. અત્યારે વિભાગવાર તેની ચર્ચા ચાલી રહેલ છે. ત્યારે આપને એક સુજ્ઞ નાગરિક તરીકે આ બજેટની અગત્યની બાબતોનો એક નાનકડો સ્લાઇડ શો મોકલી રહ્યો છું. આપના ફિડબેક મળશે તો અમો આ કોમ્યુનિકેશન (સંદેશા) માધ્યમને વધુ અસરકારક બનાવવા પ્રયત્ન કરીશું.

 

        આભાર સહ,

                                                        ભાગ્યેશ જહા

                                                     માહિતી કમિશનર

                                              ગુજરાત રાજય, ગાંધીનગર.

| Ashwin Nagar | FCA and SAP-FICO\SEM-BCS |
Success is not permanent and failure is not final
Ph: India: +91-98330-15352  US: +1-323-325-4111

22 July 2009

Important information relating to filing of ITR forms

By now, many of you would have filed several tax returns of your clients or your own companies or even your own returns. It has been brought to our notice that this year, whenever an ITR form is filed electronically without the digital signature, the system shows that the ITR-V has been e-mailed to the e-mail ID registered with the Income-tax Department's web site. Thereafter, when the ITR-V is tried to be opened, the system asks for a password. This was creating problems as the password that is generally used by the tax payer to log onto the e-filing site does not work while opening the ITR-V.
 
Recently, the Income-tax Department has put up the following clarification on its website. This would help all of you in opening the ITR-V in case of returns filed electronically.
 

Information on how to open your ITRV/ITR ACK

 
Dear TaxPayer,

Please note that you will receive your ITRV/ITR ACK PDF file in a zip format. Please note that the ITRV/ITR ACK PDF document is password protected to ensure it is accessed by the appropriate user. The password is a combination of the pan (in lower case) and the date of birth in the format ddmmyyyy. For example, 1) if the pan is AAAAA0000A and the date of birth is 10-Jan-2008, then the password will be aaaaa0000a10012008 Please note that you will need Adobe Acrobat reader 8.0 or forward to open the password protected PDF file. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, please visit the following link to download it: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html In case you are unable to open the document, please contact Efiling Income Tax Administrator at ask@incometaxindia..gov.in providing the document along with pan number and assessment year.

Income Tax Department

20 July 2009

NEW TDS RATES FROM 01.10.2009 PROPOSED IN BUDGET 2009

 

NEW TDS RATES FROM 01.10.2009 PROPOSED IN BUDGET 2009

 

PARTICULARS

NEW TDS RATE % IF DEDUCTEE IS

Section

Nature of Payment

Cut off Amount

Rs.

Individual

& HUF

Others

194A

Interest from a Banking Company

Rs. 10000/- p.a.

10%

20%

194A

Interest other than From a Banking Company

 

Rs. 5000/- p.a.

 

10%

20%

194C

Payment to Sub-Contractors And Payment for Advertising Contracts

Rs. 20000/- per

Contract or Rs.

50000/- p.a.

1%

2%

194C

Other Contractors

 

Rs. 20000/- per

Contract or Rs.

50000/- p.a.

1%

2%

194C

Transport Contractors engaged In the business of playing, hiring or leasing goods carriages

 

NIL*

194H

Commission or Brokerage

Rs. 2500/- p.a

10%

194I

Rent other than Plant, Machinery

and Equipments

 

Rs. 120000/-

p.a.

10%

 

194I

Rent of Plant, Machinery and

Equipments

 

Rs. 120000/-

p.a.

10%

 

 

194J

Professional and technical Services

 

Rs. 20000/- p.a.

10%

 

* The Nil rate will be applicable if the transporter Quotes his PAN.

** The rate of TDS will be 20% in all cases if PAN is not quoted by the

deduce w.e.f. 1.04.2010

*** No Surcharge and Cess on Tax deducted on non-salary payments made toresident tax payers.

18 July 2009

Watch this page for ICAI Election News & Activities

Hello friends,

I have published this page for the members and contestants for the forthcoming elections of ICAI for Regional & Central Councils.

I welcome members to write there comments. Also I welcome, contestants to write anything about them or their candidature. I will try to post profile of each contesting candidate. I also invite members comments on their performance, claims, manifesto, profile or candidature.

I think it will be a real interactive and fruitful exercise for the selection of right candidate.

What do you think? Go ahead and write below.

Cost inflation index For the year 2009-10

Sorry this mail was sent based on unconfirmed source. I have removed that page.
I sincerely apologise the inconvenience.
Will publish and mail the CII once it's available.

-Ashwin Nagar

RBI Directions to Auditors of NBFCs

Non Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) is a constituent of the institutional structure of the organized financial system in India. NBFCs perform a significant and important role in our financial system. They facilitate the process of channelising of public savings and provide better return to the depositors. We are aware that due to liberalization and globalisation, banking industry and financial sector has gone through many reforms. In the present economic environment it is very difficult to cater need of society by Banks alone so role of Non Banking Finance Companies and Micro Finance Companies become indispensable.

While conducting audit of NBFCs, members are requested to kindly go through the RBI Directions to Auditors of NBFCs issued vide circular no RBI/2009-10/4 DNBS(PD)CC No.146 /03.02.001/2009-10 dated July 1, 2009.

[PDC Direcotrate, ICAI]


11 July 2009

How is Budget in Your opinion?

Hello!
What do you think this Budget 2009 is?
Being an elite class with deep insight on economy, I will appreciate, if you would like to comment on the recent budget. What do you think, How was the budget?
Click the comment link just below and write your comments.
Thanks
Ashwin Nagar

19 January 2009

Members Views on Satyam Fiasco

So here are the response from members. I have compiled as it is unedited. The only thing I have done is to cut and paste and put in the same font and font size. Hope this will provide memebrs insight into what members thinks. Its discussion within fraternity and needless to say without prejudice or malice towards any individual or firm, big or small.
 
So here it goes:
 

Anil Todarwal:

I am not in practice,but I understand that since last one decade any company approaches for finance they are told that if they want finance they have to change the auditors to the big FIVE and give all the work to the recommaded BIG FIVE.In this way the small and medium chartered accountants were thrown out who  resorted to other business for survival.

 

Why dont you take up this matter bring back good and intelligent small and medium chartered accountants back into the noble profession.

 

The big FIVE firms are more like commission agents for finance and not professional chartered accountants.

 

I hope this matter is taken up and CAs are appointed not by the wishes of the directors or the financial institutes .

 

K. V. Jose:

There should be a rotation of auditors/ auditors firm in every three years to have more independency on auditors, it can be for listed companies and its branches, factories etc.

 

Paresh Zatakia:

Only the permanent (though not full proof) solution to problems of auditors turnig blind eyes is APPOINTMENT OF STATUTORY,TAX,REVENUE,CONCURRENT ETC ALL AUDITS SHOULD BE BY SYSTEMATIC RANDOM SELECTION (THAT ALSO TO CHANGE VERY YEAR).

 

HOW CAN PERSON BE EXPECTED TO BEHAVE INDEPENDTLY WHEN APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR IS IN HANDS OF AUDTEE?

 

WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN UP BY PROFESSIONAL LEADERS IS A BIG QUESTION MARK?

 

WAMAN DAMLE:

The firm, PW has downgraded our profession. They should be punished heavily; and should not be allowed to continue their profession in India.

Anybody, with his eyes, ears open, and with his brain working, can find out such a big fraud. Materiality is a very important aspect of audit work. If you can not unearth such a big fraud, you are negligent; and if you have purposely kept mum, you should be behind the bars.

 

Manish Tibrewal:

So much cry over Raju, but auditors very well know that how much cooked the financial affairs of indian entities... Some even advise so... Its time to wake up and service the nation instead of cheating it. We should either live up to our brand or wait for the black day..

 

Dinesh Vaidya:

As per my views. One or more auditor(s) may be appointed by the co. in it's AGM as per co. law
and One or more auditor(s) for HO and branch(s) may be appointed by SEBI / BSE / NSE or any govt. body maintaining panels for the same as per size and requirements of the co.. Initially this should me made compulsory for all listed and other companies having more then specified share capital or turnover or bank loans.

Sanjay S.Rathi:

This type practice always create suspicious on all CAs who work hard and honestly

 

Sandeep Morab :

It is really pathetic that such renowed audit firm Price Waterhouse is charged of such gross negligence of duty.

ICAI should really take very strict action against the auditors, if found guilty, and not bow down considering that the

firm is one of the BIG 4.

 

 

Sridhar Santhanam:

As per the existing rules and regulations of the institute, it is likely that our  institute will only penalise the Chartered Accountant signing the accounts and the firm in which he/she is a partner will remain untouched. It is needless to state that the entire firm has had a share of the hefty fees (Booty) obtained from a client and enjoyed for seven years. Is it now reasonable to let go the firm of CAs unscathed? Mind you - Satyam was charged 3 times the fees charged for larger companies like Wipro and Infosys.Some can call it a penalty paid by a client who did something wrong. Did the firm PWC not realise that Satyam is giving windfall gains to PWC and that something must be wrong? Definitely they and their Parent firm in the USA knew  but preferred to turn away.

It is very common knowledge that Managers in  big CA firms get incentives for the fees collected by them from clients managed by them and therefore greater the problems made aware or created by the concerned Manager for the clients,the larger the fees and therefore larger their commission. In the process the quality of work can get compromised. As long as this unethical race exists there are bound to be more and more scandals surfacing that will show CAs in awkward situations like in the Satyam episode.And mind you many companies may be waiting in the queue for another Satyam to happen.  Hope the existing loopholes in the laws and regulations are plugged very soon and reforms be introduced. 

Rotational audits for quoted companies should be introduced like it is done for Banks and Govt audits so that no CA gets lax with the clients.

 

 

Prof. V. K. Sapovadia, IIM:

 

There is urgent need for specific corporate governance norms for family based business houses. The norms should take care of and specific, if promoter held 25% or less, 50% or less & 75% or less stake in a company.

 

There must be coordination among various government agencies. Those who are responsible for monitoring performance (SEBI, auditors etc.) should be made accountable and be provided training for fraud detection. There must be speedy disposal of investigation, adjudication process. Penalty must be servere, deterrant and absolute. In many cases the penalty is Rs. 500! Penalty for violation of Accounting Standard must be harsher. Only disciplinary action by ICAI for auditor is not sufficient.

 

Special economic vigilance branch should be really vigilant and must be made accountable in case of failure. Accountability in all cases should be result into punishment to top executives & not scap-goats. On basis of volatility in stock prices, a watch on company performance & reporting should be undertaken.

 

To prevent speculative transaction, there must be Security Transaction Charge and that should be deposited in special Value Kinetic & Safety Fund (not as a tax by government), meant for using this perpetual fund by company in future to bailout genuine economic crisis. The fund should not be in hands of promoters, but under high power committee made up of professionals & top executives, experts etc. This fund may be used as bailout company in trouble, but not a fraud.

 

Achal Dass:

I am interested in knowing that what is happening of PWC. How they failed to get the insight of such a huge scam. Were they involve and if yes what action institute is taking against them.

 

 

Nikhil Zaveri:

Why nobody is questioning the role of the internal auditors??? Who were the internal auditors???? Why no mention is found of them or their role in this scam in any media /news item?? They are suppose to question such Hugh cash in current account & the reconciliation between TDS & interest recd/accrued.

 Indirectly we are giving the consent to nationalization of our "noble profession"

 

Ulhas Chitale:

Here, we are also accepting that presently we are not transparent in reporting as expected by the statute, due to fear of loss of client.

 

Nidhi Lalpuria:

We have not yet heard from the auditors hence we should not be so
harsh and decide their future. First let us know what it is. They are the fellow members .One of us can also someday step in their shoes. Since we do not know any facts we should not jump on conclusions and till then support our fraternity.

 

Nikhil Khetan:

PwC has disgraced our profession. Being from audit back-ground, I can say bank balance cannot be inflated without help of auditor. And inflating it at such extent shows how money hungry that partner might be. PwC is smart enough... they will held one partner as responsible and sack him... though there is system of quality review by other partners.. what happened in GTB case... PwC is still in existence in india . Hope there is strict action this time ..

 

LLSONI:

pwc should be imdd. banned fron doing business in india

their licence must be recall

 

 

Dharmendra Somaiya:

Short and Sweet Please note that,   

1. We as CAs should not worry about whole thing and what happen, what was wrong ? Why gone wrong ? VERY FIRST, Check the role of auditor and punish him,  Govt is tacking all other actio, and for Social matter, Sebi matter it will also be adressed by the concerned Authorities. 

2. Ban on the Firm not only the Signing CA, if found guilty..

3. If bank balance inflated even though bogus certificate, It could be check by cross veryfying with Bank Statement,   if Bank interest is wrong than  Interest income credit could also be checkd in statement,  The TDS could also be check...

4. So,  looking to the matter it seems that,,,,, mostly Auditor is in fault and Directly involved if the Matter if it is as in the Statement... (COPY ATTACHED). Please find attachement of Raju's confession..

 

P.Chatterjee:

Today the news article states that steps will be taken against the CAs who did the audit of Satyam if they are found guilty. In such case Partner/s who signed the accounts should be equally guilty. People will lose all faith in the system of audit.  If found negligent or guilty, exemplary action must be taken. Big names must be made to pay more.  

 

Vasant K Bhat:

The said type of audit engagement could be made applicable to only listed companies or companies having turnover above certain limit. Otherwise, I feel it may be a burden on the ICAI.

 

 

Virendra Joshi:

Any Auditor with reasonable audit checks can very well detect the fraud of the size/magnitude of Satyam. Cash balance is the easiest item to verify physically or can be verified with the bank statement. One can not digest that without involvement of all concerned one single man can do the fraud/misrepresentation of this magnitude. 

 

Laxmi Mittal:

It is a shocking news to hear that one of so called 'big 5 ' firms exploded & too an error in cash , Bank balance, overstatement of revenues , interest accrual w/o verification of form 16A / cross verification of third party account , which is a basic need for the certification of a simple Balance Sheet of even a smaller size.

Upon quizzing CA Ved Jain on 7th by CNBC 18 on 7th /8th , he was red faced , but to add the shame of profession , he confessed that he will involve the fraud firm in deciding the peer review.

All members are elected by us . Now a days it becomes a fashion to spend in the elections like a political  leader furiously.

The above practice should by stopped forthwith or else the MCA will not hesitate to take over ICAI also.

 

Kamal Moondra:

This is all about member's in practice what about members in industry? Though CFO's are responsible but without any authority they are simply in the service and at the disposal of CEO/Managing Director . Like wise what about the other members who are working under CFO , there authority including responsibility also needs to be defined and have some protection under the companies act.The ICAI has yet to commence the guidance for members in industry.
 

Tushar Bhatt:

I fully agree with you and this will create independence and no risk of removal and thus brings quality assurance in audit functions.

 

Jigar Masalia:

One of the way to increase auditor's independence would be to not allow auditors to provide any consultancy or advisory services to the clients to which it provides attestation services. It is usually seen that auditors with attestation function gets more money in the from of fees from consultancy / advisory services than usual attestation services. This fact tempts / influences auditors not to question / involve in a conflicting situation with the clients in case of potentially grave audit issues.

 

S.Ashok Kumar:

The media is damaging the image of auditors more and more on satyam case.  The action of  one  auditor is damaging the entire CA Community.  The following are the questions raised on my mind, if any body has answer, kindly reply:

1.For Global Trust Bank - NPA case, When RBI is immediately banned the PWC for 2 years, not to audit any bank, why CA Institute is taking so long to take decision on this issue.  The case is still pending with the Disciplinary committee of ICAI.

2.When Companies Act, restrict to vote on the Board of Directors Meeting for interested Directors and needs to disclose the interest of Director.  Whether the CA Institute has the such integrity and Independency on the ground that, "the two central council members are senior partners of PWC (Mr S. Gopalakrishnan and Mr Harinderjit Singh)and Mr Gopalakrishnan signed the 2006-07 balance sheet of Satyam".  If both of them have high integrity they should resign the central council member immediately after the news of satyam scandal.  When one of the Independent Director, Mr.Rammohan Roa, resigns as ISB Dean after the satyam scandal, why the two senior partners of PWC on the Central council of ICAI has not resigned from Central council of ICAI ?  Whether the PWC is guilty or not, to make the independency of the central council of ICAI, they should be resigned.   If they have not done, ICAI should suspend till the case is dismissed from the disciplinary committee.

Based on the above, the PWC is taking the shield of ICAI from the corporate scandal of Global Trust Bank and Satyam case.  When the disciplinary case is going on against the PWC, how the two partners of PWC can be appointed as Central Council member of the ICAI?

The above is purely the doubt arising on my mind with regard to integrity of CA member and not for against the PWC.

 

 

CHIRAG S. GANDHI:

At the end of the day it is not what the institute guidelines or act or regulation but it is the self - governance , satisfaction and principle helps an individual,company and society for better governance. According to me though i am a CA i feel that ICAI institute has become more like an Indian government from last couple of years, where people are interested in serving there own interest rather than of the members, society. If we give the appointment of auditors and fees structure to ICAI i am sure it would be an another government of INDIA where you will find all the partners of the firm seating to get better assignment.I am sorry to use this words i know that all the group members are like professional brothers, but that's the fact and no one can deny it.

 

If you look at the past all our Indian well renowned firms have merged with big four only few like N.C.Mehta, Bansi Mehta (few example) are left. India is on a stage where the world is looking for a major growth and chances for our country becoming a super power is not far.If that's the future, why can't we CA excluding the big four start creating our own identity which is recognized world over and come with best practices which the world should adopt rather than we adopting them.

 

Vandan Jhaveri:

The suggestions given by you are really welcome suggestions but thing is that,
who will implement it. ICAI or Govt will wait till such amendments will be made in USA Accouting system, than after 5 years they will implements it. till than we should have to wait for more satyams and GTB.

 

Anil Jalihal:

Alternatively, ICAI can become one big auditing firm and we can all become employees of the "Big 1", right?

Prakash Mehta:

First action should be bare price waterhouse to have any audit assignment .It will restore confidence in corporate world towards Auditors and it will send strong signal to Indian Auditors.

 

G. BALASUBRAMANYAN:

I am not able to agree to the suggestion. By doing show we will be shifting our responsibility to another group. Profession is not to be Nationalized.

Binank Patel:

Mr. Dushi, I liked your concern for the overall credential of such great professional body and its members but I am disagree at some point. Why should we need to have ICAI between Auditors and Companies. Why there should be any price norms or any kind of limitation in the performance of job. We are in the profession and everyone should have right to expand it.

 

In the case of Satyam, five people have made whole world fool and we are talking about taking steps on all the professional Auditors. Everyone are not like that. There are hundreds of Auditors who give best of the best services and they should be paid for that. Now, if one man is doing wrong, everyone else should not suffer for that. On the contrary , we should considere ourself responsible for tolerating such a weak enforcement system and we should really comeout with the passion to make real changes in the Law Enforcement System. Yesterday, Ketan Shah did scandal, Today Raju did  and tomorrow someone else. But what the public is doing. Just gossip for two days and forgive third day.

 

We are a professional prople and we know that.. But now we need to confront who we are for the country and for the general mass. Are we the same small individual or committed citizen of India.

 

Today we have threat from terrorism, scandals, economic crisis and so more. How long we keep blaming people and system for that? Why dont we just become a good citizen and make a demand from the people whom we have elected.

 

You can never stop scandals but yes you can create a feal of consequences which one would go for if they do something wrong.

 

I hope you will not take me otherwise. I am also a citizen of India and want to make a change. Why whole public should suffer for five terrorist or five auditors.

 

Let's bring transformation...Let's live freely.

 

Chintan Dave:

I, Chintan Dave (member of ICAI) live in New York City,USA and have been closely monitoring financial turmoil across the world. I really appreciate the idea of establishing the independence of auditors and thereby possibly try to avoid such frauds and maintain faith of general public in our noble profession. The ICAI already maintains different panels for appointment of auditors based on verious crieterias including but not limited to experience of members.

However, I am not in favour of any further idea of establishing another panel of auditors and giving new audit assignments to members based on their experience simply because of following reasons.

(1) It is not true that auditors's of Satyam Computers were only young professionals. They may, in fact, be senior members of ICAI.

(2) One cannot statistically quantify professional competency of member solely based on the experience. In fact, young chartered accountants may be more updated in latest developments.......

(3) We live in the 21st Centuary, where increasingly economies are becoming more and more Capitalistic and the new mantra is " Survival of the Fittest ".

(4) There are thousands of fresh Chartered Accountant who become member of our Institute, and majority of them join industry. I would love to see even bunch of young chartered accountants starting practice. However, your idea may ditter young chartered accountants from starting practice.

In view of above, I have an opinion that any further efforts of allocating even audit assignments to member of ICAI based on seniority will absolutely ditter young, budding chartered accountants from entering into practice.

These are my views, I invite more comments on this issue. Don't get me wrong, I have full faith in senior members's competency and also have enormous respect for them.I am even open to constructive criticism of above ideas. I support any other mechanism to ensure independence of auditors and thereby preventing other scandals in corporate India in future.

 

Sandeep Deshpande:

This is a good suggestion. we need to check how we can implement it in lieu of the changes in statutes that would be required and also in the Institutes rules.  deposition of fees & payments, instead of ICAI can be paid by govt /Sebi for all listed companies  based on share capital / volume of transactions. Also for such large companies just one aufit firm may not be a correct solution. it is worthwhile to appoint 2 -3 firms and they could auidt different segments like a consortium and the lead consortium partner can be defined.

 

Surendra Mehta:

Pl read following carefully before giving unwanted and uncalled suggestion.
 
a. Don't unnecessarily balmce the Auditors.
b. Auditors have to rely on third party evidences.
c. The Fraud in Styam was happeong since last 3650 (365days*10years). Out of 3650 days auditors may have attended satyam office only for 300 days but company with 53000 employees must have atelast 25-30 Accounting staff including GM Accounts, CFo etc. MD or Chairman necever prepare b/s. The B?S are always prepared by this so called 25-30 accounting stgg, GM accounts and CFo. They are main culprits as they cheated the whle world for 3650 days.
d. IF CFo has not seen Bank FD, how did acountant passed the entries for TDS and Interest receivable?.
e. Was TDS certificate also fake produced before Auditors?
f. Was Bank Interest certificate also fake placed before Auditors?
 
I fully agree that their was Auditors fault but v all including media need to understand whther it was willful default or not?
 
Media and press need to understand the Auditing law before balming Auditors.
 
CHORI KARE KOI AUR BHARE KOI.

 

Dhananjay J. Gokhale:

ICAI can maintain a panel jointly with SEBI for listed companies similar to that of Nationalised Banks and the Statutory Auditors of listed companies are rotated every year.

 

CB Dushi:

I see opportunity in this. All members should come out with suggestions on auditing practices, although primary objective of auditing is/was never to unearth frauds. However some basic auditing practices even can unearth blatant lies in the financial statements such as verification systems of Balance sheet items through third party confirmations. Whatever may happen to all who are involved in the scandal the doubts created in the mind of public at large can not erased very easily. Even if the ICAI comes out with stringent norms to avoid repeat telecast of "Satyam", how are we going to restore the faith in auditors in the mind of general public, bankers, tax authorities and other government organizations. I have few suggestions on appointment of auditors, if independence of the Auditor is to be genuinely protected

1)       Let the ICAI maintain panel of auditors

2)       It should classify panel according to the experience of each member and partners of the firms

3)       Fees structure should be finalized and should be in the hands of ICAI

4)       Auditees should deposit fees with ICAI

5)       Based on the experience and other credentials of Auditors, ICAI should allot audits every year, so that rotation, like bank audits, can be made effective.

6)       Auditors should give report to ICAI and ICAI, in turn, forwards the same to members of the company.

7)       ICAI pays fees to members.

 

The above system may help the auditors to be more clear and transparent in reporting without fear of loss of client. Ultimately CA profession is a noble profession and not a business expandable beyond one's capacity.



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