New Delhi: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has issued guidelines to its members for posting any content on social media that tarnishes the image of the CA profession or the Institute in the eyes of the public.

In an advisory published on its website on February 11, the ICAI – a statutory body to regulate the CA profession – said it came across “certain instances” where members and students have expressed professional or academic grievances on social media without first approaching the regulator. Some have also written to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the nodal body of ICAI, and other higher forums, the advisory said.

The regulator has issued a warning to its members to not post “highly objectionable content" which has the "potential to create social and communal disharmony, threatening peace, tranquility, and may disrupt the security of the nation, public order and friendly relations with other nations."

According to BloombergQuint, the regulator could even cancel the registration of the student or impose a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh for any such action – in personal or professional capacity – that causes disrepute to the Institute or the profession.

However, it's still not clear how the ICAI will define what will constitute as "disrepute to the profession" or "cause communal disharmony" or even affect "national security".

Also read: 'Do or Die Situation': Students Set to Appear for CA Exams Question ICAI's Decisions

Amarjit Chopra, former president of ICAI, told the Hindu Business Line, “In recent past, the use of social media by members to air their grievances has been a matter of concern particularly with regard to the language used in such posts. However, in my view it may be difficult for the Institute to regulate the views in social media as it might be seen to be curtailment of right of freedom of speech.”

The ICAI advisory mentioned that in some cases, the content posted on social media was found to be fake and misleading, thereby "tarnishing the image of the profession".

The exams conducted under ICAI are held twice a year in May and November. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the exams were postponed multiple times and merged with the November exams.

According to an NDTV report last year, several social media posts claimed that the exams will be held in January instead of December. Following this confusion, the ICAI issued a notification saying that the exams will be held in November per schedule, and termed these posts as fake and misleading.

Then ICAI made changes to 30 exam centres, including shifting venues and correction of names, “due to unavoidable circumstances”. It also issued an SOP that said "containment zone and COVID-19 positive students are not to be allowed into the exam hall". This move left a lot of students, who could not sit for the exams, in the lurch.

A week before the exams, some students posted on social media demanding postponement of exams due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.