Section 26 – The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949

(1) No person other than a member of the Institute shall sign any document on behalf of a ¹[chartered accountant in practice or a firm of such chartered accountants] in his or its professional capacity.

²[(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall, without prejudice to any other proceedings, which may be taken against him, be punishable on first conviction with a fine not less than five thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees, and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine not less ten thousand rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees or with both.]

Amendment

¹ Substituted for the words, “chartered accountant or a firm of chartered accountants ”by the Chartered Accountants (Amendment) Act, 1959.

² Substituted, for the following, by the Chartered Accountants (Amendment) Act, 2006 and came into force w.e.f. 8^th August, 2006 :-

“(2) Any person contravening the provisions of sub-section (1) shall, without prejudice to any other proceedings, which may be taken against him, be punishable with fine which may extend on first conviction to one thousand rupees, and on any subsequent conviction with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both.”