Enhancing Quality of Service
Through
Code of conduct
--- By Sanjay Kumar Gupta
FCS, ACIS (London)
A code of conduct is a set
of rules outlining the
responsibilities
of or proper practices for
an individual, party or
organization
“Ethics is void without economics,
economics is blind without ethics.”
Karl Homann
Philosopher & Economist
The International Federation of
Accountants
In its 2007 International Good Practice
Guidance provided the following
working definition:
"Defining and Developing an Effective
Code of Conduct for Organizations",
"Principles, values, standards, or rules
of behavior that guide
the decisions, procedures and systems
of an organization in a way that
(a) contributes to the welfare of its
key stakeholders, and
(b) respects the rights of all
constituents affected by its
operations."
http://www.imperial-tobacco.com
Annual Report & Accounts 2012
28,574 million £ revenue
Position of Company Secretary
1. Background
1.1 Principles of ethics and morality
embedded in the legal framework
makes a code of conduct for a professional.
Without external deterrence, barring few
respectable exceptions, people tend to
become selfish and violate pious principles or
“DHARMA”
1.4 Indian traditions teach us to respect others,
earn trust and confidence of the public and
discharge at least three major debts.
These debts are towards :
their ancestors,
parents and
society as a whole.
1.7 The societal expectations or norms
are referred to as ‘values’ which
are nothing but generalized beliefs
or expected standards of conduct.
1.10 In formulating the code of conduct,
the Committee and the Council
adopted a certain normative
approach
or value judgment. The codes evolved
were rooted in the principles of
Dharma
stating positively what the profession
stands for, what it expects from the
members and what it cherishes as valued
ideals of the society.
Ch. 3
TEXT 21
TRANSLATION
Whatever action a great man performs, common men
follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary
acts, all the world pursues.
Extracts from Dr. Jagan’s book :
Be chaste in thought, word and action.
(Swami Vivekananda VI. 124)
When a man is perfect he sees perfection in
others.
(Swami Vivekananda III. 28)
Ch. 3
TEXT 26
TRANSLATION
So as not disrupt the minds of ignorant attached to the furtive
results of prescribed duties, a learned person should not
induce them to stop work. Rather, by working in the spirit of
devotion, he should engage them in all sorts of activities.
Extracts from Dr. Jagan’s book :
You should go to the sinking millions of India,
and take them by the hand.
(Swami Vivekananda III.433)
Professional misconduct in relation to Company Secretaries in practice (Part I
of the First Schedule to the Act)
Clause (6) provides that a Company Secretary in practice shall be deemed to
be guilty of professional misconduct, if he —
“solicits clients or professional work, either
directly or indirectly, by circular, advertisement,
personal communication or interview or by any
other means:
Provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed
as preventing or prohibiting(i) any Company Secretary from applying or requesting for
or inviting or securing professional work from another
company secretary in practice; or
(ii) a member from responding to tenders or enquires issued
by various users of professional services a organizations
from time to time and securing professional work as a
consequence.”
Professional misconduct in relation to
members of the Institute generally
Clause (2) of Part III of the First
Schedule provides that a member of
the Institute whether in practice or not,
shall be deemed to be guilty of
professional misconduct, if he—
“does not supply the information
called for or does not comply with
the requirements asked for by the
Institute, Council or any of its
Committees, Director ( Discipline )
Board of Discipline, Disciplinary
Committee, Quality Review Board
or the Appellate Authority.”
Clause (1) of Part II of
Second Schedule provides
that a member of the
Institute whether in practice
or not, shall be deemed to
be guilty of professional
misconduct, if he —
“contravenes any of
the provisions of this
Act or the regulations
made there under or
any guidelines issued
by the Council.”
Ch. 2
TEXT 47
TRANSLATION
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are
not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to
be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be
attached to not doing your duty.
Extracts from Dr. Jagan’s book :
To work I have the right. Mother knows the rest.
(Swami Vivekananda
VIII. 345)