A General Public Notice from the apex Architecture Authority in India was issued Wednesday the 27th of May, 2020. It sought to convey to the Indian architecture community and the common public that the Council of Architecture (COA) will receive complaints about persons posing as unregistered architects.

According to a recent order by the Supreme Court of India (SC), an individual claiming to be, or using the title of “Architect” to be commissioned with Architectural projects, is prohibited from doing so without registration as per the Section 37 of the Architects Act 1972. The notice by COA carries the statement from the original SC order.

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The notice also points out to us that the COA’s website has details about all the registered architects in India, for the general public to verify. This will essentially help everyone to understand the necessity of the registration and licensing for an architect, and allude to the fact that we must keep vigil of anyone falsely claiming to be an architect. Further, the notice has informed us that licensed architects are responsible to uphold the Architects (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 1989, framed by the COA.

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Plaintiffs can fill forms to register their charges with supportive documents. The COA’s website now carries a tab named "Complaints against unregistered persons/quack", to access the downloadable MS Word complaint document and also an online Google Form. The SC order was released on 17th March 2020, saying that any reasonable person would recognise an Architect to carry educational qualifications that enabled them to carry their title legally. As per the Architects Act 1972, minimum educational standards are prescribed for acquiring an Architects license to practice in the profession.

India is saddled with malpractices of architecture for long now. It includes unlicensed practice and unqualified educational facilities that violate the Architects Act 1972 and also flouting of building bye-laws. Such practices are liable to invoke central prosecution. The notice by COA now signifies the rejuvenated efforts of weeding out these issues from our profession. As we have a mixed economy in India that has been inclined towards the free market and capitalist notions, it has been difficult to expect awareness and adherence to the regulations for design and construction of the built environment.

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