COA receives misconduct complaints against Architects, issues advisory

Staff Reporter

After receiving a lot of complaints against Architects about their misconduct, the Council of Architecture (COA) has issued an advisory asking the violators to follow rules.

Habeeb Khan, President of COA, told ‘The Hitavada’, “The Council has received innumerable complaints from local bodies/authorities about professional misconduct by the Architects. It is stated that the Architects, after signing for approval of building plans with them, do not follow the complete procedure stipulated by the authorities. Also, they do not inform about their disassociation from a project on account of termination of their services by the client or the process of sanction is over.”

Habeeb Khan said, “Majority of the complaints are of the nature of professional misconduct wherein the Architects are alleged to have done dereliction of services. But many complainants are fake as they complain to harass the real ones. As far as taking action is concerned, there is a standard procedure followed wherein the disciplinary committee investigates the matter and gives its recommendation to the Council. COA guides architects to avoid getting entangled in professional misconduct.”

COA issued an advisory. It says, ‘Architects should immediately inform the concerned local authority about their dissociation from the project, since most of the local authorities take an undertaking from the signing architect about their continued association with the project during construction

process, they are held responsible for implementing the project as per approved/ sanctioned documents. Non-informing the concerned local authority would result in signing architect being held accountable / responsible in case of dispute or any untoward incident. To avoid such a scenario all architects should follow proper procedure to safeguard their own interest and interest of common people at large.”

COA has made it clear, “All Architects are also advised to enter into written agreement with the client. The suggested formats are available in the Manual of Architectural Practice prescribed by the Council. Architects are advised to inform the concerned local authority in case of any violation of building bye-laws, sanctioned building plan by the client/developer with a copy to client. It has come to the notice of the Council that non-architectural firms obtain signatures of Architects employed by them for sanctioning of buildings plans, etc. and function as Architects which is unhealthy practice. All employed architects are advised to not to sign any document on behalf of a non-architectural firm.”

“To maintain accountability and transparency for the general public, all architects are required to ensure that their name along with registration number is displayed on their construction sites. All architects are required to adhere to the above advisories in their own interest and in the interest of general public,” appealed COA.