On April 15, 2025, the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), a statutory body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, issued an advisory cautioning students against the unauthorized use of the ‘CS’ prefix before their names. The advisory highlights violations of Section 24 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980, which prohibits non-members from representing themselves as members of the Institute or using the designation “Company Secretary” or the post-nominals “A.C.S.” or “F.C.S.” The section also restricts members who do not hold a Certificate of Practice from representing themselves as practicing company secretaries. Violations of this provision can result in legal penalties, including fines up to one lakh rupees for the first offense and up to five lakh rupees or imprisonment up to six months for subsequent offenses. ICSI has emphasized that any such misuse is a punishable offense and has warned students to comply strictly with the provisions of the Act. Non-compliance will result in appropriate legal action as mandated by the governing legislation.
THE INSTITUTE OF
Company Secretaries of india
IN PURSUIT OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
Statutory body under an Act of Parliament
(Under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Corporate Affair)
15th April,2025
ADVISORY TO STUDENTS
(ADVISORY ON VIOLATION OF SECTION 24 OF COMPANY
SECRETARIES ACT, 1980)
It has been noticed that some of the students of the Institute are prefixing ‘CS’ before their name in violation of Section 24 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 (the Act). It is hereby cautioned that such violations are punishable under the Act. Section 24 of the Act is reproduced below for ready reference: –
“24. Penalty for falsely claiming to be a member etc.
Subject to the provisions of section 7, any person who,
(a) not being a member of the Institute, –
(i) represents that he is a member of the Institute; or
(ii) uses the designation “Company Secretary”; or
(iii) uses the letters “A.C.S.” or “F.C.S.” after his name; or
(b) being a member of the Institute, but not having a certificate of practice, represents that he is in practice or practises as a Company Secretary, shall be punishable on first conviction with fine which may extend to 1[one lakh rupees], and on any subsequent conviction with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to 5[five Lakh rupees], or with both. ”
Students of the Institute are advised to take note of this Advisory for strict compliance. The Institute shall be constrained to initiate action as per the provisions of the law against all such violations.
Team ICSI
