Rajamannar, C.J.-This is a reference under section 21 of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, respecting the conduct of a Chartered Accountant, Mr. A. Krishnamurthi, one of the partners of a firm of Chartered Accountants, Messrs. Rowe &38; Pal. It arises out of a complaint filed by the Government of Madras in the following circumstances: Messrs. Rowe and Pal were appointed by the Government as Inspectors to investigate the affairs of two Companies viz., Sandur Tobacco Company Limited and the Sandur Plantations Limited, Sandur, and to report thereon. It is common ground that after entering on their office as Inspectors, one of the partners namely, the respondent, entered into a private arrangement with the Directors and Managirg Agents, of the Company, to bring about a compromise between different groups of creditors and the companies, for which services a separate remuneration was fixed. Admittedly, neither the respondent nor the firm obtained the permissicn of the Government to undertake this work. It is not suggested that the Government was even informed of this. The Inspectors duly sent up a report. The Government fixed a sum of Rs. 2,500/- as remuneration for their work and made a demand on the Companies to pay the same. It was only then it was discovered that a sum of Rs. 1,500/- had been paid already by the companies to Mr. Krishnamurthi and it was alleged by Mr. Krishnamurthi that a sum of Rs. 1,000/- out of this was for his service in connection with the compromise sought to be effected between the creditors and the companies. The Government thereupon filed a complaint requesting for an inquiry by the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India into their conduct for having undertaken a private work on behalf of the Companies, whose unsatisfactory condition they were asked to investigate, without the knowledge of the Government. The Government also made a further charge that when the investigation was in progress the Inspectors had en-tered into some surreptitious agreement with the Managing Agents of the two Companies for the purpose of sending up a favourable report regarding the conduct of the Directors and Managing Agents of the Companies. The Council thereupon,, after notice to the respondent conducted an enquiry into the two charges. The Council thereupon,, after notice to the respondent conducted an enquiry into the two charges. On the first charge they held that the respondent should not have undertaken the private work of trying to effect a compromise between the creditors and the Companies without the knowledge of the Government. In their opinion, the conduct of the respondent, to say the least, was indiscreet on his part. The Council found the respondent guilty of misconduct, but they held that it was not of such magnitude as to render him unfit to be a member of the Institute. The Council further held that the second charge had not been proved and therefore failed. As regards the second charge, the finding of the Council is the only one which could be arrived at on the evidence, and we accept it. As regards the first charge, we agree with the Council that the respondent must be held guilty of misconduct within the meaning of that term in section 22 of the Act. It was most improper on the part of the respondent to have accepted a private engagement with the Directors and Managing Agents of the Companies into whose very conduct they had been appointed by the Government to investigate. The respondent maintained that this work did not conflict with his duty as Inspector. Even assuming that it did not in our opinion, it was the duty of the respondent to have informed the Government and obtained its permission before he accepted the work. We do not think it necessary in the circumstances that anything further should be done in this matter. K.S. ----- Order accordingly.