The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), while addressing the students concerns over the CA Articleship, clarified that such period of lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic shall be counted as being on articleship training.
In a press release, the Institute said that it has been closely watching the situation arising out of the spread of Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 and the current stage is where the lockout has resulted in the closure of offices and bare minimum CA Articleship training work being made feasible through online means.
“We are all aware that until further orders, such restrictions are going to continue till 14th April 2020,” it said.
“Those who are already registered and undergoing articled training, are hereby informed that the period of absence arising out of said lockdown due to COVID -19 pandemic shall not be counted for the purposes of deduction of any leaves, meaning thereby that such period shall be counted as being on articleship training for the period aforesaid,” the press release said.
“Accordingly, the students who are already undergoing articled training and are appearing for May 2020 and subsequent examinations need not worry on this count for loss of any period not served during the above lockdown. Further, to ease out the situation at both the ends, matters related to timing and manner of payment of stipend in the intervening period arising out of the lockdown, may be mutually decided between the principal and the article assistant,” it added.
On Saturday, an official from the Institute has said the body will analyze the situation in mid-April and will make an appropriate decision regarding the conducting of its May examinations.
