Amendments To The Architects Act, 1972: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

An analysis of the latest judgement of the Supreme Court, and a plea for amendments to the Architects Act

March 2020 will go down in world history. Covid 19 grabbed headlines as well as the entire space for public deliberations and discussions. In the pandemonium about the pandemic, the Supreme Court's judgement Council of Architects V/s. Mukesh Goyal & Ors., passed on March 17, 2020 got lost. Though much debated in the close circles of architects, a wider audience may be necessary, as it impacts the entire building and construction sector. This article attempts to decipher the judgement.

Can non-architects practice architecture?

Yes, as per the judgement, individuals not registered under the Architects Act, 1972 can practise architecture and its cognate activities. However, such individuals cannot style themselves as architects nor use the title of 'architect'. Naturally, a large faction of architects feels short changed. It is argued that if the practice of law