NEW DELHI: After the tussle between local and foreign auditors and lawyers, it’s now the turn of architects. The Council of Architecture (CoA), the regulatory body for the profession, has stepped up its fight against foreign architects practicing in India — attracting severe criticism from several countries, including the US. 

Although foreign architects are not allowed to practice in India, several entities were rendering services in the country, either directly or through tie-ups with local players. A 1972 law explicitly prohibits any foreign firm architect and the government, despite its keenness, has refused to open up the sector despite negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

Last year, as reported first by TOI, the Delhi high court had ruled that the approval granted by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to RSP Architects, Planners and Engineers, a Singapore-based firm, was not in line with the law. 

This provided fresh ammunition to the CoA, which recently issued a public notice saying “… no foreign architect/consultant (not registered with CoA) be appointed for architectural works, without following the procedure under the (Architects) Act”. It said that it had issued the advertisement after it received complaints about appointment of foreign architects, without prior approval of the government. 

This largely went unnoticed in India but has evoked strong reaction from foreign lobby groups and architects, which have raised a banner of protest and have gone to the extent of drawing parallels with the retrospective amendments to tax laws. They have told Indian ministers that the issue once again highlights India’s unwillingness to open up its markets to foreign competition. Overseas architects are keen to tap into the booming real estate and infrastructure sectors in India. 

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Although the government has repeatedly tried to open up the professional services market to foreign players, industry bodies have prevented it from going ahead, citing threat to livelihood. Despite the “ban” foreign players have thrived with audit firms such as EY, KPMG and Deloitte taking over domestic firms. They have used their brands to get business but use the local firms for signing off on accounts. In case of law firms, several Indian players have tie-ups with overseas solicitors, who advise them but cannot appear in court.