'Company secretaries need to keep public interest in mind'

Emphasising on the need to strike a balance while carrying out their professional duties, CCI chief Ashok Chawla today said company secretaries should keep public interest in mind in situations where there is a conflict of interest.
Noting that there are challenges around the profession of company secretaries, Chawla said the trust on them is important.
There could be situations where there is conflict of interest but public interest should always be above private interest, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) Chairman said.
He was speaking at the national convention on the theme 'Make in India -- Innovate, Excel and Grow', organised by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) here.

Sometimes, firms might want their company secretaries to do things that may or may not be entirely in accordance with the rules. In such situations the company secretaries should strike a balance in carrying out their duties, Chawla said.
Company secretaries are in a sense the chief compliance officers of the firms, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, BSE Managing Director and CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan said one of the biggest issues before the country is creation of jobs.
The government's 'Make in India' initiative can help create more jobs, he added.