Shalini, practising Company Secretary, has disclosed information acquired in the course of her professional engagement to a person other than the client, without the consent of such client. Can she do so? Can she retain

Clause 1 of Part I of Second Schedule to the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 provides that a Company Secretary in Practice shall be deemed to be guilty of professional misconduct, if he discloses information acquired in the course of his professional engagement to any person other than the client so engaging him, without the consent of such client, or otherwise than as required by any law for the time being in force. This clause indicates the position of trust and confidence reposed by the client in a Company Secretary in practice. Thus Shalini is guilty under the above mentioned clause. It is suggested that Shalini may retain digital signature of client after obtaining a formal letter signed by his client authorising PCS to make use of his Digital signature.