Prohibition against use of title
Section 37 of the Architects Act, 1972 deals with prohibition against use of title. After the expiry of one year from the date appointed under sub-section (2) of section 24, no person other than a registered architect, or a firm of architects shall use the title and style of architect: Provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to-- (a) practice of the profession The Act came into force on 02 Apr 1973.
(1) After the expiry of one year from the date appointed under sub-section (2) of section 24, no person other than a registered architect, or a firm of architects shall use the title and style of architect:
Provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to--
(a) practice of the profession of an architect by a person designated as a "landscape architect" or "naval architect";
(b) a person who, carrying on the profession of an architect in any country outside India, undertakes the function as a consultant or designer in India for a specific project with the prior permission of the Central Government.
Explanation.-- For the purposes of clause (a),--
(i) "landscape architect" means a person who deals with the design of open spaces relating to plants, trees and landscape;
(ii) "naval architect" means an architect who deals with design and construction of ships.
(2) If any person contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1), he shall be punishable on first conviction with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees and on any subsequent conviction with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine not exceeding one thousand rupees or with both.
Section 37, The Architects Act, 1972 (Act 20 of 1972).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Council of Architecture v. Mukesh Goyal
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
DATE VERIFIED 2020-03-17 (order-32.pdf ROP pronouncing signed reportable judgment; get_order_ai_analysis agrees index/body; SCI signed judgment same date). s.37 bars only use of the title and style of “architect” by persons not registered under the Act; it does not monopoly the practice of architecture by unregistered persons. Separately, because s.37 (read with the Act’s registration/qualification scheme and s.35 deeming) prohibits unregistered persons from using that title/style, a government/authority post itself styled “Architect”/“Associate Architect” cannot be filled by persons lacking an Architects Act–recognised architecture degree unless the nomenclature is changed so it does not use the protected title.
On this section: Leading SC construction of s.37 title-protection: no practice monopoly, but posts/nomenclature using “architect” cannot be held by unqualified/unregistered persons.
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Practicing Architects Association of Marathwada v. Union of India
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2014-12-22 (order-3.pdf). Division Bench dismisses architects’ challenge to municipal building bylaws permitting engineers/supervisors to submit plans; construes Architects Act s.35(2) preference (not exclusive bar) and cites s.37(1) title prohibition / Objects & Reasons that the Act protects the title “architect” but does not monopolise building design/supervision.
On this section: Title-prohibition under Architects Act s.37(1) and Objects & Reasons (title vs practice) applied.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 37
What have the courts held on Section 37 of the Architects Act?
Council of Architecture v. Mukesh Goyal (17 Mar 2020) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Leading SC construction of s.37 title-protection: no practice monopoly, but posts/nomenclature using “architect” cannot be held by unqualified/unregistered persons. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below, 1 of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2014 to 2020.
How do I find court cases under Section 37 of the Architects Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Architects Act 1972 37, section 37 Architects Act 1972, section 37 of the Architects Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Council of Architecture v. Mukesh Goyal (17 Mar 2020).
What should I read with Section 37 of the Architects Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 24 (First preparation of register), so none of them can safely be read on its own.
When did Section 37 of the Architects Act come into force?
Section 37 of the Architects Act, cited as Architects Act 1972 37, came into force on 02 Apr 1973, having been enacted on 31 May 1972. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.