The Delhi High Court has quashed the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) decision against auditor P Ramakrishna in the Global Trust Bank (GTB) case.

The decision comes as a relief for P Ramakrishna, who is a Partner in Lovelock & Lewes, a network affiliate of Price Waterhouse. ICAI held Ramakrishna guilty of professional misconduct in the Global Trust Bank probe.

Sources said ICAI proceeded under old disciplinary norms in the case. The minutes of the case hearing by ICAI was not ready before the Delhi High Court.

Seth Dua & Associates represented P Ramakrishna in this case.

The Delhi High Court said ICAI's decision on P Ramakrishna is not legally tenable. It wants the case to be handled by Director (Disclipine), ICAI.

The high court wants ICAI to now proceed under amended section 21 of the CA Act. ICAI had allegedly proceeded under the unamended CA Act. The court has asked ICAI to pay costs of Rs 10,000 to Ramakrishna within four weeks.

When contacted Amarjit Chopra, President, ICAI said they will appeal against today's decision in the high court.