Privacy Policy
Ragavender & Associates owns and manages the website www.raca.in and the other digital platforms that it may develop in the future (“Platform”). We value your privacy and take our responsibilities in relation to your data seriously.
This Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) is published in compliance with, inter alia:
Section 43A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”);
Rule 4 of the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 (“SPDI Rules”); and
Rule 3(1) of the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
This Privacy Policy explains:
The types of information we collect in relation to our Website;
How we use and process the information collected;
How we ensure the security of your information; and
Your rights with respect to your information. This Privacy Policy covers:
What Information We Collect: The types of information we collect when you access or use our Website.
How We Collect and Use Information: The methods we use to gather information and how we process it to serve your needs.
Your Control Over Information: How you can selectively provide information, and the ways you can access, update, or modify it.
How We Protect Your Information: The measures we take to ensure your information is processed, shared, and stored securely.
General
The Website is owned and managed by Ragavender & Associates (“We,” “Us,” or “Our”), a professional Chartered Accountant firm headquartered at 41/19, Kripasankari Street, West Mambalam, Chennai – 600033, India. This Privacy Policy applies to all current and former users accessing or using Our Website or engaging with Us through email, phone, or other means (collectively, “You” or “Your”)
The collection and processing of information in the course of our delivery of Services, or other contractual or commercial engagements that we may enter into, will be done in accordance with the specific terms applicable thereto, and not by this Privacy Policy.
By accessing or using Our Website or by otherwise providing Us with Your information, You confirm that You have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement and have read, understood, and agreed to the practices and policies outlined in this Privacy Policy.
By accessing or using Our Website, You consent to the collection, use, sharing, and disclosure of Your information as described in this Privacy Policy.
We may modify, add to, or delete portions of this Privacy Policy from time to time. Your continued access to or use of the Website will be deemed as acceptance of these changes. If You do not agree with this Privacy Policy, in part or as a whole, please refrain from accessing or using the Website or providing Us with any of Your information.
If You are accessing or using the Website from any location outside India, You do so at Your own risk and are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with any local laws that may be applicable.
Information Collected and Method of Collection
We collect various types of information about You, both through offline documentation that You may provide and during Your use of Our Website. This includes User Information, Demographic Information, Behavioral Information, and Indirect Information (collectively referred to as “Information”). Each category of information is further defined below to provide clarity.
We collect Your information either directly from You through offline documentation and/or the Website, or indirectly through the use of various technologies.
User Information
To access or use Our Website, You may be required to provide Us with certain information, including but not limited to Your name, email address, mobile number, the company or organization You work for, title, designation, and physical address (collectively referred to as “User Information”).
We may also collect User Information when You visit any of Our offices to inquire about, or avail of, Our Services, or to attend seminars, webinars, conferences, or other events organized by Us. Additionally, We may collect User Information that You provide for attending meetings held at Our offices, such as accessibility and dietary requirements. Such User Information may include details that suggest or imply a member’s health or other sensitive personal data or information (SPDI, as defined below). You acknowledge and consent to the collection of such information, which will be used solely for the aforesaid limited purposes and retained only temporarily.
Demographic Information
We may collect from You information that is not unique to You and pertains to general population characteristics (“Demographic Information”), such as age, gender, and current location details.
Behavioral Information
We may also collect information about how You use the Website, as well as information about Your device and software. This includes usage statistics, traffic data, Your IP address, browser type, operating system, domain names, access times, location details, and specific sections of the Website that You access (collectively referred to as “Behavioral Information”).
Indirect Information
Your use of certain third-party services through the Website may require Us to collect additional information that is deemed necessary for such purposes (“Indirect Information”).
While We may collect Demographic Information, Behavioral Information, and Indirect Information when You access or use Our Website, We collect User Information only with Your prior consent, unless other legal grounds for doing so exist, as outlined in this Privacy Policy. If You provide Us with User Information belonging to third parties, We assume that You have obtained the necessary consent from such third parties and have sufficient rights, approvals, and licenses to share such information with Us.
The Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) and the Sensitive Personal Data or Information Rules, 2011 (“SPDI Rules”) regulate the collection, usage, retention, and disclosure of personal information. Under the SPDI Rules, “Personal Information” is defined as any information that relates to a natural person and, either directly or indirectly, in combination with other information available or likely to be available to a body corporate, is capable of identifying such person.
The SPDI Rules further define “Sensitive Personal Data or Information” (“SPDI”) as Personal Information relating to a person, which includes the following: passwords; financial information such as details of bank accounts, credit cards, debit cards, or other payment instruments; physical, physiological, and mental health conditions; sexual
orientation; medical records and history; biometric information; any detail relating to the above categories provided to a body corporate for the purpose of availing services; and any information received under the above categories by a body corporate for processing, storage, or otherwise under a lawful contract or arrangement.
Some of the Information collected by Us may qualify as Personal Information.
We understand that all Personal Information provided by You to Us is given voluntarily. The collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information require Your express consent, unless other legal grounds exist for Us to collect such information, as outlined in this Privacy Policy. By using or accessing the Website, or otherwise providing Us with Your Personal Information, You are expressly consenting to Our collection, use, retention, transfer, and disclosure of the Personal Information in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy.
In the event of any changes to the data protection laws applicable in India, You expressly consent to Our continued use, storage, collection, and disclosure of Your Information, including Personal Information, to the fullest extent permitted under the amended law. We may contact You to obtain additional consents and approvals as required under the revised law. If You choose not to provide such additional consents and approvals, We may be unable to continue providing You access to the Website or related services.
You may choose not to provide or may withdraw any or all of the information categorized as Personal Information. However, if You choose to do so, We may be unable to grant You access to the Website or provide services that require the collection or processing of such information.
Use of Information
We use Your Information to operate and enhance the functionality of the Website, fostering a positive user experience and improving Our business as a whole; to analyze data, monitor trends, develop algorithms, and create databases for systems such as ratings and recommendation engines; to conduct research aimed at enhancing Our services; for non- targeting purposes such as frequency capping, compliance, information reporting, market research, and service development; to perform audits and quality assessment procedures; and to analyze the utilization of Our resources and troubleshoot issues related to the Website.
In addition to the purposes mentioned above, We also use Your Information, including Personal Information, for internal operational purposes such as record-keeping, accounting, and compliance with applicable taxation laws; for recording information, including dates, times, and locations at which the Website has been accessed using various tracking technologies, to improve the Website and enhance Your experience by providing relevant information (disabling tracking technologies via Your smartphone or web browser settings may limit or prevent Your use of the Website); for providing You with regulatory updates that We believe are relevant to You; to invite You to seminars, webinars, and workshops conducted by Us that may be of interest to You; to comply with applicable law; to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, potential threats to safety, or as otherwise required by law; to respond to queries and communicate information to You, including notifications, alerts, or updates to the Website; and to contact You periodically for Your valuable feedback on the Website, its current functionality, or potential future services. Collectively, these purposes constitute “the Purposes.”
If You wish to opt out of receiving communications, such as information regarding the Website or any regulatory updates provided by Us, You may do so by emailing Us at ragav@raca.in.
Furthermore, We may use social media platforms such as LinkedIn, X (Formerly Twitter), and Facebook. If You choose to engage with Us through any of these platforms, such engagement will be governed by the terms of service and privacy policies of the respective platforms.
Our processing of Your Personal Information in the context of Your visit to and use of Our Website is based on Our legitimate interests to operate an internet website for general information and communication purposes, to optimize the Website, and to protect it from unauthorized access or attacks. Additionally, Our processing of Your Personal Information for providing regulatory updates or conducting other professional development activities aligns with the legitimate interests of users in receiving training, updates, and know-how in accounting and financial matters. These activities also serve Our legitimate interests in developing Our practice and fostering client relationships.
Disclosure of the Information
We disclose Your Information, including Personal Information, to third parties in the following circumstances: to companies and individuals who act as Our counterparties, consultants, and advisors in relation to the Website or Our business operations; to companies and individuals authorized by Us to perform certain functions related to the Website and/or Our business, including third-party service providers, consultants, professional advisors, and insurers; to share aggregated, anonymized information with partners, other Website users, and third parties to improve the Website’s functionality and user experience; to transfer Information, including Personal Information, to third parties, including those located outside India, in furtherance of the above purposes; and to disclose Your Information, including Personal Information, if legally required to do so, pursuant to an order from a governmental authority or in good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to comply with legal obligations or legal processes, protect Our rights or property, prevent a crime or safeguard national security, or protect the personal safety of users or the public.
Such third parties may include: any of Our agents, contractors, or third-party service providers that process or will process Your Information on Our behalf, including but not limited to those providing administrative or other services to Us, such as mailing houses, telecommunication companies, information technology companies, and data centers; and third parties, such as service providers, to whom We disclose Your Information for one or more of the stated purposes, and who may in turn collect and process Your Information, including Personal Information, for those purposes.
Third Party Links
The Website may contain links to third-party websites and services (“Third-Party Services”) that are operated by entities other than Us. We have no control over such Third-Party Services and are not responsible for the collection, use, or disclosure of Your information by these third parties.
We are not liable for any loss or damage incurred by You as a result of the collection, use, or disclosure of Your information through Third-Party Services. Additionally, We disclaim any responsibility for disputes arising out of or in connection with transactions or interactions between You and such third parties.
Third-Party Services, including external websites, applications, or resources accessible via the Website, may have their own privacy policies governing the collection, storage, transfer, retention, and disclosure of Your information. We strongly recommend that You review the privacy policies of such third parties and exercise reasonable diligence, judgment, and common sense before committing to any transaction or sharing Your information.
Changes to Your Information
6.1 You may review, correct, update, or change Your Personal Information by emailing Us at ragav@raca.in.
You may also request Us to delete Your Personal Information. We will process such requests within a reasonable time, provided there are no legal obligations requiring Us to retain certain information.
If You choose to delete Your Personal Information or modify it in a way that cannot be verified or leads to inaccuracies, We may be unable to provide You with access to Our Website. Such deletion or modification may be interpreted as Your intent to discontinue using Our Website and services.
We reserve the right to verify and authenticate Your identity and Personal Information to ensure the accurate and secure delivery of services.
Access to, or the correction, updating, or deletion of, Your Personal Information may be denied or limited if it infringes on another person’s rights or is not permitted by applicable law.
Security of Your Information
We strive to implement and maintain physical, technical, and procedural safeguards that are appropriate to protect Your Information from loss, misuse, copying, damage, modification, unauthorized access, or disclosure. These measures include regular reviews of Our information collection, storage, and processing practices, including physical security measures, to prevent unauthorized access to systems; and restricting access to Personal Information to Our employees, agents, and service providers who require such information to process it for Us. These individuals are subject to strict contractual confidentiality obligations and may face disciplinary action or termination of their relationship with Us if they fail to meet these obligations.
However, We shall not be responsible for any breach of security caused by third parties or for events beyond Our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of government, unauthorized access to computer data or storage devices, hacking, system crashes, breaches of security or encryption protocols, and other such events.
Retention of Information
We will implement measures to ensure that Your Personal Information in Our possession or under Our control is destroyed or anonymized within five years, or sooner, if it is reasonable to assume that (i) the purpose for which the Personal Information was collected is no longer being served and (ii) retention is no longer necessary for any other reason, including compliance with applicable laws.
If You wish for Us to stop using Your Personal Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy, You may contact Us at ragav@raca.in.
We reserve the right to retain, store, and use Your Information, including Personal Information, for Our business purposes, whether or not such Information has been deleted. After a period of time, Your data may be anonymized and aggregated, and then held by Us as long as necessary to provide Our services effectively.
Please note that withdrawing Your consent for the use of Your Personal Information may result in Us being unable to provide You with access to the Website or may lead to the termination of any existing relationship We may have with You.
Disclaimer
We cannot guarantee that all of Your Information, including Personal Information, will never be disclosed in ways not explicitly described in this Privacy Policy. While We are committed to protecting Your privacy, We do not promise, and You should not expect, that Your Information or private communications will always remain completely private. As a user of the Website, You assume all responsibility and risk for Your use of the Website, the internet in general, the information You post or access, and Your conduct both on and off the Website.
Indemnity
You agree and undertake to indemnify Us against any suit or dispute brought by any third party arising from the disclosure of information by You to third parties, whether through Our Website or otherwise, as well as Your use of and access to third-party websites, applications, and resources. We assume no liability for the actions of third parties concerning Your Information or Personal Information that You may have disclosed to such third parties.
Grievance Officer and Contact Information
In accordance with the IT Act and the rules made thereunder, the name and contact details of the Grievance Officer are provided below:
Mr. Ragavender S
You may write to him at the following address:
Ragavender & Associates
41/19, Kripasankari Street,
West Mambalam, Chennai – 600033, India
Or email him at ragav@raca.in.
