Saskatchewan Engineer is Fined, Given Further Orders

APEGS has issued a $10,000 fine and a restriction of practice to Veto Varma, P.Eng., after a hearing panel found Varma guilty of three charges of professional incompetence and professional misconduct.

The charges against Varma arose from work performed while operating as Jaya Engineering and were related to deficiencies in steel beams, deficiencies in helical pile design, and the issue of compliance letters.

The panel found that Varma, operating as Jaya Engineering:

• Issued structural drawings for steel beams that were undersized based on loads prescribed by the National Building Code of Canada;
• Failed to ensure that helical pile design was finalized and designed to support the loads prescribed by the National Building Code of Canada;
• Improperly issued sealed compliance letters certifying that completed structural and foundation work substantially complied with plans and specifications and with National Building Code of Canada standards.

As outlined in the hearing panel’s decision and order of July 11, 2024, Varma will receive a written reprimand for professional incompetence, professional misconduct, and breaches of the Code of Ethics. Within 12 months from the date of the panel’s decision, Varma must pay a $10,000 fine and successfully complete the APEGS online Law and Professionalism Course and Professional Practice Examination.

Varma must also practice under a license restriction limiting unsupervised practice to single residential structures and requiring supervision by a professional engineer approved by the APEGS registrar for any practice involving commercial projects. Varma may seek removal of this license restriction upon providing proof satisfactory to the registrar of the equivalent of 12 months of supervised commercial work.