Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Harsh Kachalia
Exploring
Corporate and Economic Laws
----Dedication ----
“Mrs. Savita Ramji Kachalia” –Even though she did not have formal education, shenever
stopped sharing her wisdom, support and encouragement to study
And
To my beloved friend Late “Wasim S. Khatri” who I still can’t believe is not a part of my life.
It is their inspiration and energy that has kept me on my toes all the time and given me the
NEVER QUIT Attitude in life.
“If Tears could build a stairway and, Memorize a lane, I’d walk right upto heaven and bring
you both home again.” ---Anonymous
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Acknowledgement
I take this special opportunity to thank a number of people who provided unconditional
support and encouragement to write this book.
I am thankful to my mother Mrs. Panna Kachalia, my Father Late Mr. Mukesh Kachalia, sister
Mrs. Dhara R. Shah and my betterhalf Mrs. Jalpa H. Kachalia for their unconditional love,
encouragement and having trust in me that I can write this book and contribute to the success
of my students.
I would also like to mention my special thanks to my guru CA Dr. Mahesh Gour Sir, Prof
Jignesh Chedda Sir, Prof. Israr Shaikh Sir, my colleagues Prof. Khushboo Sanghavi Prof.
Bhavesh Waghela, Prof. Amit Rajpurohit, Prof. Kajol Punjabi, Prof. Narayan Purohit, CA
Vivek Panwar, my friends Mr. Aakash Shah, Mrs. Kinjal Dhanani, Mrs. Mansi Patodi and many
others for their blessings and support without whom this attempt to serve my students and
my fraternity wouldn’t have been possible.
Thanks to the great Almighty for giving this ability and strength to me.
The main aim of this book is to make CA Final Law a cake-walk for my students. It requires a
lot of determination and dedication to pursue this course and hence it gives me immense
pleasure to bring this material to you as a ONE STOP SHOP for CA Final Law.
Irrespective of the fact that you may go to any class or not but it is vital to get over with the
syllabus atleast once nearly 4months before exams.
A sheer dedicated effort is must to get over with this exam and to have to 2 alphabetical
prefix (CA) before your name.
All the very best and may the good luck prevail!
(b)Maximum = 15 directors:
If a Company wants to appoint more than fifteen directors, it must pass a special resolution.
** This section is Not Applicable to: Government Companies & section 8 Companies.
Prescribed = Company
* Any vacancy in office of the woman director shall be filled up by board at the earliest but
not later than:
Immediate next Board meeting OR Whichever is later
3 months from date of vacancy
** Second proviso to Sub-section (1) of section 149 shall not apply to Specified IFSC Public
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Company
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
2. RESIDENT DIRECTOR:
Every Company shall have atleast one director who has stays in India for a total period of
not less than one hundred and eighty-two days during the financial year.
Provided that in case of a newly incorporated company the requirement under this sub-
section shall apply proportionately at the end of the financial year in which it is incorporated.
** This sub-section shall apply to a Specified IFSC public company in respect of financial years
other than the first financial year from the date of its incorporation
3. INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR:
a. Prescribed:
i) Every listed Company shall have at least one-third of the total number of directors as
independent directors.
ii) The CG may prescribe the minimum number of independent directors in case of any class
or classes of public companies.
iii) Any fraction contained in such one-third number shall be rounded off as one.
C. Discontinuation of applicability. :
When a Company does not satisfy any of the 3 conditions for consecutive 3 years, then this
section shall cease to apply.
i.e., should not be satisfying even 1 condition for 3 years.
(1) who, in the opinion of the Board, is a person of Integrity and possesses relevant expertise
and experience;
Amendment - in case of a Government Company, the word "Board' shall be substituted by
thewords "Ministry or Department of the CG which is administratively in charge of the
Company or as the case may be, the State Government"
(2) (a) who is or was not a promoter of the Company or its holding, subsidiary or associate
Company;
(b) who is not Related to promoters or directors in the Company, its holding, subsidiary
or associate Company;
(3) who has or had no Pecuniary Relationship, other than remuneration as such director or
having transaction not exceeding 10 % of his total income or such amount as may be prescribed
with the Company, its holding, subsidiary or associate Company, or their promoters, or
directors, during the two immediately preceding financial years or during the current financial
year.
Amendment - Point no. (3) section 149(6)(c) shall not apply in case of a Government
Company.
(4) none of whose relatives has or had pecuniary/monetary relationship or transaction with
the Company, its holding, subsidiary or associate Company, or their promoters, or directors,
amounting to 2% or more of its gross turnover or total income or 50 lakh Rs. or such higher
amount as may be prescribed, whichever is lower, during the two immediately preceding
financial years or during the current financial year;
of such firm;
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(c) holds together with his relatives 2% or more of the total voting power of the Company;
or
(d) is a Chief Executive or director, by whatever name called, of any Non- profit organisation
that receives 25% or more of its receipts from the Company, any of its promoters, directors or
its holding, subsidiary or associate Company or that holds 2% or more of the total Voting
power of the Company; or
(6) who possesses such Other qualifications as may be prescribed.
According to the Companies (Appointmentand Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014,
independent director shall possess appropriate skills, experience and knowledge in one or more
fields of finance, law, management, sales, marketing, administration, research, corporate
governance, technical operations or other disciplines related to the Company‘s business.
Declaration by Independent Director Section 149(7):
Every independent director shall-
(1) at the first meeting of the Board in which he participates as a director; and
(2) thereafter at the first meeting of the Board in every financial year; or
(3) whenever there is any change in the circumstances which may affect his status as an
independent director, give a declaration that he meets the criteria of independence as
provided in sub-section (6).
Code for independent directors Section 149(8):
The Company and independent directors shall abide by the provisions specified in Schedule
IV to the Companies Act, 2013.
Remuneration of Independent Directors Section 149(9):
Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, but subject to the
provisions of sections 197 and 198, an independent director shall not be entitled to any stock
option and may receive remuneration by way of-
(1) fee provided under section 197(5),
(2) reimbursement of expenses for participation in the Board and other meetings and
(3) profit related commission as may be approved by the members.
Provided that if a company has no profits or its profits are inadequate, an independent
director may receive remuneration, exclusive of any fees payable under sub-section (5) of
section 197, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule V.
Tenure Section 149(10) & (11):
(i) Subject to the provisions of section 152 (Appointment of directors),
Term = Max 5 Consecutive Years (1st term)
Re-appointment = Max 5 Consecutive years (2nd term) and disclosure of such
appointment in the Board's report.
(ii) No independent director shall hold office for more than two consecutive terms.
Cooling Period = 3 years
During the said period of three years, such independent director shall not, be appointed in or
be associated with the Company in any other capacity, either directly or indirectly.
Liability Section 149(12):
As per section 149(12) of the Companies Act, 2013, notwithstanding anything contained in
this Act,—
(i) an independent director;
(ii) a non-executive director not being promoter or key managerial personnel, shall be held
liable, only in respect of such acts of omission or commission by a Company which had occurred
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
with his knowledge, attributable through Board processes, and with his consent or connivance
or where he had not acted diligently.
Retirement by rotation Section 149(13):
The provisions of retirement of directors by rotation covered under sub-sections (6) and (7)
of section 152 shall not be applicable to appointment of independent director.
(Note: The provisions of retirement of directors by rotation covered under sub-sections (6) and
(7) of section 152 will be discussed later on in this chapter)
Here, in section 149 ― “Nominee director” means a director nominated by any financial
institution in pursuance ofthe provisions of any law for the time being in force, or of any
agreement, or appointed by any Government, or any other person to represent its interests.
Note - The provisions of sub-section (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10),(11), clause (i) of sub- section
(12) [related to independent director] and sub- section (13) of section 149 of the Companies
Act, 2013 is Not Applicable to a Section 8 Company
In case of Specified IFSC Public Company - Sub-sections (4) to (11), clause (i) of subsection (12)
and subsection (13) of section 149 shall not apply.
Amendment - Rule 6: Compliances required by a person eligible and willing to be appointed as an ID
(1) Every individual –
(a) who has been appointed as an independent director in a company, on the date of
commencement of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Fifth Amendment
Rules, 2019, shall within a period of thirteen months from such commencement; or
(b) who intends to get appointed as an independent director in a company after such
commencement, shall before such appointment,
apply online to the institute for inclusion of his name in the data bank for a period of one year or
five years or for his life-time, and from time to time take steps as specified in sub-rule (2), till he
continues to hold the office of an independent director in any company:
Provided that any individual, including an individual not having DIN, may voluntarily apply to the
institute for inclusion of his name in the data bank.
(2) Every individual whose name has been so included in the data bank shall file an application for
renewal for a further period of one year or five years or for his life-time, within a period of thirty
days from the date of expiry of the period upto which the name of the individual was applied for
inclusion in the data bank, failing which, the name of such individual shall stand removed from the
data bank of the institute: Provided that no application for renewal shall be filed by an individual
who has paid life-time fees for inclusion of his name in the data bank.
(3) Every independent director shall submit a declaration of compliance of sub-rule (1) and sub-rule
(2) to the Board, each time he submits the declaration required under sub-section (7) of section 149
of the Act.
(4) Every individual whose name is so included in the data bank under sub-rule (1) shall pass an
online proficiency self-assessment test conducted by the institute within a period of Two years from
the date of inclusion of his name in the data bank, failing which, his name shall stand removed from
the databank of the institute: Provided that an individual shall not be required to pass the online
proficiency self-assessment test when he has served for a total period of not less than three years as
on the date of inclusion of his name in the data bank,-
(A) as a director or key managerial personnel, as on the date of inclusion of his name in the
databank, in one or more of the following, namely:-
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(b) unlisted public company having a paid-up share capital of rupees ten crore or more; or
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(c) body corporate listed on any recognized stock exchange or in a country which is a member State
of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and the regulator of the securities market in
such member State is a member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions; or
(d) bodies corporate incorporated outside India having a paid-up share capital of US$ 2 million or
more; or
(e) statutory corporations set up under an Act of Parliament or any State Legislature carrying on
commercial activities; or
(B) in the pay scale of Director or above in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs or the Ministry of
Finance or Ministry of Commerce and Industry or the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public
Enterprises and having experience in handling the matters relating to corporate laws or securities laws
or economic laws; or
(C) in the pay scale of Chief General Manager or above in the Securities and Exchange Board or the
Reserve Bank of India or the Insurance Regulatory and Exchange Board or the Reserve Bank of India
or the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India or the Pension Fund Regulatory
and Development Authority and having experience in handling the matters relating to corporate laws
or securities laws or economic laws:
Provided further that for the purpose of calculation of the period of three years referred to in the first
proviso, any period during which an individual was acting as a director or as a key managerial
personnel in two or more companies or bodies corporate or statutory corporations at the same time
shall be counted only once.
Explanation: For the purposes of this rule,-
(a) the expression “institute” means the ‘Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs at Manesar’ notified
under sub-section (1) of section 150 of the Companies Act, 2013 as the institute for the creation and
maintenance of data bank of Independent Directors;
(b) an individual who has obtained a score of not less than fifty percent in aggregate in the online
proficiency self-assessment test shall be deemed to have passed such test;
(c) there shall be no limit on the number of attempts an individual may take for passing the online
proficiency self-assessment test.
4. 150(4): The CG may prescribe the manner and procedure of selection of independent
directors who fulfil the qualifications and requirements specified under section 149.
Note – This Section is Not applicable to Section 8 Companies.
indirectly.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
**In case of a One Person Company, an individual being member shall be deemed to be its
first director until the director or directors are duly appointed by the member.
152(2): Normally every director shall be appointed by the Company in general meeting.
152(3): A person shall not be appointed as a director of a Company unless he has been allotted
the Director Identification Number or any other number as may be prescribed under
section 153 under section 154.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
152(4): Every person proposed to be appointed as a director, shall furnish his Director
Identification Number or any other number as may be prescribed under section 153
and a declaration that he is not disqualified.
152(5): A person appointed as a director shall not act as a director unless he gives his consent
to hold the office as director to Company and such consent has also been filed with
the Registrar within 30 days of his appointment in such manner as may be prescribed.
**Not applicable to:
a) Director appointed by CG &
b) Section 8 Companies.
152(7): Reappointment:
(a) If the vacancy of the retiring director is not so filled-up and the meeting has not expressly
resolved not to fill the vacancy, the meeting shall stand adjourned till the same day in the
next week, at the same time and place, or if that day is a national holiday, till the next
succeeding day which is not a holiday, at the same time and place.
(b) If at the adjourned meeting also, the vacancy of the retiring director is not filled up and
that meeting also has not expressly resolved not to fill the vacancy, the retiring director shall
be deemed to have been re-appointed at the adjourned meeting, unless—
(i) at that meeting or at the previous meeting a resolution for the reappointment of such
director has been put to the meeting and lost,
(ii) the retiring director has, by a notice in writing addressed to the Company or its Board
of directors, expressed his unwillingness to be so re-appointed;
(iii) he is not qualified or is disqualified for appointment;
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(iv) a resolution, whether special or ordinary, is required for his appointment or re-
appointment by virtue of any provisions of this Act; or
(v) Section 162 is applicable to the case.
-retiring director means a director retiring by rotation.
*Not applicable to:
a) Government companies
b) Subsidiary of (a)
c) Specified IFSC Public Company
Exemptions:
Non applicability of section 152(6) and 152(7): Shall not apply to:
(a) Government company, which is not a listed company, in which not less than 51% of paid
up share capital is held by the CG, or by any State Governmentor Governments or by the CG
and one or more State Governments;
(b) a subsidiary of a Government company, referred to in (a) above
Every such intimation shall be furnished in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
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Penalty on company – Min Rs. 25,000 + Rs. 100 per day until failure continues, subject to a
maximum of Rs. 100,000
and every Officer in default - Penalty Min Rs. 25,000 + Rs. 100 per day until failure continues,
subject to a maximum of Rs. 100,000
Section 160 - Right of persons other than retiring directors to stand for
directorship
1. Eligibility: A person who is not a retiring director shall, be eligible for appointment to the
office of a director at any general meeting.
3. Time limit for filing nomination: Atleast 14 days before the meeting.
4. Refund of Deposit: Deposit shall be refunded if the person proposed gets elected as a
director gets more than 25% of total valid votes.
Note - Sec 8 companies i.e. NPO may refund even if votes received are less than or equal to
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25%.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
The Company shall inform its members of the candidature of the nominated person for the
office of director.
This section is NA to :
a) Government companies in which 100% of PUSC is held by CG/SG/both.
b) Subsidiary of (a)
c) Private Company.
d) In case of Section 8 company - Section 160 shall not apply to companies whose articles
provide for election of directors by ballot
In case of Specified IFSC Public Company - Section 160 shall apply as per the articles framed
by the company.
Amendment: The requirements of deposit of amount shall not apply in case of appointment
of an ID or a director recommended by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee or a
director recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company, in the case of a company
not required to constitute Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
his term of office expires in the normal course, the resulting casual vacancy may, in default of
and subject to any regulations in the articles of the Company, be filled by the Board of
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Explanation — For reckoning the limit of public companies in which a person can be appointed
as director, directorship in private companies that are either holding or subsidiary Company of
a public Company shall be included.
1. Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the members of a Company may, by special
resolution, specify any lesser number of companies in which a director of the Company may
act as directors.
2. Any person holding office as director in companies more than the limits as specified in sub-
section (1), immediately before the commencement of this Act shall, within a period of one
year from such commencement,—
(a) choose not more than the specified limit of those companies, as companies in which he
wishes to continue to hold the office of director;
(b) resign his office as director in the other remaining companies; and
(c) intimate the choice made by him under clause (a), to each of the companies in which he
was holding the office of director before such commencement and to the Registrar having
jurisdiction in respect of each such Company.
3. Any resignation made in pursuance of clause (b) of sub-section (3) shall become effective
immediately on the despatch thereof to the Company concerned.
4. No such person shall act as director in more than the specified number of companies,—
(a) after despatching the resignation of his office as director or non-executive director
thereof, in pursuance of clause (b) of sub-section (3); or (b) after the expiry of one year from
the commencement of this Act, whichever is earlier.
If a person accepts an appointment as a director in violation of this section, he shall be liable
to a penalty of Rs. 2000 for each day after the first during which such violation continues,
subject to a maximum of Rs.200,000
void.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
7. If a director of the Company contravenes the provisions of this section such director shall
be punishable with fine which shall not be less than Rs. 100,000 but which may extend to
Rs. 500,000. A director of a Company shall act in accordance with the articles of the
Company.
(b) shall also be kept open for inspection at every AGM of the Company and shall be made
accessible to any person attending the meeting.
(2) If any inspection as provided in clause (a) of sub-section (1) is refused, or if any copy required
under that clause is not sent within 30 days from the date of receipt of such request, the
Registrar shall on an application made to him order immediate inspection and supply of copies
required thereunder.
**Note –
In case of Specified IFSC Public Company and Specified IFSC Private Company - In Sub-section
(2) of section 170 for the words “thirty days” at both places read as “sixty days”.
This section is Not Applicable to:
Government companies in which 100% of PUSC is held by CG/SG/both.
Note:
In case of Specified IFSC Public Company & IFSC Private Company - In sub-section (1) of
Section 173, after the proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:-
“Provided further that a Specified IFSC public company shall hold the first meeting of the
Board of Directors within 60 days of its incorporation and thereafter hold at least one
meeting of the Board of Directors in each half of a calendar year.”
For section 8 companies: Minimum 1 board meeting within every 6 months.
5. EXCEPTION:
An OPC, Small company, Dormant company and a Private company (if such private
company is a start-up) shall be deemed to have complied with the provisions of this section if
at least one meeting of the Board of Directors has been conducted in each half of a calendar
year and the gap between the two meetings is not less than 90 days.
Provided that nothing contained in this subsection and in section 174 shall apply to One
person Company in which there is only one director on its Board of Directors.
Any director who intends to participate in the meeting through electronic mode may intimate
about such participation at the beginning of the calendar year and such declaration shall be
valid for one year.
Provided that such declaration shall not debar him from participation in the meeting in
person in which case he shall intimate the company sufficiently in advance of his intention to
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participate in person.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(ii) A resolution that has been passed by circulation shall have to be necessarily be noted in
the next meeting of board or the committee, as the case may be, and made part of the
minutes of such meeting.
2. COMPOSITION:
The Audit Committee shall consist of:-
a) A minimum of 3 directors
b) With independent directors forming a majority.
c) Provided that majority of members of Audit Committee including its Chairperson must be
persons financially literate.
**Amendment – Point (b) above is not applicable to Sec. 8 Company
b) Review and monitor the auditor’s independence and performance, and effectiveness of
audit process.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
5. AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE:
The Audit Committee shall have authority to investigate into any matter related to its functions
or referred to it by the Board and for this purpose shall have power to obtain professional
advice from external sources and have full access to information contained in the records of
the Company.
6. ROLE OF AUDITOR IN AUDIT COMMITTEE:
The auditors of a Company and the key managerial personnel shall have a right to be heard
in the meetings of the Audit Committee when it considers the auditor’s report but shall not
have the right to vote.
7. DISCLOSURE IN BOARD REPORT:
The Board’s report must disclose the composition of an Audit Committee and where the
Board had not accepted any recommendation of the Audit Committee, the same must be
disclosed in such report along with the reasons.
8. VIGIL MECHANISM:
Every listed Company or such class or classes of companies, as may be prescribed, must
establish a vigil mechanism for directors and employees to report genuine concerns in such
manner as may be prescribed. Companies (Meeting of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014
have prescribed the following classes of companies which shall have to set up a vigil
mechanism:
a) A Company which accepts Public deposits.
b) A Company which has borrowed money from banks & public financial institutions in
excess of Rs. 50 Crore.
Objective of formation of vigil mechanism:
(a) A vigil mechanism shall be formed for directors and employees to report genuine concerns
in such manner as may be prescribed.
(b) The vigil mechanism shall provide for adequate safeguards against victimization of persons
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who use such mechanism and make provision for direct access to the chairperson of the Audit
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the details of the establishment of vigil mechanism on the website of the Company and in
Board‘s report.
According to the Companies (meetings of Board and its powers) Rules, 2014:
(1) ‘Persons who use such mechanism’ means employees and directors who avail the vigil
mechanism.
(2) The companies which are required to constitute an audit committee shall oversee the vigil
mechanism through the committee and if any of the members of the committee have a
conflict of interest in a given case, they should rescue themselves and the others on the
committee would deal with the matter on hand.
(3) In case of other companies, the Board of directors shall nominate a director to play the
role of audit committee for the purpose of vigil mechanism to whom other directors and
employees may report their concerns.
(4) The employees and directors who avail of vigil mechanism may have direct access to the
Chairperson of the Audit Committee or the director nominated to play the role of Audit
Committee, as the case may be, in exceptional cases.
(5) In case of repeated frivolous complaints being filed by a director or an employee, the
audit committee or the director nominated to play the role of audit committee may take
suitable action against theconcerned director or employee including reprimand.
Note: For related party transaction- Approval from audit committee (in case 177 applies to
the Company) is must. But they can give omnibus (blanket) approval of Rs. 1 crore per
Financial Year.
Note: The recommendation for appointment, remuneration and terms of appointment of
auditors of the Company is normally done by audit Co. but for government Company the
word appointment will not come, rest and all same, because C&AG will take care of that.
Committee.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Company;
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
or an undertaking which generates twenty percent of the total income of the Company during
the previous financial year;
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
The expression “substantially the whole of the undertaking” in any financial year shall mean
twenty percent or more of the value of the undertaking as per the audited balance sheet of
the preceding financial year.
(2) Every special resolution passed by the Company in general meeting in relation to
borrowings shall specify the total amount up to which monies may be borrowed by the
Board of Directors.
(3) A debt incurred by the Company in excess of the limit imposed by clause on borrowing
shall not be valid or effectual, unless the lender proves that he advanced the loan in good faith
and without knowledge that the limit imposed by that clause had been exceeded.
Exception: Nothing contained in point with respect to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the
whole or substantially the whole of the undertaking of the company shall affect—
(1) the title of a buyer or other person who buys or takes on lease any property, investment
or undertaking as is referred to in that clause, in good faith; or
(2) The sale or lease of any property of the company where the ordinary business of the
company consists of, or comprises, such selling or leasing.
Imposition of condition: Any special resolution passed by the company consenting to the
transaction as is referred above may stipulate such conditions as may be specified in such
resolution, including conditions regarding the use, disposal or investment of the sale proceeds
which may result from the transactions.
**Amendment – This section is Not Applicable to Private companies.
contribution at a Board meeting and such resolution shall be deemed to be justification in law
for the making and the acceptance of the contribution authorised by it.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(b) Thereafter, at the first meeting of the Board in every financial year, or
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(2) CONTRAVENTION:
a) CONTRACT: A contract entered into without disclosure or with participation by a director
who is concerned or interested directly or indirectly shall be voidable at the option of the
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Company.
b) DIRECTOR IN DEFAULT: If a director of the Company contravenes, such director shall be
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**Amendment – In case of Private Company, After disclosure of interest, that director may
participate in Meeting.
**Amendment - Section 8 Companies: Disclosure of interest required only if Transaction
value in which director is interested exceeds Rs.1,00,000/-
more of the paid-up share capital is held by the CG/SG or both, in respect of loans provided
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
by such company for funding Industrial Research and Development projects in furtherance
objects as stated in its memorandum of association.
(8) No company which is in default in the repayment of any deposits accepted before or
after the commencement of this Act or in payment of interest thereon, shall give any loan or
give any guarantee or provide any security or make an acquisition till such default is
subsisting.
(9) Every company giving loan or giving a guarantee or providing security or making an
acquisition under this section shall keep a register which shall contain such particulars and
shall be maintained in such manner as may be prescribed.
(10) The register referred to in sub-section (9) shall be kept at the registered office of the
company and
(a) shall be open to inspection at such office; and
(b) extracts may be taken therefrom by any member, and copies thereof may be furnished to
any member of the company on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.
(11) This section [except (1)] is not applicable to —
(a) to any loan made, any guarantee given or any security provided or any investment made
in the ordinary course of its business, or a company established with the object of and
engaged in the business of financing industrial enterprises, or of providing infrastructural
facilities by :
- Banking company, or
- Insurance company, or
- Housing finance company
(b) to any investment—
(i) made by an investment company;
(ii) made in shares allotted in pursuance of section 62(1)(a) or in shares allotted in
pursuanceof rights issues made by a body corporate;
(iii) made, in respect of investment or lending activities, by a non-banking financial company
registered under Chapter III-B of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and whose principal
business is acquisition of securities.
(12) The Central Government may make rules for the purposes of this section.
(13) If a company contravenes the provisions of this section, the company shall be
punishable with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand rupees but which may
extend to five lakh rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and with fine
which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh
rupees.
Explanation— For the purposes of this section,—
(a) the expression “investment company” means a company whose principal business is the
acquisition of shares, debentures or other securities and a company will be deemed to be
principally engaged in the business of acquisition of shares, debentures or other securities, if
its assets in the form of investment in shares, debentures or other securities constitute not less
33
than fifty percent of its total assets, or if its income derived from investment business
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case may be, the State Government before entering into such contract or arrangement.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
6. Every RPT entered shall be disclosed in the Board’s report along with the justification for
entering into such contract or arrangement.
7. Contravention:
Where any contract or arrangement is entered into without
obtaining the consent of the Board or approval by a Ordinary resolution in the general
meeting
Can be ratified
within three months from the date of contract
By the Board By the Shareholders
Voidable Voidable
*If the contract or arrangement is with a related party to any director, or is authorised by any
other director, the directors concerned shall indemnify the Company against any loss incurred
by it.
8. The Company can proceed against a director or any other employee who had entered into
such contract or arrangement in contravention of the provisions of this section for recovery
of any loss sustained by it as a result of such contract or arrangement.
9. Any director or any other employee of a Company, who had entered into or authorized
the contract or arrangement in violation of the provisions of this section shall,—
a. In case of listed Company, liable to a penalty of Rs. 25,00,000 AND
b. In case of any other Company, liable to a penalty of Rs. 500,000
* The register shall be prepared in such manner and containing such particulars as may be
prescribed and after entering the particulars, the duly filled and updated register or registers
shall be placed before the next meeting of the Board and signed by all the directors present
at the meeting.
* Such register shall be prepared in such manner and contain such particulars as may be
prescribed.
* Every director or key managerial personnel shall, within a period of 30 days of his
appointment, or relinquishment of his office, as the case may be, disclose to the Company
the particulars specified in section 184(1) relating to his concern or interest in the other
associations which are required to be included in the register under that sub-section or such
other information relating to himself as may be prescribed.
* The register shall be kept at the registered office of the Company and it shall be open for
inspection at such office during business hours
* Extracts may be taken from the register, and copies thereof as may be required by any
member of the Company shall be furnished by the Company to such extent, in such
manner, and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.
* The register shall also be produced at the commencement of every AGM of the Company
and shall remain open and accessible during the continuance of the meeting to any person
having the right to attend the meeting. Thus, even a proxy has the rights to inspect the
Register.
* Nothing contained in section 189(1) shall apply to any contract or arrangement-
(a) for the sale, purchase or supply of any goods, materials or services if the value of such
goods and materials or the cost of such services does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000 in the
aggregate in any year; or
(b) by a banking Company for the collection of bills in the ordinary course of its business.
*
Every director who fails to comply with the provisions of this section and the rules made
thereunder shall be liable to a penalty of Rs. 25,000.
(2) Exception: Consideration for retirement from office or in connection with such loss or
retirement within limits or priorities, as may be prescribed.
(3) If the payment is not approved for want of quorum either in a meeting or an adjourned
meeting, the proposal shall not be deemed to have been approved.
(4) If a director receives payment of any amount in contravention of (1) or the proposed
payment is made before it is approved in the meeting, the amount so received by the director
shall be deemed to have been received by him in trust for the Company.
(5) Penalty for Contravention on director – Rs. 1 lakh
(6) According to the Companies (Meeting of Board & its Powers) Rules, 2014:
(a)Particulars to be disclosed to members for taking approval:
(i) Name of Director.
(ii) Amount proposed to be paid.
(iii) Event due to which compensation became payable.
(iv) Date of Board meeting.
(v) Basis for amount determined.
(vi) Reason for justification of payment.
(vii)Manner of payment.
(viii)Sources of payment.
(ix) Other relevant particulars.
(b) Compensation paid u/s 191 shall not exceed limit set out u/s 202.
(c) Compensation for loss of office shall not be paid if:
(i)The Company has defaulted in repayment of Public deposits or Interest thereon.
(ii)The Company has defaulted in Redemption of Debentures or payment of Interest thereon.
(iii)The Company has defaulted in repayment of any liability, secured or unsecured payable
to bank or Public financial Institution or any other financial Institution.
(iv) The Company has defaulted in payment of dues towards Taxes and duties by whatever
name called, payable to CG, SG, Local authority or Statutory authority.
(v) There are outstanding dues payable to Workmen & employees of the Company.
(vi) The Company has not paid dividend on preference shares or has not redeemed
preference shares on due date.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
* Provided that the company in general meeting may, authorise the payment of
remuneration exceeding 11% of the net profits of the company, subject to the provisions
of Schedule V:
* Provided further that, except with the approval of the company in general meeting By a
special resolution, —
* (i) the remuneration payable to any one managing
director; or whole-time director or manager shall not exceed PROFIT
5% of the net profits of the company and if there is more
than one such director remuneration shall not exceed 10%
of the net profits to all such directors and manager taken
together;
(ii) the remuneration payable to directors who are neither
managing directors nor whole-time directors shall not
exceed,
* (A) 1% of the net profits of the company, if there is a managing or whole-time director or
manager;
* (B) 3% of the net profits in any other case.
Provided also that, where the company has defaulted in payment of dues to any bank or public
financial institution or non-convertible debenture holders or any other secured creditor, the
prior approval of the bank or public financial institution concerned or the non-convertible
debenture holders or other secured creditor, as the case may be, shall be obtained by the
company before obtaining the approval in the general meeting.
(2) The percentages aforesaid shall be exclusive of any fees payable to directors under sub-
section (5).
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), but subject to the provisions
of Schedule V, if, in any financial year, a company has no profits or its profits are inadequate,
the company shall not pay to its directors, including any managing or wholetime director or
manager or any other non-executive director, including an independent director, by way of
remuneration any sum exclusive of any fees payable to directors under sub-section (5)
hereunder except in accordance with the provisions of Schedule V .
(4) The remuneration payable to the directors of a company, including any managing or whole-
time director or manager, shall be determined, in accordance with and subject to the provisions
of this section, either by the articles of the company, or by a resolution or, if the articles so
require, by a special resolution, passed by the company in general meeting and the
remuneration payable to a director determined aforesaid shall be inclusive of the remuneration
payable to him for the services rendered by him in any other capacity:
* Provided that any remuneration for services rendered by any such director in other capacity
shall not be so included if—
(a) the services rendered are of a professional nature; and
(b) in the opinion of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, if the company is covered
under sub-section (1) of section 178, or the Board of Directors in other cases, the director
possesses the requisite qualification for the practice of the profession.
(5) A director may receive remuneration by way of fee for attending meetings of the Board or
Committee thereof or for any other purpose whatsoever as may be decided by the Board:
* Provided that the amount of such fees shall not exceed the amount as may be prescribed:
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* Provided further that different fees for different classes of companies and fees in respect of
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(6) A director or manager may be paid remuneration either by way of a monthly payment or
at a specified percentage of the net profits of the company or partly by one way and partly by
the other.
(7) Omitted
(8) The net profits for the purposes of this section shall be computed in the manner referred to
in section 198.
(9) If any director draws or receives, directly or indirectly, by way of remuneration any such
sums in excess of the limit prescribed by this section or without approval required under this
section, he shall refund such sums to the company, within two years or such lesser period as
may be allowed by the company, and until such sum is refunded, hold it in trust for the
company.
(10) The company shall not waive the recovery of any sum refundable to it under sub-section
(9) unless approved by the company by special resolution within two years from the date the
sum becomes refundable.
* Provided that where the company has defaulted in payment of dues to any bank or public
financial institution or non-convertible debenture holders or any other secured creditor, the
prior approval of the bank or public financial institution concerned or the non-convertible
debenture holders or other secured creditor, as the case may be, shall be obtained by the
company before obtaining approval of such waiver.
(11) In cases where Schedule V is applicable on grounds of no profits or inadequate profits, any
provision relating to the remuneration of any director which purports to increase or has the
effect of increasing the amount thereof, whether the provision be contained in the company’s
memorandum or articles, or in an agreement entered into by it, or in any resolution passed by
the company in general meeting or its Board, shall not have any effect unless such increase is in
accordance with the conditions specified in that Schedule.
(12) Every listed company shall disclose in the Board’s report, the ratio of the remuneration of
each director to the median employee’s remuneration and such other details as may be
prescribed.
(13) Where any insurance is taken by a company on behalf of its managing director, whole-
time director, manager, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Company Secretary
for indemnifying any of them against any liability in respect of any negligence, default,
misfeasance, breach of duty or breach of trust for which they may be guilty in relation to the
company, the premium paid on such insurance shall not be treated as part of the remuneration
payable to any such personnel:
* Provided that if such person is proved to be guilty, the premium paid on such insurance
shall be treated as part of the remuneration.
(14) Subject to the provisions of this section, any director who is in receipt of any commission
from the company and who is a managing or whole-time director of the company shall not be
disqualified from receiving any remuneration or commission from any holding company or
subsidiary company of such company subject to its disclosure by the company in the Board’s
report.
(15) If any person makes any default in complying with the provisions of this section, he shall
be liable to a penalty of one lakh rupees and where any default has been made by a company,
the company shall be liable to a penalty of five lakh rupees.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(16) The auditor of the company shall, in his report under section 143, make a statement as to
whether the remuneration paid by the company to its directors is in accordance with the
provisions of this section, whether remuneration paid to any director is in excess of the limit
laid down under this section and give such other details as may be prescribed
(17) On and from the commencement of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, any
application made to the Central Government under the provisions of this section [as it stood
before such commencement], which is pending with that Government shall abate, and the
company shall, within one year of such commencement, obtain the approval in accordance
with the provisions of this section, as so amended
REMUNERATION PAYABLE BY COMPANIES HAVING NO PROFITS OR
INADEQUATE PROFITS WITHOUT APPROVAL OF CG - SCHEDULE V-PART II-
SECTION II
In any financial year where a Company has no profits or its profits are inadequate, it may pay
higher of following two options (either A or B) as remuneration to a managerial person:
Option (A)
Company can pay remuneration as per limits shown in table by passing ordinary resolution:
If special resolution is passed instead of ordinary resolution by the shareholders, the above
limits can be doubled for payment of managerial remuneration.
Option (B)
(B) In case of a managerial person or other director who is functioning in a professional
capacity, remuneration as per item (A) may be paid, if such managerial person or other
director is not having any interest in the capital of the company or its holding company or
any of its subsidiaries directly or indirectly or through any other statutory structures and not
having any, direct or indirect interest or related to the directors or promoters of the company
or its holding company or any of its subsidiaries at any time during the last two years before
or on or after the date of appointment and possesses graduate level qualification with
expertise and specialised knowledge in the field in which the company operates:
Provided that any employee of a company holding shares of the company not exceeding
0.5% of its paid up share capital under any scheme formulated for allotment of shares to such
employees including Employees Stock Option Plan or by way of qualification shall be deemed
to be a person not having any interest in the capital of the company;
Provided further that the limits specified under items (A) and (B) of this section shall apply, if-
(i) payment of remuneration is approved by a resolution passed by the Board and, in the case
of a company covered under sub-section (1) of suction 178 also by the Nomination and
Remuneration Committee;
43
(ii)the company has not committed any default in payment of dues to any bank or public
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financial institution or non-convertible debenture holders or any other secured creditor, and
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
in case of default, the prior approval of the bank or public financial institution concerned or
the non-convertible debenture holders or other secured creditor, as the case may be, shall be
obtained by the company before obtaining the approval in the general meeting.
(iii) an ordinary resolution or a special resolution, as the case may be, has been passed for
payment of remuneration as per 13[Omitted] item (A) or a special resolution has been passed
for payment of remuneration as per item (B), at the general meeting of the company for a
period not exceeding three years.
(iv) a statement along with a notice calling the general meeting referred to in clause (iii) is
given to the shareholders containing the following information, namely:-
I. General information:
(1) Nature of industry
(2) Date or expected date of commencement of commercial production
(3) In case of new companies, expected date of commencement of activities as per project
approved by financial institutions appearing in the prospectus
(4) Financial performance based on given indicators
(5) Foreign investments or collaborations, if any.
II. Information about the appointee:
(1) Background details
(2) Past remuneration
(3) Recognition or awards
(4) Job profile and his suitability
(5) Remuneration proposed
(6) Comparative remuneration profile with respect to industry, size of the company, profile
of the position and person (in case of expatriates the relevant details would be with respect
to the country of his origin)
(7) Pecuniary relationship directly or indirectly with the company, or relationship with the
managerial personnel or other director, if any.
III. Other information:
(1) Reasons of loss or inadequate profits
(2) Steps taken or proposed to be taken for improvement
(3) Expected increase in productivity and profits in measurable terms
IV. Disclosures
The following disclosures shall be mentioned in the Board of Director’s report under the
heading “Corporate Governance”, if any, attached to the Financial statement:
(i) all elements of remuneration package such as salary, benefits, bonuses, stock options,
pension, etc., of all the directors;
(ii) details of fixed component. and performance linked incentives along with the
performance criteria;
(iii) service contracts, notice period, severance fees; and
(iv) stock option details, if any, and whether the same has been issued at a discount as well as
the period over which accrued and over which exercisable.
Disclosure of remuneration in Boards report
Amendment: Disclose Top Ten employees of the Company and Name of employees who
was in receipt of remuneration not less than Rs. 1.02 Crores p.a. / Rs. 8.50 Lakhs p.m.)
The following disclosures shall be mentioned in the Board of Director’s report under the
44
(i) all elements of remuneration package such as salary, benefits, bonuses, stock options,
pension, etc., of all the directors;
(ii) details of fixed component. and performance linked incentives along with the
performance criteria;
(iii) service contracts, notice period, severance fees; and stock option details, if any, and
whether the same has been issued at a discount as well as the period over which accrued and
over which exercisable.
**EFFECTIVE CAPITAL
* Remuneration to the managerial personal under Schedule V is paid according to effective
capital of Company. Effective capital is calculated as under:
Particular Amount
Paid up share capital (excluding share application money or advances against
shares)
Add: Reserve and surplus (excluding revaluation reserve)
Add: Securities premium account
Add: Long term loans
Add: Deposits repayable after one year (excluding working capital loan,
overdraft, interest due
on loan, bank guarantee)
Less: Investments
Less: Accumulated loss and Preliminary expenses not written off
Total
Important Note:
Negative effective capital means effective capital less than zero.
Time when effective capital shall be calculated
* Where the appointment of the managerial person is made in the year in which
Company has been incorporated, the effective capital shall be calculated as on the date of
such appointment.
* In any other case, the effective capital is calculated as on the last date of the financial year
preceding the financial year in which the appointment of the managerial person is made.
Sec 199: RECOVERY OF REMUNERATION IN CERTAIN CASES
* Where a Company is required to re-state its financial statements due to fraud or non-
compliance with any requirement under this Act and the rules made thereunder,
* the Company shall recover from any past or present managing director or whole-time
director or manager or Chief Executive Officer (by whatever name called)
* who, during the period for which the financial statements are required to be re-stated,
received the remuneration (including stock option)
* in excess of what would have been payable to him as per restatement of financial
statements.
While fixing the remuneration, the Company shall have regard to—
* the financial position of the Company;
* the remuneration or commission drawn by the individual concerned in any other capacity;
* the remuneration or commission drawn by him from any other Company;
* professional qualifications and experience of the individual concerned;
* such other matters as may be prescribed.
According to Rule 6 of the Companies for the purposes of clause (e) above the company shall
have regard to the following matters, namely:-
(1) the Financial and operating performance of the company during the three preceding
financial years.
(2) the relationship between remuneration and performance.
(3) the principle of proportionality of remuneration within the company, ideally by a rating
methodology which compares the remuneration of directors to that of other directors on the
board and employees or executives of the company.
(4) whether remuneration policy for directors differs from remuneration policy for other
employees and if so, an explanation for the difference.
(5) the securities held by the director, including options and details of the shares pledged as at
the end of the preceding financial year.
company for payment of remuneration for a period not exceeding three years.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(d) a statement along-with a notice calling the general meeting referred to above point (c),
shall contain the information as per sub clause (iv) of second proviso to clause (B) of section II
of part-II of Schedule V of the Act including reasons and justification for payment of
remuneration beyond the said limit.
(e) The company has filed Balance Sheet and Annual Return which are due to be filed with
the Registrar of Companies.
(f) Every such application seeking approval shall be made to the CG within a period of ninety
days from the date of such appointment.
- Specific notice should state that such resolution shall be moved at the board meeting.
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
- A whole-time key managerial personnel holding office in more than one Company at
the same time, shall, within a period of 6 months from such commencement, choose
one Company, in which he wishes to continue to hold the office of key managerial
personnel.
Other provisions relating to KMP
A KMP is included within the meaning of “Officer In Default” under the Act.
* A document or proceeding requiring authentication by a Company; or contracts made by
or on behalf of a Company, may be signed by any key managerial personnel or an officer
of the Company duly authorised by the Board in this behalf.
* Details regarding KMP, changes therein and the remuneration paid to them are required to
be disclosed in the Annual Return of the Company.
* A person whose relative is employed as a KMP in a Company is disqualified to be
appointed as auditor in that Company.
* A person is disqualified to be appointed as an independent director if he either himself or
through his relative holds or has held the position of a key managerial personnel of the
Company or its holding, subsidiary or associate Company in any of the 3 financial years
immediately preceding the financial year in which he is proposed to be appointed.
* The key managerial personnel shall have a right to be heard in the meetings of the Audit
Committee when it considers the auditor’s report but shall not have the right to vote.
Section 4A: The provisions of sub-section (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this section shall not apply to
a managing director or Chief Executive Officer or manager and in their absence, a whole time
director of the Government company.”
Penalty -
Co. – Rs. 5 lakh and
Every director and key managerial personnel in default – Rs. 50,000 + Rs.1000 per day until
default continues but Max Rs. 5 lakh
explain in full any qualification or observation or other remarks made by the Company
secretary in practice in his report under sub-section (1).
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Contravention:
If a Company or any officer of the Company or the Company secretary in practice, contravenes
the provisions of this section, the Company, every officer of the Company or the Company
secretary in practice, who is in default, shall be liable to a penalty of Rs. 200,000.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Oppression Mismanagement
Affairs of the Co. Any Material Change
(Post / Present) [Existing / Propose]
In BOD (Mgt.),
Pre-Judicial in In Ownership (Share Capital)
Public Interest, Interest of Company, or Membership (No Share Capital),
Applicant himself, Others etc. pre-judicial to the Interest of Stake-holders
etc.
(2) The Central Government, if it is of the opinion that the affairs of the company are being
conducted in a manner prejudicial to public interest, it may itself apply to the Tribunal
for an order under this Chapter.
Provided that the applications under this sub-section, in respect of such company or class of
companies, as may be prescribed, shall be made before the Principal Bench of the Tribunal
which shall be dealt with such Bench.
Amendment - Sec 241(3) - Where in the opinion of the Central Government there exist
circumstances suggesting that–
(a) any person concerned in the conduct and management of the affairs of a company is or
has been in connection therewith guilty of fraud, misfeasance, persistent negligence or default
in carrying out his obligations and functions under the law or of breach of trust;
(b) the business of a company is not or has not been conducted and managed by such person
in accordance with sound business principles or prudent commercial practices;
(c) a company is or has been conducted and managed by such person in a manner which is
likely to cause, or has caused, serious injury or damage to the interest of the trade, industry or
business to which such company pertains; or
(d) the business of a company is or has been conducted and managed by such person with
intent to defraud its creditors, members or any other person or otherwise for a fraudulent or
unlawful purpose or in a manner prejudicial to public interest, the Central Government may
initiate a case against such person and refer the same to the Tribunal with a request that the
Tribunal may inquire into the case and record a decision as to whether or not such person is a
fit and proper person to hold the office of director or any other office connected with the
conduct and management of any company.
Sec 241(4) - The person against whom a case is referred to the Tribunal under sub-section (3),
51
OR
1/10 of Issued Share Capital
th
- Tribunal may accept application of Lesser No. of People that specified above if it deems fit.
- Joint Shareholder = 1 shareholder
Penalty:-
Company OID
1,00,000 – 25,00,000 Fine: 25,000 – 1,00,000
Key : S A F A R R A C O
S- Relating to Shareholding of the Co.
[Reduction of Share Capital, Restriction on Transfer / Allotment etc.]
3
F- Fraudulent Preference
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
A- Agreement:-
Note : Tribunal shall have the power to alter, modify or set aside any such agreement entered
by the company with the director or the third party.
R- Removal of MD / Manager / Director and fixing the manner for appointment of MD /
Manager / Director.
R- Recovery of undue Gains of MD / Manager / Director
→ Note:-
1) Any type of order passed / Alterations made by Tribunal shall be filled with ROC within 30
days of such order / Alteration.
2) Sec 242(4A) - At the conclusion of the hearing of the case in respect of sub-section (3) of
section 241, the Tribunal shall record its decision stating therein specifically as to whether or
not the respondent is a fit and proper person to hold the office of director or any other
office connected with the conduct and management of any company.
appointed, or act, as the managing director or other director or manager of the company:
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Provided that the Tribunal shall not grant leave under this clause unless notice of the
intention to apply for leave has been served on the Central Government and that
Government has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.
(1A) The person who is not a fit and proper person pursuant to sub-section (4A) of section
242 shall not hold the office of a director or any other office connected with the conduct and
management of the affairs of any company for a period of five years from the date of the
said decision:
Provided that the Central Government may, with the leave of the Tribunal, permit such
person to hold any such office before the expiry of the said period of 5 years.
(1B) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, or any other law
for the time being in force, or any contract, memorandum or articles, on the removal of a
person from the office of a director or any other office connected with the conduct and
management of the affairs of the company, that person shall not be entitled to, or be paid,
any compensation for the loss or termination of office.
Sec 243(2) - Any person who knowingly acts as a managing director or other director or
manager of a company in contravention of clause (b) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (1A),
and every other director of the company who is knowingly a party to such contravention,
shall be punishable with with fine which may extend to Rs. 500,000.
Members Depositors
5% of Total Depositors or
Co. having Share Otherwise 100 Depositors (w.e.l.)
Capital atleast 5% of or Such other Depositors to whom the Co.
SH’s 1/5th of Total owes 5 % of total debt of Co.
or 100 SH’s (w.e.l.) members
OR 5% of ISC
(Unlisted Co.) / 2%
of ISC (Listed Co.)
2) Such No (as above), if are of the opinion that the affairs of the Co. are prejudicial to the
Interest of Members, Depositors or Co. itself then they may file application to Tribunal seeking
the following orders:-
a. Restrain the Co.:
i) From committing any act which is ultra-virus its AOA / MOA.
ii) From committing breach of any Provision of its MOA / AOA.
iii) From taking any Action that is contrary to any Resolution Passed by SH’s
iv) From doing any other Act in Contradiction to any Provision under this section or any
other law for the time being in Force.
54
ii) The Auditor’s or any Experts / Advirors / Consultants for any unlawful or wrongful Acts
or for Disclosing any Improper or Mis-leading statement in its Reports.
c. Seek any other Remedy as Tribunal may deem fit.
3) Conditions for Accepting / Considering the Application of Members / Depositors:-
The Tribunal shall take into A/c’s the following:-
i) Whether the Member / Depositor is Acting in Good faith while making application.
ii) Involvement of any other person other than Directors if any
iii) Views of other members / Depositors of the Company.
iv) Where the cause of Action is on Act / Omission
4) If Application u/s 245 is Accepted by Tribunal, it must be with Regards to the following:
- Serve a Public Notice to the Members / Depositors
- Consolidate any Similar Action / Application Prevalent in any Jurisdiction.
- Two Class Action Applications for the same cause – Not allowed
- Cost of Application = DEFRAYED (Provided) by the Co. or any other person Responsible
for such oppressive Act.
5) Order of Tribunal:-
- It shall be Final & Binding on Co., Creditors, Members, Depositors, Auditors, Audit Firms,
Experts, Consultants etc.
Company OID
5,00,000 – 25,00,000 Fine:- 25,000 - 1,00,000
Imprisonment: Upto 3 yrs. OR Both
7) Application filed to the Tribunal:-
If found frivolous (Not having serious purpose) vexatious (Try to bring action without sufficient
against one person)
Tribunal may Reject the Application along with Reasons for Rejections in writing & Require the
Applicant to pay Max. ` 1,00,000 to opposite Party.
Note:-This Sec. is not applicable to a Banking Co.
Sec. 246- Application of certain provisions to proceedings under
Sec.241 or Sec.245
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The provisions of Sec.337-341 (relating to winding up) shall apply mutatis mutandis in
relation to an application made to the tribunal under 241 or 245.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Company“AB
”
* Compromise = to give away some rights
* Arrangement = Reorganisation of Co.’s Sharecapital = Consolidation / Subdivision
Note: Wherever the word ‘tribunal’ occurs in Section 230,231 & 232,
the word ‘CG’ chall be substituted.
Sec. 230: Power to make Compromise & Arrangement
1) Application to Tribunal: (Form NCLT 1)
Including
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(Form CAA- 1)
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
* Contents of Notice:
- Details of C&A
- Copy of Valuation Report
- Effect on Crs / KMP / Promoters / Dir / Debn Holders / Debn Trustees etc.
* Disclosure of Notice:
- Website of Company
- If Listed Company:- to Stock Exchange & SEBI for their Websites.
- Publish in 2 Daily Newspapers - one of English language and one of vernacular language of
the district of the registered office of the company or as the tribunal may direct.
- Advtertisement shall include time wherein copy of C&A Scheme would be available free of
cost.
6) Sanction of Scheme:
- Scheme Approved if == Majority in nos.
+
Min 3/4 (in value) of Crs./ Members/ etc.
th
7) Order of Tribunal
- As it may deem fit
- Order by tribunal = only after Auditors Certificate is recd., that accounting treatment as per
new scheme is in accordance with prescribed AS.
10) Buy-Back
-No C&A if Buy-Back is not as prescribed u/s 68 of the Co’s Act, 2013.
Explanation I. - "shares" means the equity shares of the company carrying voting rights, and includes
any securities, such as depository receipts, which entitles the holder thereof to exercise voting rights.
Explanation II.-Nothing in this sub-rule shall apply to any transfer or transmission of shares through a
contract, arrangement or succession, as the case may be, or any transfer made in pursuance of any
statutory or regulatory requirement.
(b) details of a bank account, to be opened separately, by the member wherein a sum of amount not
less than one-half of total consideration of the takeover offer is deposited.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
2) If Tribunal Satisfied that the Scheme of C&A IS NOT / CANNOT be implemented Properly,
it may order winding up of Such Company
5) Filing to ROC
Within 30 Days of receipt of Certified copy of order.
6) Appointed Date
Scheme shall be applicable from ‘Appointed Date’ onwards mentioned in Scheme
7) Untill final completion of Scheme
Certified by Expert
BUT
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BUT
FTM allowed only in case of:
a) 2 or more Small Companies [Sec. 2(85)] or
b) Holding and Wholly owned subsidiary
Conditions:
* BR required in both companies where: - Scheme of merger is approved by BOD.
ROC &
Notice Official
* Form CAA9 Liquidator
=Opinions within 30 Days
* Convene a GM:
Scheme Approved if approved by atleast 90% SHs. (value)
* Declaration of Solvency shall be submitted in Form CAA-10
* Notice to Crs. → 21 Days Notice → approved by 90% Crs. (value)
* Submit Form CAA-11 scheme to CG, ROC & Official Liquidator by The Company (If ROC /
O.L. has any objection, they can submit to CG)
AND
If CG is satisfied that merger is Not in Public Int. / Crs.Int thenCG may dismiss the FTM &
refer the case to NCLT & require to be done as per Sec. 232. Form CAA-13
* If CG satisfied → It will grant approval for FTM & CAA-11 copy of merger → to ROC →
Form INC 28
* CG may refer case to NCLT within 60 days of receiving CAA-11
* IF NCLT Passes Order of Merger
Effects of Merger:
(a) Trf. of Property / Liability of Transferer to Transferee
(b) Any charge on property of Transferer = enforceable as if it is the property of Transferee.
(c) Legal cases against Transferer = Now continue in name of Transferee
(d) Any payment to dissenting Shs/Crs. = Liability of Transferee Company
* Shs. of Transferer Company should be cancelled (Old Company)
* If Sh. Cap → after amalgation / merger = Transferee Company shall pay fees to ROC only
on revised Sh. Cap.
Eg. SC of New Company = 1,00,000 Fees Pd. = 1000
SC of New Company = 2,00,000 Fees Pd. = 2000
SC of New Company = 3,50,000 Fees Pd. = 500 (on Rs. 3 L – 3.5L) after
merger
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
disclosing the steps it has taken to ensure that necessary cash will be available; and
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(c) every such circular shall be presented to the Registrar for registration and no such circular
shall be issued until it is so registered:
Provided that the Registrar may refuse, for reasons to be recorded in writing, to register any
such circular which does not contain the information required to be given under clause (a) or
which sets out such information in a manner likely to give a false impression, and
communicate such refusal to the parties within thirty days of the application.
(2) An appeal shall lie to the Tribunal against an order of the Registrar refusing to register any
circular under sub-section (1).
(3) The director who issues a circular which has not been presented for registration and
registered under sub-section (1)(c), shall be liable to a penalty of Rs. 100,000/-
(2) Subject to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, a foreign company,
may with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India, merge into a company registered
under this Act or vice versa and the terms and conditions of the scheme of merger may
provide, among other things, for the payment of consideration to the shareholders of the
merging company in cash, or in Depository Receipts, or partly in cash and partly in
Depository Receipts, as the case may be, as per the scheme to be drawn up for the purpose.
(2) The acquirer, person or group of persons under sub-section (1)shall offer to the minority
shareholders of the company for buying the equity shares held by such shareholders at a
price determined on the basis of valuation by a registered valuer in accordance with such
rules as may be prescribed.
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2), the minority shareholders
of the company may offer to the majority shareholders to purchase the minority equity
shareholding of the company at the price determined in accordance with such rules as may be
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(4)The majority shareholders shall deposit an amount equal to the value of shares to be
acquired by them under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), as the case may be, in a separate
bank account to be operated by company whose shares are being transferred for at least 1
year for payment to the minority shareholders and such amount shall be disbursed to the
entitled shareholders within 60 days:
Provided that such disbursement shall continue to be made to the entitled shareholders for a
period of 1 year, who for any reason had not been made disbursement within the said period
of 60 days or if the disbursement have been made within the aforesaid period of 60 days, fail
to receive or claim payment arising out of such disbursement.
(5) In the event of a purchase under this section, company whose shares are being
transferred shall act as a transfer agent for receiving and paying the price to the minority
shareholders and for taking delivery of the shares and delivering such shares to the majority,
as the case may be.
(6) In the absence of a physical delivery of shares by the shareholders within the time
specified by the company, the share certificates shall be deemed to be cancelled, and
company whose shares are being transferred shall be authorised to issue shares in lieu of the
cancelled shares and complete the transfer in accordance with law and make payment of the
price out of deposit made under sub-section (4) by the majority in advance to the minority
by despatch of such payment.
(7) In the event of a majority shareholder or shareholders requiring a full purchase and
making payment of price by deposit with the company for any shareholder or shareholders
who have died or ceased to exist, or whose heirs, successors, administrators or assignees have
not been brought on record by transmission, the right of such shareholders to make an offer
for sale of minority equity shareholding shall continue and be available for a period of three
years from the date of majority acquisition or majority shareholding.
(8) Where the shares of minority shareholders have been acquired in pursuance of this section
and as on or prior to the date of transfer following such acquisition, the shareholders holding
seventy-five per cent. or more minority equity shareholding negotiate or reach an
understanding on a higher price for any transfer, proposed or agreed upon, of the shares held
by them without disclosing the fact or likelihood of transfer taking place on the basis of such
negotiation, understanding or agreement, the majority shareholders shall share the additional
compensation so received by them with such minority shareholders on a pro rata basis.
(9) When a shareholder or the majority equity shareholder fails to acquire full purchase of the
shares of the minority equity shareholders, then, the provisions of this section shall continue
to apply to the residual minority equity shareholders, even though,—
(a) the shares of the company of the residual minority equity shareholder had been delisted;
and
(b) the period of one year or the period specified in the regulations made by the Securities
and Exchange Board under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, had elapsed.
C: Compensation
In case of alteration in the Sh. Capital of the Stakeholders, the stakeholders may Demand
Compensation for Differential Shareholding.
A: Appeal
Any compensation assessed to be paid shall be published in OG by CG.
If Dissatisfied with compensation, aggrieved party may file a case within 30 Days to Tribunal
for assessment.
O: Opportunity of Being Heard
A reasonable OOBH shall be provided to stakeholders.
O: Order (Draft)
Before making final Order,
* Copy of Draft Order shall be sent by Both Parties.
* CG has made necessary modification as it may deem fit in order of tribunal & given
stakeholders atleast 2 months time to give suggestions.
WINDING UP (NEW)
* if any execution or other process issued on decree or order of any court or tribunal in
favour of creditor of Company is returned unsatisfied in whole or in part; or
* if it is proved to satisfaction of Tribunal that Company is unable to pay its debts , Tribunal
shall take into account contingent & prospective liabilities of Company.
* Terms & conditions of appointment & fee payable be specified by Tribunal on basis of task
required to be performed, experience, qualification of such liquidator & size of Company
* On appointment as provisional liquidator or Company Liquidator, liquidator shall file
declaration within 7 days from date of appointment disclosing conflict of interest or lack of
independence in respect of his appointment, with Tribunal
* existing & contingent liabilities of Company stating separately amount of secured &
unsecured debts, & in case of secured debts, particulars of securities given
* debts due to Company & names, addresses, occupations of persons from whom they are
due & amount likely to be realised,
* guarantees , extended by Co;
* list of contributories & dues , payable by them & details of any unpaid call;
* details of trade marks & intellectual properties owned
* details of subsisting contracts, joint ventures & collaborations ,
* details of holding & subsidiary companies,
* details of legal cases filed by or against Co; &
* other information which Tribunal may direct or Company Liquidator may consider
necessary.
* Company Liquidator shall include manner in which Company was promoted/ formed &
whether in his opinion fraud has been committed in its promotion/ formation or by officer
of Company since formation & other matters desirable to bring to notice of Tribunal
* Company Liquidator shall also make report on viability of business of Company or steps
which, in his opinion, are necessary for maximising value of assets
* Company Liquidator may also, if he thinks fit, make any further reports
* Person describing himself in writing to be creditor or contributory of Company be entitled
by himself or by his agent at all reasonable times to inspect report & take copies/ extracts
on payment of prescribed fees
* While settling, Tribunal shall include every person, who is or has been member, who shall
be liable to contribute to assets of Company amount sufficient for payment of debts &
liabilities & costs, charges & expenses of winding up, & for adjustment of rights of
contributories among themselves, subject tofollowing conditions:
• person who has been member not be liable to contribute if he has ceased to be
member for preceding 1 year or more before commencement of winding up;
• person who has been member not be liable to contribute in respect of any debt or
liability of Company contracted after he ceased to be member;
• no person who has been member be liable to contribute unless it appears to Tribunal
that present members are unable to satisfy contributions required to be made by them
in pursuance of this Act;
• in case of Company limited by shares , no contribution be required exceeding amount,
unpaid on shares in respect of which he is liable as such member;
• in case of Company limited by guarantee, no contribution be required exceeding
amount undertaken to be contributed to assets of Company in event of its being
wound up but if Company has share capital, member shall be liable to contribute to
extent of sum unpaid on shares held by him as if Company were Company limited by
shares.
* Company Liquidator :
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
• in case of unlimited Co, allow to contributory, by way of set-off, money due to him or
to estate, but not money due to him as member of Company in respect of any
dividend or profit; &
• in case of limited Co, allow director or manager whose liability is unlimited, or his
estate, set-off
* In case of Company, whether limited or unlimited, when all creditors have been paid in
full, money due to contributory from Company may be allowed to him by way of set-off
against subsequent call.
such me, amount in which he is indebted, either in full discharge of whole amount or not, as
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proportion.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
* any sale held, without leave of Tribunal of any of properties or effects of Company, after
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* Nothing in this section shall apply to any proceedings for recovery of tax or impost or any
dues payable to Government.
3,00,000/-
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
* It shall be good defence if accused proves that he had no intent to defraud or to conceal
true state of affairs of Company or to defeat law
* Every person who takes in pawn or pledge or otherwise receives property, knowing it to
be pawned, pledged, or disposed of in circumstances, shall be punishable with
imprisonment- 3 to 5 years & fine - Rs. 3,00,000/- to 5,00,000/-.
Note : Sec 337 to Sec 343 are not applicable to CA Final (Old/New) Syllabus
2) After expiry of 5 years from dissolution of Co., no responsibility shall devolve on Co., Co.
Liquidator, or person to whom custody of books & papers entrusted
3) CG may, by rules:
* prevent for such period as it thinks proper destruction of books & papers of Co. which has
been wound up & of its Co. Liquidator; &
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
4) If person acts in contravention of rule framed or order under subsection (3), he shall be
punishable with fine upto Rs. 50,000.
Note : Sec 348 to Sec 351 are not applicable to CA Final (Old/New) Syllabus
* if it thinks fit for purpose of ascertaining those wishes, direct meetings of creditors or
contributories to be called, held & conducted in manner as Tribunal may direct; &
* appoint person to act as chairman of any such meeting & to report result thereof to
Tribunal
* While ascertaining wishes of creditors, regard shall be had to value of each debt of creditor
* While ascertaining wishes of contributories, regard shall be had to number of votes which
may be cast by each contributory.
Sec 355: Court, Tribunal or person, etc., before whom affidavit may be
sworn
Affidavit required to be sworn under provisions/ this Chapter may be sworn:
* in India before any court, tribunal, judge or person lawfully authorised to take & receive
affidavits; &
* in any other country before any court, judge or person lawfully authorised to take &
receive affidavits or before Indian diplomatic or consular officer
* All tribunals, judges, Justices, commissioners & persons acting judicially in India shall take
judicial notice of seal, stamp or signature, of any such court, tribunal, judge, person,
diplomatic or consular officer, attached, appended or subscribed to affidavit or to other
document for purposes of this Chapter.
C.G. has set up 2 quasi judicial bodies. One is NCLT and another is NCLAT.
Constitution of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)
* NCLT will consist of President + such number of judicial Members + such number Technical
Members as CG may deem fit.
* There are many benches of NCLT across India BUT president will be there only in principal
bench other benches will constitute of only judicial and technical members.
Judicial Member Qualification:
* A judge of a High Court or
* A District Judge for at least five years or
* An advocate of a court for at least ten years.
(b) a senior Judge of the Supreme Court or Chief Justice of High Court—Member;
(c) Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs—Member; and
(d) Secretary in the Ministry of Law and Justice—Member.
Where in a meeting of the Selection Committee, there is equality of votes on any matter, the
Chairperson shall have a casting vote
Resignation of Members
The President, the Chairperson or any Member may, by notice in writing under his hand
addressed to the CG, resign from his office
Provided that the President, the Chairperson, or the Member shall continue to hold office
until
* The expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice by the CG or
* Until a person duly appointed as his successor enters upon his office or
* Until the expiry of his term of office,
Whichever is earlier.
Removal of Members
The CG may, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, remove from office the
President, Chairperson or any Member, who has been
* adjudged an insolvent; or
* convicted of an offence which, involves moral turpitude; or
* has become physically or mentally incapable
* has acquired such financial or other interest
* has so abused his position
* acted prejudicial to the public interest;
**After giving opportunity of being heard
Staff of Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal to be appointed by C.G. on such allowances and
salaries fixed by them.
Benches of Tribunal
There shall be constituted such number of Benches of the Tribunal, as may, by notification, be
specified by the CG
Presently there are 11 benches. Set up at New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Chandigarh,
Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai.
The Principal Bench of the Tribunal shall be at New Delhi which shall be presided over by the
President of the Tribunal.
Benches consisting of two Members out of whom one shall be a Judicial Member and the
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C.G. may constitute bench with 2/3 member also – provided judicial members forms
majority. Special bench for rehabilitation, restructuring, reviving, winding up can also be
formed. Since no more BIFR.
Orders of Tribunal
Can pass order after giving reasonable opportunity of being heard.
Within 2 years – it can review its own decision with a view to rectify mistake apparent from
record and amend the decision and send copy to parties concerned.
In any proceeding relating to a sick Company or winding up of any other Company, in order
to take into custody or under its control all property, books of account or other documents.
Magistrate shall authorise.
Limitation
The provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963 shall, as far as may be, apply to proceedings or
appeals before the Tribunal or the Appellate Tribunal, as the case may be.
(b) any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Company Law Board made before
such date may file an appeal to the High Court within 60 days from the date of
communication of the decision or order of the Company Law Board to him on any question
of law arising out of such order:
Provided that the High Court may if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by
sufficient cause from filing an appeal within the said period, allow it to be filed within a
further period not exceeding 60 days; and
(c) all proceedings under the Companies Act, 1956, including proceedings relating to
arbitration, compromise, arrangements and reconstruction and winding up of companies,
pending immediately before such date before any District Court or High Court, shall stand
transferred to the Tribunal and the Tribunal may proceed to deal with such proceedings
from the stage before their transfer:
Provided that only such proceedings relating to the winding up of companies shall be
transferred to the Tribunal that are at a stage as may be prescribed by the Central
Government.
Provided also that only such proceedings relating to cases other than winding-up, for which
orders for allowing or otherwise of the proceedings are not reserved by the High Courts shall
be transferred to the Tribunal:
Provided further that – (i) all proceedings under the Companies Act, 1956 other than the
cases relating to winding up of companies that are reserved for orders for allowing or
otherwise such proceedings; or (ii) the proceedings relating to winding up of companies
which have not been transferred from the High Courts; shall be dealt with in accordance with
provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and the Companies (Court) Rules, 1959”
Provided also that proceedings relating to cases of voluntary winding up of a company where
notice of the resolution by advertisement has been given under sub-section (1) of section 485
of the Companies Act, 1956 but the company has not been dissolved before the 1st April,
2017 shall continue to be dealt with in accordance with orovisions of the Companies Act.
1956 and the Companies (Court) Rules, 1959.
(2) The Central Government may make rules consistent with the provisions of this Act to
ensure timely transfer of all matters, proceedings or cases pending before the Company Law
Board or the courts, to the Tribunal under this section.
Issue of fresh redeemable preference shares where the Companyis not in a position to redeem
preference shares and to pay dividend.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
1. Foreign Company
According to section 2(42) of the Companies Act, 2013, “foreign Company” means any
Company or body corporate incorporated outside India which -
* has a place of business in India whether by it self or through an agent, physically or through
electronic mode; and
* conducts any business activity in India in any other manner.
According to the Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules, 2014, ”electronic
mode” means carrying out electronically based, whether main server is installed in India or not,
including, but not limited to -
* business to business and business to consumer transactions, data interchange and other
digital supply transactions;
* offering to accept deposits or inviting deposits or accepting deposits or subscriptions in
securities, in India or from citizens of India;
* financial settlements, web based marketing, advisory and transactional services, database
services and products, supply chain management;
* online services such as telemarketing, telecommuting, telemedicine, education and
information research; and
* all related data communication services,whether conducted by e-mail, mobile devices,
social media, cloud computing, document management, voice or data transmission or
otherwise.
2. Application of Act to foreign companies (Sec.379 of the Companies Act, 2013)
According to this section:
(1) Section 380 to 386 (both inclusive) and sections 392 and 393 shall apply to all foreign
companies.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(2) Where not less than 50% of the paid-up share capital, whether equity or preference or
partly equity and partly preference, of a foreign Company is held by:
* one or more citizens of India; or
* by one or more companies or bodies corporate incorporated in India; or
* by one or more citizens of India and one or more companies or bodies corporate
incorporated in India,
whether singly or in the aggregate, such Company shall comply with the provisions of this
Chapter and such other provisions of this Act as may be prescribed with regard to the business
carried on by it in India as if it were a Company incorporated in India.
prescribed, and
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According to the Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules, 2014, every foreign
Company shall prepare financial statement of its Indian business operations in accordance with
Schedule III or as near thereto as possible for each financial year including:
* documents that are required to be annexed should be in accordance with Chapter IX i.e.
Accounts of Companies.
* The documents relating to copies of latest consolidated financial statements of the parent
foreign Company, as submitted by it to the prescribed authority in the country of its
incorporation under the applicable laws there.
* The CG is empowered to direct that, in the case of any foreign Company or class
of foreign companies, the requirements of clause (a) of section 381(1) shall not apply, or
shall apply subject to such exceptions and modifications as may be specified in notification
in that behalf.
* If any of the specified documents are not in the English language, a certified translation
thereof in the English language shall be annexed. [Section 381 (2)]
Every foreign Company shall send to the Registrar along with the documents required to be
delivered to him, a copy of a list in the prescribed form, of all places of business established
by the Company in India as at the date with reference to which the balance sheet referred to
in section381(1) is made.
According to the Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules, 2014, every foreign
Company shall file with the Registrar, along with the financial statement, in Form FC3 with
such fee as provided under Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 a list of all
the places of business established by the foreign Company in India as on the date of balance
sheet.
According to the Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules, 2014, if any foreign
Company ceases to have a place of b usiness in India, it shall forthwith give notice of the fact
to the Registrar, and as from the date on which notice is so given, the obligation of the
Company to deliver any document to the Registrar shall cease, if it does not have other place
of business in India.
According to the Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules, 2014,
(a) Further, every foreign Company shall, along with the financial statement required to be
filed with the Registrar, attach thereto the following documents; namely: -
• Statement of related party transaction
• Statement of repatriation of profits
• Statement of transfer of funds (including dividends, if any)
The above statements shall include such other particulars as are prescribed in the Companies
(Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules, 2014.
(b)All these documents shall be delivered to the Registrar within a period of 6 months of the
close of the financial year of the foreign Company to which the documents relate.
(c) Audit of accounts of foreign Company: According to the Companies (Registration
of Foreign Companies) Rules, 2014.
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* Every foreign Company shall get its accounts, pertaining to the Indian business operations
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prepared in accordance with section 381(1) and Rules thereunder, shall be audited by a
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
in India, the books of account referred to in that section, with respect to monies received
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
and spent, sales and purchases made, and assets and liabilities, in the course of or in relation
to its business in India.
* The provisions of Chapter VI (Registration of Charges) shall apply mutatis mutandis to
charges on properties which are created or acquired by any foreign Company.
* The provisions of Chapter XIV (Inspection, inquiry and investigation) shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the Indian business of a foreign Company as they apply to a Company
incorporated in India.
case of a prospectus issued more than two years after the date at which the company is
entitled to commence business.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(2) Any condition requiring or binding an applicant for securities to waive compliance with
any requirement imposed by virtue of sub-section (1), or purporting to impute him with
notice of any contract, documents or matter not specifically referred to in the prospectus,
shall be void.
(3) No person shall issue to any person in India a form of application for securities of such a
company or intended company as is mentioned in sub-section (1), unless the form is issued
with a prospectus which complies with the provisions of this Chapter and such issue does not
contravene the provisions of section 388:
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply if it is shown that the form of application was
issued in connection with a bona fide invitation to a person to enter into an underwriting
agreement with respect to securities.
(5) Nothing in this section shall limit or diminish any liability which any person may incur
under any law for the time being in force in India or under this Act apart from this section.
(2) Subject to the provisions of section 376, the provisions of Chapter XX shall apply mutatis
mutandis for closure of the place of business of a foreign company in India as if it were a
company incorporated in India in case such foreign company has raised monies through offer
or issue of securities under this Chapter which have not been repaid or redeemed.
Sec. 206 - Power of the Registrar to call for information and inspect documents
(1) Where on a scrutiny of any document filed by a company or on any information
received by him, the Register is of the opinion that any further information or explanation or
any further documents relating to the company is necessary, he may by a written notice
require the company :-
a. to furnish in writing such information or explanation; or
b. to produce such documents, within such reasonable time, as may be specified in the
notice.
(2) On the receipt of a notice under sub-section (1), it shall be the duty of the company and
of its officers concerned to furnish such information or explanation to the best of their
knowledge and power and to Produce the documents to the Registrar within the time
specified or extended by the Registrar:
Provided that where such information or explanation relates to any past period, the officers
who had been in the employment of the company for such period, if so called upon by the
Registrar through a notice served on them in writing, shall also furnish such information or
explanation to the best of their knowledge.
(3) If no information or explanation is furnished to the Registrar within the time specified
under sub-section (1) -
or if an examination of the documents furnished is of the opinion that the information or
explanation furnished is inadequate or if the Registrar is satisfied on a scrutiny of the
documents furnished thatan unsatisfactory state of affairs exists in the company and does not
disclose a full and fair statement of the information required, he may, by another written
notice, call on the company to produce for his inspection such further books of account
books, papers and explanation as he may require at such place and at such time as he may
specify in the notice.
(4) If the Registrar is satisfied on the basis of information available with or funished to him
or on a representation made to him by any person that the business of a company is being
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carried on for a fraudulent or unlawful purpose or not incompliance with the provisions of
this Act or if the grievances of investors are not being addressed, the Registrar may, after
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informing the company of the allegations made against it by a written order, call on the
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
company to furnish in in writing any information or explanation matters specified in the order
within such time as he may specify therein and carry out such inquiry as a deems fit after
providing the company a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
Provided that the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that the circumstances so warrant,
direct the Registrar or an inspector appointed by it for the purpose to carry out the inquiry
under this sub-section:
Provided further that where business of a company has been or is being carried on for a
fraudulent or unlawful purpose, every officer of the company who is in default shall be
punishable for fraud in the manner as provided in section 447.
(5) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, the Central Government
may, if it is satisfied that the circumstances so warrant, direct inspection of books and papers
of a company by an inspector appointed by it for the purpose.
(6) The Central Government may, having regard to the circumstances by general or special
order, authorise any statutory authority to carry out the inspection of books of account of a
company or class of companies.
(7) If a company fails to furnish any information or explanation or produce any document
required under this section, the company and every officer of the company, who is in default
shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to one lakh rupees and in the case of a
continuing failure, with an additional fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for every
day after the first during which the failure continues.
(ii) If a director or an officer of the company has been convicted of an offence under this
section, the director or the officer shall, on and from the date on which he is so convicted, be
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deemed to have vacated his office as such and on such and on such vacation of office, shall be
disqualified from holding on office in any company.
(1) Where, upon information in his possession or otherwise, the Registrar or inspector has
reasonable ground to believe that the books and papers of a company, or relating to the key
managerial personnel or any director or auditor or company secretary in practice if the
company has not appointed a company secretary, are likely to be destroyed, mutilated,
altered, falsified or secreted, he may, after obtaining an order from the Special Court for the
seizure of such books and papers,-
(a) enter, with such assistance as may be required, and search, the place or places where
such books on papers are kept; and
(b) Seize such books and papers as he considers necessary after allowing the company to take
copies extracts from, such books or papers at its cost.
(2) The Registrar or inspector shall return the books and papers seized under sub-section
(1), as soon as may be, and in any case not later than 180 days of seizure to the company
from whose custody or power such books or papers were seized.
Provided that the books and papers may be called for by the Registrar or inspector for a
further period of 180 days by an order in writing if they are needed again.
Provided further that the Registrar or inspector may, before returning such books and papers
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as aforesaid, take copies of, or extracts from them or place identification marks on them or
any part thereof or deal with the same in such other manner as he considers necessary.
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(3) The provisions of the CrPC, 1973 relating to searches or seizures shall apply, mutatis
mutandis, to every search and seizure shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to every search and
seizure made under this section.
(3) The Central Government shall, by notification, appoint a Director in the Serious Fraud
Investigation Office, who shall be an officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the
Government of India having knowledge and experience in dealing with matters relating to
corporate affairs.
(4) The Central Government may appoint such experts and other officers and employees in
the Serious Fraud Investigation Office as it considers necessary for the efficient discharge of its
functions under this Act.
(5) The terms and conditions of service of Director, experts, and other officers and employees
of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office shall be such as may be prescribed.
Applicable Rules
Companies (Inspection, Investigation and Inquiry) Rules, 2014
Rule 3. Appointment of persons having expertise in various fields —
The Central Government may appoint persons having expertise in the fields of investigations,
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cyber forensics, financial accounting, management accounting, cost accounting and any other
fields as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of Serious Fraud Investigation Office
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(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in the CrPC, 1973, offence covered under section
447 of this Act shall be cognizable and no person accused of any offence under those sections
shall be released on bail or on his own bond unless:—
(i) the Public Prosecutor has been given an opportunity to oppose the application for such
release; and
(ii) where the Public Prosecutor opposes the application, the court is satisfied that there are
reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence and that he is not likely
to commit any offence while on bail: Provided that a person, who. is under the age of sixteen
years or is a woman or is sick or infirm, may be released on bail, if the Special Court so
directs: Provided further that the Special Court shall not take cognizance of any offence
referred to this sub section except upon complaint in writing made by—
(i) the Director, Serious Fraud Investigation Office; or
(ii) any officer of the Central Government authorised, by a general or special order in
writing in this behalf by that Government.
(7) The Limitation on granting of bail specified in sub-section(6) is in addition to the
limitations under the CrPC, 1973 or any other law for the time being in force on granting of
bail.
(8) If any officer not below the rank of Assistant Director of Serious Frauds Investigation office
authorised in this behalf by the Central Government by general or special order, has on the
basis of material in his possession reason to believe (the reason for such belief to be recorded
in writing) that any person has been guilty or any offence punishable under sections referred
to in sub-section (6), he may arrest such person and shall, as soon as may be, inform him of
the grounds for such arrest.
(9) The officer authorised under sub-section (8) shall immediately after arrest of such person
under sub-section (8), forward a copy of the order, along with the material in his possession,
referred to in that sub-section, to the Serious Fraud investigation office in a sealed envelope,
in such manner as may be prescribed and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office shall keep
such order and material for such period as may be prescribed.
(10) Every person arrested under sub-section (8) shall within twenty-four hours, be taken to a
SPECIAL COURT or judicial Magistrate or a Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be,
having jurisdiction; Provided that the period of twenty-four hours shall exclude the time
necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrate’s court.
(11) The Central Government if so directs, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office shall submit
an interim to the Central Government.
(12) On completion of the investigation, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office shall submit
the investigation report to the Central Government.
(13) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in
force, a copy Of the investigation report may be obtained by any person concerned by
making an application in this regard to the court.
(14) On receipt of the investigation report, the Central Government may, after examination of
the report (and after taking such legal advice, as it may think fit), direct the Serious Fraud
Investigation Office to initiate prosecution against the company and its officers or employees,
who are or have been in employment of the company or any other person directly or
indirectly connected with the affairs of the company.
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(14A) Where the report under sub-section (11) or sub-section (12) states that fraud has taken
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place in a company and due to such fraud any director, key managerial personnel, other
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
officer of the company or any other person or entity, has taken undue advantage or benefit,
whether in the form of any asset, property or cash or in any other manner, the Central
Government may file an application before the Tribunal for appropriate orders with regard to
disgorgement of such asset, property or cash and also for holding such director, key
managerial personnel, other officer or any other person liable personally without any
limitation of liability.
(15) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in
force, the investigation report filed with the Special Court for framing of charges shall be
deemed to be a report filed by a police officer under section 173 of the CrPC, 1973.
(16) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, any investigation or other action taken
or initiated by Serous Fraud Investigation Office under the provisions of the Companies Act,
1956 shall continue to be proceeded with under that Act as if this Act had not been passed.
(17) (a) In case Serious Fraud Investigation Office has been investigating any offence under this
Act, any other investigating agency, State Government, police authority, income-tax
authorities having any information or documents in respect of such offence shall provide all
such information or documents available with it to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office;
(b) The Serious Fraud Investigation Office shall share any information or documents available
with it, with any investigating agency, State Government, police authority or income-tax
authorities, which may be relevant or useful for such investigating agency. State Government,
police authority or income-tax authorities in respect of any offence or matter being
investigated or examined by it under any other law.
Applicable Rules
Companies (Arrests in connection with Investigation by Serious Fraud Investigation office)
Rules, 2017
Rule 2 - (1) Where the Director, Additional Director or Assistant Director of the SFIO
investigating into the affairs of a company other than a Government company or foreign
company has, on the basis of material in his possession, reason to believe (the reason for such
belief to be recorded in writing) that any person has been guilty of any offence punishable
under section 212 of the Act, he may arrest such person;
Provided that in case of an a arrest being made by Additional Director or Assistant Director,
the prior written approval of the Director SFIO shall be obtained.
(2) The Director SFIO shall be the competent authority for all decisions pertaining to arrest.
Rule 3 - Where an arrest of a person is to be made in connection with a Government
company or a foreign company under investigation, such arrest shall be made with prior
written approval of the Central Government.
Provided that the intimation of such arrest shall also be given to the Managing Director or the
person in charge of the affairs of the Government Company and where the person arrested is
the Managing Director or person in-charge of the Government Company, to the Secretary
of the administrative ministry concerned, by the arresting officer.
Rule 4 - The Director, Additional Director or Assistant Director, while exercising powers under
sub-section (8) of section 212 of the Act, shall sign the arrest order together with personal
search memo in the Form appended to these rules and shall serve it on the arrestee and
obtain written acknowledgement of service.
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Rule 5 - The Director, Additional Director or Assistant Director shall forward a copy of the
arrest order along with the material in his possession and all the other documents including
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personal search memo to the office of Director, SFIO in a sealed envelope with a forwarding
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
letter after signing on each page of these documents, so as to reach the office of the Director,
SFIO within twenty four hours through the quickest possible means.
Rule 6 - An arrest register shall be maintained in the office of Director, SFIO and the Director
or any officer nominated by Director shall ensure that entries with regard to particulars of the
arrestee, date and time of arrest and other relevant information pertaining to the arrest are
made in the arrest register in respect of all arrests made by the arresting officers.
Rule 7 - The entry regarding arrest of the person and information given to such person shall
be made in the arrest register immediately on receipt of the documents as specified under rule
5 in the arrest register maintained by the SFIO office.
Rule 8 - The office of Director, SFIO shall preserve the copy of arrest order together with
supporting materials for a period of five years.
a) from the date of judgment or final order of the Trial Court, in cases where the said
judgment has not been impugned in the appellate court; or
b) from the date of disposal of the matter before the final appellate court, in cases where the
said judgment or final order has been impugned, whichever is later.
Rule 9 - The provisions of the CrPC, 1973 (2 of 1974), relating to arrest shall applied mutatis
mutandis to every arrest made under this Act.
- The security shall be refunded to the applicant if the investigation results in prosecution.
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(1) It shall be the duty of all officers and other employees and agents including the former
officers, employees and agents of a company which is under investigation in accordance with
the provisions contained in this Chapter, and where the affairs of any other body corporate or
a person are investigated under section 219, of all officers and other employees and agents
including former officers, employees and agents of such body corporate or a person —
(a) to preserve and to produce to an inspector or any person authorised by him in this behalf
all books and papers of, or relating to, the company or, as the case may be, relating to the
other body corporate or the person, which are in their custody or power; and
(b) otherwise to give to the inspector all assistance in connection with the investigation which
they are reasonably able to give.
(2) The inspector may require any body corporate, other than a body corporate referred to in
sub-section (1), to furnish such information to, or produce such books and papers before him
or any person authorised by him in this behalf as he may consider necessary, if the furnishing
of such information or the production of such books and papers is relevant or necessary for
the purposes of his investigation.
(3) The inspector shall not keep in his custody any books and papers produced under
subsection
(1) or sub-section (2) for more than one hundred and eighty days and return the same to the
company, body corporate, firm or individual by whom or on whose behalf the books and
papers were produced: Provided that the books and papers may be called for by the inspector
if they are needed again for a further period of one hundred and eighty days by an order in
writing.
(4) An inspector may examine on oath —
(a) any of the persons referred to in sub-section (1); and
with the prior approval of the Central Government, any other person,
in relation to the affairs of the company, or other body corporate or person, as the case may
be, and for that purpose may require any of those persons to appear before him personally:
Provided that in case of an investigation under section 212, the prior approval of Director,
Serious Fraud Investigation Office shall ta sufficient under clause .
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any
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contract to the contrary, the inspector, being an officer of the Central Government, making an
investigation under this Chapter shall have all the powers as are vested in a civil court under
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit in respect of the following
matters, namely:—
(a) the discovery and production of books of account and other documents, at such place and
time as may specified by such person;
(b) summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and examining them on oath; and
(c) inspection of any books, registers and other documents of the company at any place.
(6) (i) If any director or officer of the company disobeys the direction issued by the Registrar
or the inspector under this section, the director or the officer shall be punishable with
imprisonment which may extend to one year and with fine which shall not be less than
twenty-five thousand rupees but which, may extend to one lakh rupees.
(ii) If a director or an officer of the company has been convicted been convicted of an offence
under this section the director or the officer shall, on and from the date on which he is so
convicted, be deemed to have vacated his office as such and on such vacation of office, shall
be disqualified from holding an office in any company.
(7) The notes of any examination under sub-section (4) shall be taken down in writing and
shall be read over to , or by, and signed by, the person examined, and may thereafter be used
in evidence against him.
(8) If any person fails without reasonable cause or refuses—
(a) to produce to an inspector or any person authorised by him in this behalf any book or
paper which is his duty under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) to produce;
(b) to furnish any information which is his duty under sub-section (2) to furnish;
(c) to appear before the inspector personally when required to do so under sub-section (4) or
to answer any question which is put to him by the inspector in pursuance of that subsection;
or
(d) to sign the notes of any examination referred to in sub-section (7), he shall be punishable
with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and with fine which shall not
be less than twenty-five thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees, and also
with a further fine which may extend to two thousand rupees for every day after the first
during which the failure or refusal continues.
(9) The officers of the Central Government, State Government, police or statutory authority
shall provide assistance to the inspector for the purpose of inspection, inquiry or investigation,
which the inspector may, with the prior approval of the Central Government, require.
(10) The Central Government may enter into an agreement with the Government of a foreign
State for reciprocal arrangements to assist in any inspection, inquiry or investigation under this
Act or under the corresponding law in force in that State and may, by notification, render the
application of this Chapter in relation to a foreign State with which reciprocal arrangements
have been made subject to such modifications, exceptions, conditions and qualifications as
may be deemed expedient for implementing the agreement with that State.
(11) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in the CrPC, 1973 if, in the course of
an investigation into the affairs of the company, an application is made to the competent
court in India by the inspector stating that evidence is, or may be, available in a country or
place outside India, such court may issue a letter of request to a court or an authority in such
country or place, competent to deal with such request, to examine orally, or otherwise, any
person, supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case, to record his
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statement made in the course of such examination and also to require such person or any
other person to produce any document or thing, which may be in his possession pertaining to
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the case, and to forward all the evidence so taken or collected or the authenticated copies
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
thereof or the things so collected to the court in India which had issued such letter of request:
Provided that the letter of request shall be transmitted in such manner as the Central
Government may specify in this behalf.
Provided further that every statement recorded or document or thing received under this sub-
section shall be deemed to be the evidence collected during course of investigation.
(12) Upon receipt of a letter of request from a court or an authority in a country or place
outside India competent to issue such letter in that country or place for the examination of
any person or production of any document or thing in relation to affairs of a company under
investigation in that country or place, the Central Government may, if it thinks fit, forward
such letter of request to the court concerned which shall thereupon summon the person
before it and record his statement or cause any document or thing to be produced, or send
the letter to any inspector for investigation, who shall thereupon investigate into the affairs of
company m he same manner as the affairs of a company are investigated under this Act and
the inspector shall submit the report to such court within thirty days or such extended time as
the court may allow for further action:
Provided that the evidence taken or collected under this sub-section or authenticated copies
thereof or the things so collected shall be forwarded by the court, to the Central Government
for transmission, in such manner as the Central Government may deem fit, to the court or the
authority in country or place outside India which had issued the letter of request.
(b) seize books and papers as he considers necessary after allowing the company to take
copies of, or extract from, such books and papers at its cost for the purposes of his
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investigation.
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(2) The inspector shall keep in his custody the books and papers seized under this section for
such as period not later than -the conclusion of the investigation as he considers necessary and
thereafter shall return the same to the company or the other body corporate, or, as the case
may be, to the managing director or the manager or any other person from whose custody or
power they were seized:
Provided that the inspector may, before returning such books and papers as aforesaid, take
copies of, or extracts from them or place identification marks on them or any part thereof or
deal with the same in such manner as he considers necessary.
(3) The provisions of the CrPC, 1973 (2 of 1974), relating to searches or seizure shall apply
mutatis mutandis to every search or seizure made under this section.
(2) If any company or other body corporate is liable to be wound up under this Act [or under
the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016] and it appears to the Central Government from
any such report made under section 223 that it is expedient so to do by reason of any such
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circumstances as are referred to in section 213, the Central Government may, unless the
company or body corporate is already being wound up by the Tribunal, cause to be
presented to the Tribunal by any person authorised by the Central Government in this behalf.
(a) a petition for the winding up of the company or body corporate on the ground that it
is just and equitable that it should be wound up ;
(b) an application under section 241 ; or
(c) both
(3) If from any such report as aforesaid, it appears to the Central Government that
proceedings ought, in the public interest, to be brought by the company or any body
corporate whose affairs have been investigated under this Chapter-
(a) for the recovery of damages in respect of any fraud, misfeasance or other misconduct in
connection with the promotion or formation, or the management of the affairs, of such
company or body corporate ; or
(b) for the recovery of any property of such company or body corporate which has been
misapplied or wrongly retained.
the Central Government may itself bring proceedings for winding up in the name of such
company or body corporate.
(4) The Central Government, shall be indemnified by such company or body corporate
against any costs or expenses incurred by it in, or in connection with, any proceedings brought
by virtue of sub-section (3).
(5) Where the report made by an inspector states that fraud has taken place in a company
and due to such fraud any director, key managerial personnel, other officer of the company
or any other person or entity, has taken undue advantage or benefit, whether in the form of
any asset, property or cash or in any other manner, the Central Government may file an
application before the Tribunal for appropriate orders with regard to disgorgement of such
asset, property or cash, as the case may be and also for holding such director, key managerial
personnel, officer or other person liable personally without any limitation of liability.
(2) Any amount for which a company or body corporate is liable under clause (b) of
subsection (1) shall be a first charge on the sums or property mentioned in that clause.
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KINDS OF INVESTIGATION
The Companies Act, 2013 provides for carrying out the following kinds of investigation:
1. Investigation of the affairs of the company if it is necessary to investigate into the affair
company in public interest [Section 210);
2. Investigation of the affairs of related companies [Section 219);
3. Investigation about the ownership of a Company (Section 216)
4. Investigation of foreign companies [Section 228)
5. Investigation by Serious Fraud Investigation Office directed by Central government
under (section 212) .
6. Investigation on the order of Tribunal. (Section 213).
debentures.
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Nothing in the winding up order shall absolve any director or other employee of the company from
participating in the proceedings before the inspector or any liability as a result of the finding by the
inspector.
8. Working results and financial position - General assessment of working of the company,
evaluation of the level of performance and efficiency of the management, a review of the
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profits of the company, performance data, financial position of the company in the context of
its working results for the last three years.
9. Compliance by the company and its officers with the provisions of the Companies Act,
1956/2013.
10. Compliance with the provisions of other Acts applicable to the company.
11. Whether the loans taken and loans advanced to Directors, the fi rms in which they are
partners or companies in which they are Directors are in accordance with the provisions of the
Act.
12. The investments made by the company.
13. Sole selling agency agreement.
14. Instance of mismanagement and other irregularities.
15. Acquisition/disposal of substantial assets.
16. A scrutiny of abnormal/heavy expenditure items.
17. Complaints, if any, against the company and its management and steps taken to redress
them
18. Brief particulars of the litigations against the company and the reasons thereof.
19. Management's relations with the employees and labour.
20. Shareholders—Instance of oppression of minority shareholders, allegations of non-receipt
dividend, notices of meetings, accounts, share certificates, etc.; illegal forfeiture of shares, etc
and steps taken to redress Investors, complaints.
21. Auditors— Name and address of Statutory auditors, Secretarial Auditor and Cost Auditor
compliance as per the provisions of Companies Act, 2013.
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District Court:
In cases where the Central Government has, by notification, empowered any district court to
exercise all or any of the jurisdictions conferred upon the High Court, within the scope of its
jurisdiction in respect of a company whose registered office is situate in the district.
Session Court:
Having jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act or under any previous company law.
Special Court:
The Central Government may, provide for speedy trial of offences punishable under this Act
with imprisonment of two years or more by notification, establish or designate as many
Special Courts as may be necessary.
(b) a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, in the case of other
offences,
who shall be appointed by the Central Government with the concurrence of the Chief Justice
of the High Court within whose jurisdiction the judge to be appointed is working.
Such person is forwarded to a Magistrate under section 167 of the CrPC, 1973.
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(i) such Magistrate may authorise the detention of such person in such custody as he thinks fit
(Maximum 15 Days) where such Magistrate is a Judicial Magistrate,
(ii) and Maximum 7 Days where such Magistrate is an Executive Magistrate.
Cognizance of offence by special court: A Special Court may, upon perusal of the police
report or upon a complaint in that behalf, take cognizance of that offence without the
accused being committed to it for trial.
Special Court to try an offence other than an offence under this Act:
When trying an offence under this Act, a Special Court may also try an offence other than an
offence under this Act with which the accused may, under the CrPC, 1973 be charged at the
same trial.
Also No Court shall take cognizance of any offence committed under the Companies Act
which is alleged to have been committed by any company or any officer thereof unless the
written complaint of the Registrar, a shareholder / Member of the company, or of a person
authorised by the Central Government is filed.
Court may take Cognizance of offences relating to issue, transfer of securities and non-
payment of dividend on a complaint in writing, by a person authorised by SEBI.
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Note: Exceptions -
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1) Nothing in this provison shall apply to a prosecution by a company of any of its officers.
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
2) Where the complainant is the Registrar or a person authorised by the Central Government
-
The presence of such officer before the Court trying the offences shall not be necessary unless
the court requires his personal attendance at the trial.
3) In case of a government companies, court shall take cognizance of an offence under this
Act which is alleged to have been committed by any company or any officer thereof on the
complaint in writing of a person authorized by the Central Government only.
This exception is applicable to the government Companies which has not committed any
default in filing of any annual returns or financial statements as per the provisions of this act.
Sec 446B - Lesser penalties for One Person Companies or small companies
- Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, if penalty is payable for non-compliance of
any of the provisions of this Act by a One Person Company, small company, start-up company
or Producer Company, or by any of its officer in default, or any other person in respect of such
company, then such company, its officer in default or any other person, as the case may be,
shall be liable to a penalty which shall not be more than one-half of the penalty specified in
such provisions subject to a maximum of two lakh rupees in case of a company and one lakh
rupees in case of an officer who is in default or any other person, as the case may be.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section-
(a) "Producer Company" means a company as defined in clause (l) of section 378A;
(b) "start-up company" means a private company incorporated under this Act or under the
Companies Act, 1956 and recognised as start-up in accordance with the notification issued by
the Central Government in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
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b) Valuation by:
⎯ an individual with such qualification & experience
⎯ Registered as a valuer
Extra Notes:
Application for certificate of registration
(1) Make an application to the authority along with a non-refundable application fee of Rs.
5000 in favour of the authority.
(2) A partnership entity or company eligible for registration as a registered valuer along with
a non-refundable application fee of Rs.10,000 in favour of the authority.
(3) The authority shall examine the application, submit additional documents or clarification
and may grant 21 days to the applicant to remove the deficiencies, if any, in the application.
(4) The authority may require the applicant to appear, within 21 days, before the authority in
person, or through its authorised representative for explanation or clarifications required for
processing the application.
(5) If the authority is satisfied, after such scrutiny, inspection or inquiry as it deems necessary,
it may grant a certificate of registration to the applicant within 60 days of receipt of the
application, excluding the time given by the authority for presenting additional documents,
information or clarification, or appearing in person, as the case may be.
(6) If, after considering an application made under this rule, the authority is of the prima facie
opinion that the registration ought not be granted, it shall communicate the reasons for
forming such an opinion within forty-five days of receipt of the application, excluding the
time given by it for removing the deficiencies, presenting additional documents or
clarifications, or appearing in person, as the case may be.
(7) The applicant shall submit an explanation as to why his/its application should be accepted
within 15 days of the receipt of the communication to enable the authority to form a final
opinion.
(9) After considering the explanation, if any, given by the applicant, the authority shall either
(a) accept the application and grant the certificate of registration; or
(b) reject the application by an order, giving reasons thereof.
(10) The authority shall communicate its decision to the applicant within 30 days of receipt of
explanation.
Conditions of Registration
The registration granted shall be subject to the conditions that the valuer shall -
(a) at all times possess the eligibility and qualification and experience criteria as specified;
(b) at all times comply with the provisions of the Act, these rules and the Bye-laws or internal
regulations, as the case may be, of the respective registered valuers organisation;
(c) in his capacity as a registered valuer, not conduct valuation of the assets or class(es) of
assets other than for which he/it has been registered by the authority;
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(d) take prior permission of the authority for shifting his/ its membership from one registered
valuers organisation to another;
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Conduct of Valuation
(1) The registered valuer shall, while conducting a valuation, comply with the valuation
standards as notified or modified:
Provided that until the valuation standards are notified or modified by the Central
Government, a valuer shall make valuations as per-
(a) internationally accepted valuation standards;
(b) valuation standards adopted by any registered valuers organisation.
(2) The registered valuer may obtain inputs for his valuation report or get a separate
valuation for an asset class conducted from another registered valuer, in which case he shall
fully disclose the details of the inputs and the particulars etc. of the other registered valuer in
his report and the liabilities against the resultant valuation, irrespective of the nature of inputs
or valuation by the other registered valuer, shall remain of the first mentioned registered
valuer.
(c) identity of the valuer and any other experts involved in the valuation;
(d) disclosure of valuer interest or conflict, if any;
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(3) A copy of every notification proposed to be issued under sub-section (2), shall be laid in
draft before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days,
and if, both Houses agree in disapproving the issue of notification or both Houses agree in
making any modification in the notification, the notification shall not be issued or, as the case
may be, shall be issued only in such modified form as may be agreed upon by both the
Houses
(4) In reckoning any such period of thirty days as is referred to in sub-section (3), no account
shall be taken of any period during which the House referred to in sub-section (3) is
prorogued or adjourned for more than four consecutive days
(5) The copies of every notification issued under this section shall, as soon as may be after it
has been issued, be laid before each House of Parliament.
If the failure to comply with sub-rule (1) of this rule extends beyond the second financial year,
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Nidhi shall not accept any further deposits from the commencement of the second financial
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
year till it complies with the provisions & gets itself registered u/s 406(1) and instead shall be
liable for penal consequences as provided in the Act.
4) In case of non- payment of the deposit or part thereof as per the terms and conditions of
such deposit, the depositor may approach the Bench of the National Company law Tribunal
having jurisdiction over Nidhi.
5) In respect of any Nidhi which has violated these rules or has failed to function in terms of
the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Central Government may appoint a Special
Officer to take over the management of Nidhi and such Special Officer shall function as per
the guidelines given by Central Government.
Provided that an opportunity of being heard shall be given to the concerned Nidhi by the
Central Government before appointing any Special Officer.
6) In the said rules, after rule 23, the following rules shall be inserted, namely:- 23A.
Compliance with rule 3A by certain Nidhis:-
Every Nidhi / Mutual Benefit Society pending notification/approval and every Nidhi
incorporated under the Act, before the commencement of Nidhi (Amendment) Rules, 2019,
shall also get itself declared as such in accordance with rule 3A within a period of 1 year from
the date of its incorporation or within a period of six months from the date of
commencement of Nidhi (Amendment) Rules, 2019, whichever is later:
Provided that in case a company does not comply with the requirements of this rule, it shall
not be allowed to file Form No. SH-7 (Notice to Registrar of any alteration of share capital)
and Form PAS-3 (Return of Allotment).
23B. Companies declared as Nidhis under previous company law to file Form NDH-4:-
Every company referred in clause (a) of rule 2 shall file Form NDH-4 alongwith fees as per
the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 for updating its status:
Provided that no fees shall be charged under this rule for filing Form NDH-4, in case it is filed
within six month of the commencement of Nidhi (Amendment) Rules, 2019:
Provided further that, in case a company does not comply with the requirements of this rule,
it shall not be allowed to file Form No. SH-7 (Notice to Registrar of any alteration of share
capital) and Form PAS-3 (Return of Allotment).
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
2. Agenda
The various items of business to be transacted constitute the agenda, literally “things to be
done” for the meeting. Though it is common practice to send to directors or members an
agenda or a list of items of business proposed to be transacted at the meeting, the Act does not
lay down any such requirement. The current practice is, to lay down the agenda preferably in
the form of proposed resolutions. It is usually prepared by the secretary but issued however,
after it has been approved by the managing director or an executive of an equal rank.
Preparation of agenda: The preparation of agenda requires considerable care. An ideal agenda
is the onewhich is so worded that only by altering a few words of an item to convert it into
past tense, it would form the minutes. It may be, and is often drawn up on loose sheets of
foolscap Paper. However, it is also preferable to write in bond book specially kept for that
purpose. The order in which various items appear in the agenda is generally the order in which
the business is to be transacted at the meeting. As it is customary to discuss routine matters first
such items as relate to it come first in the agenda. They are followed by important items which,
it is expected would provoke discussion among members. At the end, the item which requires
only to be noted by the members listed. Such an order generally has the merit of dividing
equitably the time of the meeting among various items according to their importance. It must
be added, however, that the chairman has the discretion to take up item for consideration by
the meeting in the order he considers convenient for the disposal of the business. The various
items listed on the agenda are numbered serially for convenience of recording minute and for
future reference.
3. Resolutions
A meeting is an important instrument in the corporate decision -making process. The business
at a meeting is preceded by a notice containing the agenda. The resolution is the event that
takes place in the meeting. Dictionary meaning of the word “resolution” is “a formal
proposal put before a public assembly or the formal determination of such proposal on any
matter.” Derived from this meaning, a resolution is a formal agreement as to adoption of
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of a resolution should be construed as the manner in which a meeting formally acts expressing
the intent and purpose of the meeting and if it is a meeting of members, it means the will of
the Company, and if it is a meeting of the Board of directors, it means the exposition of the
intent of the executive action initiated or to b e initiated subject to the limiting and regulatory
force of the different statute.
Hints on drafting of resolution
While framing resolution, it is to be ensured that:
* They should be expressed clearly and in precise terms, and not vaguely, whether they
embody the decisions of the directors or are those passed at general meeting.
* All identification of instruments, persons, etc., referred to in the resolution are properly
made.
* If the resolution is being passed in pursuance to the provisions of the Act, it refers to
relevant section or sections.
* If the resolution is such as requires the approval of the CG/Company Law Board or
confirmation of the Court, it states that effect.
* If the resolution is to be effective immediately, it is drawn to show that effect.
* The resolution is confined to one subject matter.
* Wherever possible, lengthy resolutions should be divided into paragraphs and arranged in
their logical order having regard to the subject matter of the resolution.
Members’ resolution
Resolutions that may be passed by a Company are of two kinds:
(i) Ordinary resolution and
(ii) Special resolution.
4. Minutes
The minute in a literal sense means a note to preserve the memory of anything. The minutes
of a meeting are a written record of the business transacted; decisions and resolutions arrived
at the meeting. Section 118 of the Companies Act, 2013 imposes a statutory obligation on every
Company to cause minutes of all proceedings of general meetings, board meetings and other
meeting and resolution passed by postal ballot. Section 119 of the Companies Act, 2013
provides for inspection of minutes-books of general meeting. The statutory requirements
relating to keeping of the minutes of meeting are:
* Preparation of the minutes of the proceedings of meetings: Every Company shall
cause minutes of the proceedings of every general meeting of any class of shareholders or
creditors, and every resolution passed by postal ballot and every meeting of its Board of
Directors or of every committee of the Board, to be prepared and signed in such manner as
may be prescribed and kept within 30 days of the conclusion of every such meeting
concerned, or passing of resolution by postal ballot in books kept for that purpose with
their pages consecutively numbered.
* Contain fair and correct summary: The minutes of each meeting shall contain a fair
and correct summary of the proceedings thereat.
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* Other details: In the case of a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the
(a) the names of the directors present at the meeting; and
(b) in the case of each resolution passed at the meeting, the names of the directors, if
any, dissenting from, or not concurring with the resolution.
* Exemptions to matters from inclusion in the minutes: There shall not be included in
the minutes, any matter which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting,—
• is or could reasonably be regarded as defamatory of any person; or
• is irrelevant or immaterial to the proceedings; or
• is detrimental to the interests of the Company.
* Absolute discretion of chairman: The Chairman shall exercise absolute discretion in
regard to the inclusion or non-inclusion of any matter in the minutes on the grounds
specified in sub-section (5).
* Considered as evidence of the proceedings: The minutes kept in accordance with the
provisions of this section shall be evidence of the proceedings recorded therein.
* Minutes signifies the validity of the procedure: Where the minutes have been kept in
accordance with sub-section (1) then, until the contrary is proved, the meeting shall be
deemed to have been duly called and held, and all proceedings thereat to have duly taken
place, and the resolutions passed by postal ballot to have been duly passed and in
particular, all appointments of directors, key managerial personnel, auditors or Company
secretary in practice, shall be deemed to be valid.
* Matter contained in the minutes shall be circulated: No document purporting to be
a report of the proceedings of any general meeting of a Company shall be circulated or
advertised at the expense of the Company, unless it includes the matters required by this
section to be contained in the minutes of the proceedings of such meeting.
* Adherence of secretarial standards by Company: Every Company shall observe
secretarial standards with respect to general and Board meetings specified by the Institute of
Company Secretaries of India constituted under section 3 of the Company Secretaries Act,
1980, and approved as such by the CG.
* Default in compliance: If any default is made in complying with the provisions of this
section in respect of any meeting, the Company shall be liable to a penalty of twenty-five
thousand Rs. and every officer of the Company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty
of five thousand Rs.
* Tampering with the minutes: If a person is found guilty of tampering with the minutes
of the proceedings of meeting, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to two years and with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand
Rs. but which may extend to one lakh Rs.
Drafting of minutes: The minutes may be drafted in a tabular form or they may be drafted
in the form of aseries of paragraphs, numbered consecutively and with relevant headings.
However, all minutes whether of general meetings, or board meetings, should contain the
following particulars:
Particulars of the Meeting
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Sec 248: Power of Registrar to Remove the NAME of Co. from Register
of Companies
(1) Where Registrar has Reasonable Cause to believe that:
(a) Co. → failed to commence Buss. → 1 Yr. of Incorporation
(b) Co. → Not carrying Buss. → 2 Preceding FY
+
Not obtained the status of Dormant Co.
then
ROC shall send Notice to such Co. / Director (Show Cause) to make their representations
within 30 Days.
(c) the subscribers to the memorandum have not paid the subscription which they had
undertaken to pay within a period of 180 days from the date of incorporation of a
company and a declaration to this effect has not been filed within 180 days of its
incorporation;
(d) the company is not carrying on any business after conduction physical verification of regd.
office as per Sec. 12.
(2) Co. may → Itself → file Application to ROC →
Subject to SR → Showing its intention to Winding up (except Sec. 8 Co.)
+
If Satisfied, ROC may Require a Public Notice to be Issued
+
Publish in Official Gazette
(3) If Co. fails to show cause within time Prescribed → ROC may → CANCEL the Name of
Co. Co. Dissolved
(4) ROC shall ensure that all assets are realised + all Liabilities are paid off BUT if any Liability
of any Dir. / Member is not paid → it can be enforced as if Co. is not Dissolved.
(5) None of the Provisions of this Sec. may affect the Powers of – Tribunal to Windup a Co.
i.e. already Dissolved.
(2) A copy of the order passed by the Tribunal shall be filed by the company with the
Registrar within thirty days from the date of receipt of the order, the Registrar shall cause the
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
name of the company to be restored in the register of companies and shall issue a fresh
certificate of incorporation.
(3) If a company, or any member or creditor or workman thereof feels aggrieved by the
company having its name struck off from the register of companies, the Tribunal on an
application made by the company, member, creditor or workman before the expiry of
twenty years from the publication in the Official Gazette of the notice under sub-section (5)
of section 248 may, if satisfied that the company was, at the time of its name being struck off,
carrying on business or in operation or otherwise it is just that the name of the company be
restored to the register of companies, order the name of the company to be restored to the
register of companies, and the Tribunal may, by the order, give such other directions and
make such provisions as deemed just for placing the company and all other persons in the
same position as nearly as may be as if the name of the company had not been struck off
from the register of companies.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 447 - Punishment for Fraud.
Without prejudice to any liability including repayment of any debt under this Act or any
other law for the time being in force, any person who is found to be guilty of fraud involving
an amount of at least ten lakh rupees or one per cent. of the turnover of the company,
whichever is lower shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less
than six months but which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine which shall
not be less than the amount involved in the fraud, but which may extend to three times the
amount involved in the fraud:
Provided that where the fraud in question involves public interest, the term of imprisonment
shall not be less than three years.
Provided further that where the fraud involves an amount less than ten lakh rupees or one
per cent. of the turnover of the company, whichever is lower, and does not involve public
interest, any person guilty of such fraud shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term
which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to Rs. 50,00,000 or with
both.
Sec. 448 - Punishment for False Statement.
If in any return, report, certificate, financial statement, prospectus, statement or other
document required by, or for, the purposes of any of the provisions of this Act or the rules
made thereunder, any person makes a statement,—
(a) which is false in any material particulars, knowing it to be false; or
(b) which omits any material fact, knowing it to be material,
he shall be liable under section 447.
Sec. 449 – Punishment for False Evidence.
If any person intentionally gives false evidence—
(a) upon any examination on oath or solemn affirmation, authorized under this Act; or
(b)in any affidavit, deposition or solemn affirmation, in or about the winding up of any
company under this Act, or otherwise in or about any matter arising under this Act,
he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall be Min. 3 years to Max. 7
years and fine Upto Rs. 10,00,000.
Sec. 450 - Punishment Where No Specific Penalty or Punishment is Provided.
If a company or any officer of a company or any other person contravenes any of the
provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, or any condition, limitation or restriction
subject to which any approval, sanction, consent, confirmation, recognition, direction or
exemption in relation to any matter has been accorded, given or granted, and for which no
penalty or punishment is provided elsewhere in this Act, the company and every officer of
the company who is in default or such other person shall be liable to a penalty of Rs. 10,000
and in case of continuing contravention, with a further penalty of Rs. 1000 for each day after
the first during which the contravention continues, subject to a maximum of Rs. 200,000 in
case of a company and Rs. 50,000 in case of an officer who is in default or any other person
Sec. 451 - Punishment in Case of Repeated Default.
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occasions within a period of three years, then, that company and every officer thereof who is
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
in default shall be punishable with twice the amount of fine for such offence in addition to
any imprisonment provided for that offence.
Sec. 452 - Punishment for Wrongful Withholding of Property.
(1) If any officer or employee of a company—
(a) wrongfully obtains possession of any property, including cash of the company; or
(b) having any such property including cash in his possession, wrongfully withholds it or
knowingly applies it for the purposes other than those expressed or directed in the articles
and authorised by this Act,
he shall, on the complaint of the company or of any member or creditor or contributory
thereof, be punishable with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may
extend to five lakh rupees.
(2) The Court trying an offence under sub-section (1) may also order such officer or employee
to deliver up or refund, within a time to be fixed by it, any such property or cash wrongfully
obtained or wrongfully withheld or knowingly misapplied, the benefits that have been
derived from such property or cash or in default, to undergo imprisonment for a term which
may extend to two years.
Provided that the imprisonment of such officer or employee, as the case may be, shall not be
ordered for wrongful possession or withholding of a dwelling unit, if the court is satisfied that
the company has not paid to that officer or employee, as the case may be, any amount
relating to-
(a) provident fund, pension fund, gratuity fund or any other fund for the welfare of its
officers or employees, maintained by the company;
(b) compensation or liability for compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act,
1923 in respect of death or disablement.
Sec. 453 - Punishment for Improper Use of “Limited” or “Private Limited”
If any person or persons trade or carry on business under any name or title, of which the
word “Limited” or the words “Private Limited” or any contraction or imitation thereof is or
are the last word or words, that person or each of those persons shall, unless duly
incorporated with limited liability, or unless duly incorporated as a private company with
limited liability, as the case may be, punishable with fine which shall not be less than five
hundred rupees but may extend to two thousand rupees for every day for which that name
or title has been used.
Sec. 454 - Adjudication of Penalties
(1) The Central Government may, by an order published in the Official Gazette, appoint as
many officers of the Central Government, not below the rank of Registrar, as adjudicating
officers for adjudging penalty under the provisions of this Act in the manner as may be
prescribed.
(2) The Central Government shall while appointing adjudicating officers, specify their
jurisdiction in the order under sub-section (1).
(3) The adjudicating officer may, by an order-
(a) impose the penalty on the company, the officer who is in default, or any other person, as
the case may be, stating therein any non-compliance or default under the relevant provisions
145
Provided that in case the default relates to non-compliance of sub-section (4) of section 92 or
sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 137 and such default has been rectified either prior
to, or within thirty days of, the issue of the notice by the adjudicating officer, no penalty shall
be imposed in this regard and all proceedings under this section in respect of such default shall
be deemed to be concluded.
(4) The adjudicating officer shall, before imposing any penalty, give a reasonable opportunity
of being heard to such company, the officer who is in default or any other person
(5) Any person aggrieved by an order made by the adjudicating officer under sub-section (3)
may prefer an appeal to the Regional Director having jurisdiction in the matter.
(6) Every appeal under sub-section (5)shall be filed within sixty days from the date on which
the copy of the order made by the adjudicating officer is received by the aggrieved person and
shall be in such form, manner and be accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed.
(7) The Regional Director may, after giving the parties to the appeal an opportunity of being
heard, pass such order as he thinks fit, confirming, modifying or setting aside the order appealed
against.
(8)(i) Where company fails to comply with the order made under sub-section (3) or sub-section
(7), as the case may be,within a period of ninety days from the date of the receipt of the copy
of the order, the company shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than twentyfive
thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees.
(ii) Where an officer of a company or any other person who is in default fails to comply with
the order made under sub-section (3) or sub-section (7), as the case may be within a period of
ninety days from the date of the receipt of the copy of the order, such officer shall be punishable
with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which shall not be less than
twenty-five thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both.
Registrar, any officer of the Government or any other person shall not be compelled to
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
disclose to any court, Tribunal or other authority, the source from where he got any
information which—
(a) has led the Central Government to order an investigation under section 210; or
(b) is or has been material or relevant in connection with such investigation.
(b) where any document required to be filed with the Registrar under any provision of this
Act is not filed within the time specified therein, the Central Government may, for reasons to
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Sec. 462 - Power to Exempt Class or Classes of Companies from Provisions of this
Act.
(1) The Central Government may in the public interest, by notification direct that any of the
provisions of this Act,—
(a) shall not apply to such class or classes of companies; or
(b) shall apply to the class or classes of companies with such exceptions, modifications and
adaptations as may be specified in the notification.
(2) A copy of every notification proposed to be issued under sub-section (1), shall be laid in
draft before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days,
and if, both Houses agree in disapproving the issue of notification or both Houses agree in
making any modification in the notification, the notification shall not be issued or, as the case
may be, shall be issued only in such modified form as may be agreed upon by both the
Houses.
(3) In reckoning any such period of 30 days as is referred to in sub-section (2), no account
shall be taken of any period during which the House referred to in subsection (2) is
prorogued or adjourned for more than four consecutive days.
(4) The copies of every notification issued under this section shall, as soon as may be after it
has been issued, be laid before each House of Parliament.
it has, by notice served in the manner specified by it, required the Registrar and such other
person, if any, as it thinks necessary, to show cause why such relief should not be granted.
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(c) any principle or rule of law, or established jurisdiction, form or course of pleading,
practice or procedure or existing usage, custom, privilege, restriction or exemption shall not
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
be affected, notwithstanding that the same respectively may have been in any manner
affirmed or recognised or derived by, in, or from, the repealed enactments;
(d) any person appointed to any office under or by virtue of any repealed enactment shall be
deemed to have been appointed to that office under or by virtue of this Act;
(e) any jurisdiction, custom, liability, right, title, privilege, restriction, exemption, usage,
practice, procedure or other matter or thing not in existence or in force shall not be revised
or restored;
(f) the offices existing on the commencement of this Act for the registration of companies
shall continue as if they have been established under the provisions of this Act;
(g) the incorporation of companies registered under the repealed enactments shall continue
to be valid and the provisions of this Act shall apply to such companies as if they were
registered under this Act;
(h) all registers and all funds constituted and established under the repealed enactments shall
be deemed to be registers and funds constituted or established under the corresponding
provisions of this Act;
(i) any prosecution instituted under the repealed enactments and pending immediately before
the commencement of this Act before any Court shall, subject to the provisions of this Act,
continue to be heard and disposed of by the said Court;
(j) any inspection, investigation or inquiry ordered to be done under the Companies Act,
1956 shall continue to be proceeded with as if such inspection, investigation or inquiry has
been ordered under the corresponding provisions of this Act; and
(k) any matter filed with the Registrar, Regional Director or the Central Government under
the Companies Act, 1956 before the commencement of this Act and not fully addressed at
that time shall be concluded by the Registrar, Regional Director or the Central Government,
as the case may be, in terms of that Act, despite its repeal.
(3) The mention of particular matters in sub-section (2)shall not be held to prejudice the
general application of section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 with regard to the effect of
repeal of the repealed enactments as if the Registration of Companies (Sikkim) Act, 1961 were
also a Central Act.
Provided also that every officer and the other employee of the Company Law Board,
employed on regular basis by that Board, shall become, on and from such dissolution the
officer and other employee, respectively, of the Tribunal or the Appellate Tribunal with the
same rights and privileges as to pension, gratuity and other like benefits as would have been
admissible to him if he had continued to serve that Board and shall continue to do so unless
and until his employment in the Tribunal or the Appellate Tribunal is duly terminated or until
his remuneration, terms and conditions of employment are duly altered by the Tribunal or
the Appellate Tribunal, as the case may be:
Provided also that notwithstanding anything contained in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 or
in any other law for the time being in force, any officer or other employee who becomes an
officer or other employee of the Tribunal or the Appellate Tribunal under the preceding
proviso shall not be entitled to any compensation under this Act or under any other law for
the time being in force and no such claim shall be entertained by any court, tribunal or other
authority:
Provided also that where the Company Law Board has etablished a provident fund,
superannuation fund, welfare fund or other fund for the benefit of the officers and other
employees employed in that Board, the monies relatable to the officers and other employees
who have become officers or employees of the Tribunal or the Appellate Tribunal shall, out
of the monies standing to the credit of such provident fund, superannuation fund, welfare
fund or other fund, stand transferred to, and vest in, the Tribunal or the Appellate Tribunal,
as the case may be, and such monies which stand so transferred shall be dealt with by the
Tribunal or the Appellate Tribunal in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The persons holding the offices of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Members, and officers
and other employees of the Company Law Board immediately before the constitution of the
Tribunal and the Appellate Tribunal who are not covered under proviso to sub-section (1)
shall vacate their respective offices on such constitution and no such Chairman, Vice-Chairman
and Members and officers or other employees shall be entitled to claim any compensation for
the premature termination of the term of his office or of any contract of service, if any
however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity
of anything previously done in pursuance of that alteration.
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Sec. 468 - Powers of Central Government to Make Rules Relating to Winding Up.
(1) The Central Government shall, make rules consistent with the Code of Civil Procedure,
1908 providing for all matters relating to the winding up of companies, which by this Act, are
to be prescribed, and may make rules providing for all such matters, as may be prescribed.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules
may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(i) as to the mode of proceedings to be held for winding up of a company by the Tribunal
under this Act;
(ii) for the holding of meetings of creditors and members in connection with proceedings
under section 230;
(iii) for giving effect to the provisions of this Act as to the reduction of the capital;
(iv) generally for all applications to be made to the Tribunal under the provisions of this Act;
(v) the holding and conducting of meetings to ascertain the wishes of creditors and
contributories;
(vi) the settling of lists of contributories and the rectifying of the register of members where
required, and collecting and applying the assets;
(vii) the payment, delivery, conveyance, surrender or transfer of money, property, books or
papers to the liquidator;
(viii) the making of calls; and
(ix) the fixing of a time within which debts and claims shall be proved.".
(3) All rules made by the Supreme Court on the matters referred to in this section as it stood
immediately before the commencement of this Act and in force at such commencement, shall
continue to be in force, till such time the rules are made by the Central Government and any
reference to the High Court in relation to winding up of a company in such rules shall be
construed as a reference to the Tribunal.
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The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is an Act enacted to consolidate and amend the law relating
to domestic arbitration, international commercial arbitration and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards
as also to define the law relating to conciliation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Containing 86
Sections
7 schedules
Enforcement
Supplementary
Arbitration of certain conciliation
provisions
foreign awards
(iv)Other methods include conciliation, negotiation, case evaluation, neutral fact finding,
ombudsperson, etc.
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Advantages of ADR:
• Lower costs
• Greater flexibility of process,
• Higher confidentiality,
• Greater likelihood of settlement,
• Choice of forum,
• Choice of solutions.
Disadvantages of ADR:
• Requirement of cooperative behaviour of both parties,
• Power imbalance between parties,
• Lacks the possibility of interim measures,
• Difficulty in enforcement of final outcome
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Arbitration
One of the popular methods of alternate dispute resolution is arbitration.
It could be understood as a method of dispute resolution involving one or more neutral third person
selected by the disputing parties and whose decision is binding.
Thus arbitration has few defining features:
(a) It is a method of adjudication of disputes;
(b) by a neutral third person(s) selected by the parties; and
(c) who renders a final and binding decision.
(b) Arbitrator –
• Also known as the arbitral tribunal is similar to a judge of the court.
• The arbitrator decides the disputes between the parties.
• Just like the judge an arbitrator is also required to be completely neutral, impartial and not favour
any party. Because the parties can choose the arbitrators, it inspires confidence in the arbitrators, the
process and the decisions taken by the arbitrators.
• If however the arbitrators who are not independent then they could be removed by the court.
be the court which would hear challenges against the arbitral award.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Court
Supreme Court/High Court
(c) Supreme or High Court or any person or institution designated by such court (Section 11) –
Supreme Court and High court are entrusted with a specific task that of appointment of arbitrators upon
request of a party. The Supreme Court would be the authority for appointing an arbitrator in case of
international commercial arbitration, while High Court would be the authority for appointing an
arbitrator in case of domestic arbitrator. The Act also authorizes any person or institution so designated
by the Supreme and High Court to appoint the arbitrators.
Arbitration cannot happen without the parties consenting to submit their dispute to arbitration.
Consent of the parties therefore is the most fundamental requirement for an arbitration to happen.
The document which notes this consent is referred to as the arbitration agreement.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
In other words an arbitration agreement records the consent of the parties that in the event of a dispute
between them that matter instead of being taken to court, will be submitted for resolution to arbitration.
Arbitration agreement therefore is necessary to start arbitration.
(b) Submission agreement- an agreement to refer disputes that already exist to arbitration. Such an
agreement is entered into after the disputes have arisen.
2 basic types of
se Arbitration agreement
agreement
Arbitration Submission
clause agreement
Example: In 2014, Company A, an automobile manufacturer entered into a joint venture agreement
(JVA) with Company B the largest manufacturer of tyres for supply of all terrain tyres for its latest car.
Both the companies are registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
Scenario I - The JVA carries the following clause:
“All disputes shall be arbitrated in Mumbai.” This would be an arbitration clause. It is contained in the
principal contract and no disputes have arisen till yet. It concerns future disputes that may arise.
Scenario II -The JVA does not have any clause relating to arbitration. Disputes arose betweenthe parties
concerning quality of tires in 2016. To resolve this dispute, parties entered into an agreement that noted
“That all disputes including quality of tires supplied by Company B to Company A shall be submitted
to arbitration. The parties hereby agree to abide by the decision of the arbitrator.
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“Such an agreement that is made after the disputes have arisen would be called a Submission
Agreement.”
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
1. Writing -
Unlike the possibility of an oral contract, arbitration agreement are required to bemandatorily in writing.
Example 1:
• Motilal owns a shop in Mulund dealing in readymade clothes.
• Ram is a supplier of clothes to Motilal.
• They have been doing business for many years.
• No separate written contract exists between them.
• However for each consignment Ram issues an individual invoice to Motilal on the basis of
whichpayment is made.
• Each invoice contains the following note “All disputes pertaining to this transaction if any will be
subject to the Arbitration Rules & Regulations of Bharat Merchant Chamber".
• This is an arbitration agreement in writing.
Example 2:
• Vikram wants to start a Sweet and Confectionary Shop and contacts Ahuja Confectioners & Bakers
for supply of cakes.
• The entire communication between the parties took place over email.
• One of the emails received by Vikram from Ahuja Bakers had, among other terms of service, the
following condition “any disputes regarding quality or delivery shall be submitted to arbitration
conducted under the aegis of Indian Confectionary Manufacturers Association.
• Please place your order if the above terms and conditions are agreeable to you.”
• Vikram placed an order.
• The contract stood affirmed by reason of their conduct.
• This would be an arbitration agreement in writing contained in correspondence between the parties.
2. Clarity of consent:
The intention to go to arbitration must be clear in other words there must be consensus ad idem.
Utilization of vague words cannot be considered to be adequate.
The intention has to be gathered from the wordings of the agreement.
The words used should disclose a determination and obligation on the part of parties to go to arbitration
and not merely contemplate the possibility of going for arbitration.
If it is only a possibility then it is not an arbitration agreement.
Example:
“The parties had a contract that if during the continuance of the partnership or at any time afterwards
any dispute touching the partnership arises between the partners, the same shall be mutually decided by
the partners or shall be referred for arbitration if the parties so determine."
This would not be an arbitration agreement, because of the need for parties to further agree whether or
not to go for arbitration.
Example:‘Any other questions, claim right, matter, thing, whatsoever, in any way arising out of orrelating
to the contract designs, drawings, specifications estimates, instructions, or orders, or those conditions or
failure to execute the same whether arising during the progress of the work, or after the completion,
termination or abandonment thereof, the dispute shall, in the first place, be referred to the Chief
Engineer who has jurisdiction over the work specified in the contract.
The Chief Engineer shall within a period of ninety days from the date of being requested by the
Contractor to do so, given written notice of his decision to the contractor.
Chief Engineer's decision final.’ Is this a valid arbitration agreement?
Answer: Since in the given case Chief Engineer is not a neutral party and hasa Control over thework
specified in
the contract, so this is not a valid arbitration agreement.
5. Specific words:
The mere use of words like ‘arbitration’ or ‘arbitrator’ in a clause will not make it an arbitration
agreement. Usage of such words is not a necessary requirement.
6. Dispute:
There must be a present or a future dispute/difference in connection with some contemplated affairs
that is proposed to be submitted to arbitration.
7. Arbitrability:
The disputes submitted/ proposed to be submitted to arbitration must be arbitrable.
In other words that law must permit arbitration in that matter.
There are certain disputes that the law retains exclusively for the court, and the same cannot be
submitted for arbitration.
The rationale is that given the nature of disputes, the courts are the only appropriate forum for
adjudicating the matter.
For example: Criminal offences, matrimonial disputes, guardianship matters, testamentary matters,
mortgage suit for sale of a mortgaged property, etc. cannot be arbitrated.
8. Signature:
Is only required when the arbitration agreement is contained in a contract i.e. in one set of documents.
However no signature is required if the arbitration agreement is contained in correspondence or
exchange of pleadings.
However if the principal contract is breached, then the arbitration agreement survives becauseof the
operation of the doctrine of separability.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Example: Ramesh Air-Conditioning services (RACS) and Voltas Limited entered into a service
agreement whereby RACS would provide annual maintenance services for all voltas commercial air
conditioners in the Mumbai region.
The contract provided that in the event of a dispute between the parties, the matter would be submitted
to arbitration.
Scenario 1: At the end of the third year, the Service Agreement was not renewed. The
contractterminates, and along with it the arbitration agreement.
Scenario 2: At the end of the second year, the two parties enter into a new contract, which replaces the
existing service agreement between the parties.
The new contract does not have an arbitration agreement.
The arbitration agreement contained in the superseded service agreement does not survive.
Scenario 3: Voltas raises a dispute with RACS as regards quality of services provided and terminates the
agreement. Here, owing to separability doctrine, the arbitration agreement survives to allow parties to
arbitrate their dispute.
3. Death of parties:
Under the Indian law, an arbitration agreement is not discharged by the death of any party. It shall be
enforceable by or against the legal representatives of the deceased.
4.Operation of Law:
An arbitration agreement can be extinguished by the operation of law by virtue of which any right of
action is extinguished.
3. ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL
A unique feature of arbitration is the ability to have the dispute adjudicated by a neutral, fair, unbiased
and competent adjudicator.
An arbitrator/arbitral tribunal performs the function of a judge, in other words an arbitrator
adjudicates/judges the dispute between the parties.
A unique feature of arbitration unlike court based adjudication is that the parties get to select their
arbitrators or delegate to an institution (like ICC, FICCI, ICADR, etc.) the power to appoint on their
behalf.
This is considered to be a key advantage as the parties can choose the person who will adjudicate their
dispute as compared a court based system where they have no control over the judge. The point that an
arbitrator adjudicates the matter, is important to understand.
In other words, an arbitrator does not simply express an opinion based on materials given to the
arbitrator.
In fact that would be expert evaluation. Rather the arbitrator works like a judge, before whom the parties
present their dispute, submit evidences, produce witnesses and then the arbitrator applies the law to the
problem and decides in a judicial manner.
Therefore even through a private adjudicator, the function is performed to standards applicable to
public functionaries like judges.
There are other important advantages to the ability of parties to choose their arbitrators.
Parties have more confidence both in the arbitrators and their decisions.
This is very important because unlike a court which has the ability to force parties to comply with its
orders, success of arbitration depends on the cooperation of parties. Therefore the parties musttrust the
arbitrators to remain neutral and fair to all the parties involved in the arbitration.
The quality of arbitrators would ultimately determine not only the overall quality of the arbitration
process but also the outcome in the form of the arbitral awards.
In India, appointment and termination (removal) of arbitral tribunal is regulated by the Arbitration and
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of arbitrators.
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
The different authorities which have the power for appointment and removal are the District Court
(Court), High Court and Supreme Court of India.
Number of Arbitrators
The parties tend to have high level of freedom when deciding on the number of persons that can be
chosen as arbitrators.
There are many things that should be kept in mind at the time of appointment of arbitrators, for
instance the fees of the arbitrators, complexity of the matter, timerequired for meetings, duration of
sessions when oral
arguments would be made, etc.
A specific problem that arises when there is more than one arbitrator is the difficulty faced when
coordinating the timings among the arbitrators.
It becomes even more problematic as the number of arbitrators increase.
At the same time there are advantages to having more than one arbitrator.
More arbitrators results in greater discussions which can improve the quality of awards.
It also brings greater expertise as arbitrators may be from different speciality and background.
Example: Party A and Party B entered into a contract for construction of apartments. The
contractcontained an arbitration agreement, whereby all disputes between the parties would be
submitted for arbitration by an arbitral tribunal having three arbitrators.
In such a situation, the arbitrators could all be from different discipline and having varying expertise.
For example the arbitrators could be a lawyer, architect, interior designer, civil engineer, academic,
government servant, etc.
The parties therefore can choose almost anyone as arbitrator.
It is important to remember that even though a private process, arbitration and its outcome (arbitral
award) require State support at different juncture but most importantly for enforcement.
However the State will only extend its support for legal outcomes.
Therefore it is important that the arbitrators are familiar with legal requirement especially under the
Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 so as to ensure that the entire process and the outcome complies
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In other words, parties can decide on any number of arbitrators so long as there are odd number of
arbitrators.
Ordinarily parties select one, but however if more than one is selected, it is usually three.
The reason is obvious so that there can be a decision by majority.
If there is even number of arbitrators, then there is a possibility that there might be a tie.
Example: If there are two arbitrators then it is possible that the two arbitrators may not agree, in which
case there would be no decision.
To deal with both the scenarios the law, namely Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act
1996,provides alternate procedures.
When an appointment is made jointly by both parties, both parties have to agree upon who the arbitrator
would be.
Usually one party writes to other party forwarding a list of names of potential arbitrators.
If the other party approves one name from the list, then that individual would be the arbitrator. If
not then the other party would propose new names to the first party. This would go on till both parties
agree upon one name.
Example: When a joint appointment was required, Party 1 sent the following names to Party 2 -S, P,
M, I, and A.
None of them was acceptable to Party 2, which sent the following names to Party 1 –Ak, Sh, Se, Aa, De.
From this list, Party 1 was agreeable for Sh and informed Party 2.
In this case Sh would be the arbitrator and would be considered to be jointly appointed.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Example: When three arbitrators were to be appointed, Party 1 selected Monil as their arbitrator, while
Party 2 selected Iqbal as their arbitrator. The two arbitrators then jointly discussed the following names
Sh, P and M out of which they selected M as the third (presiding) arbitrator.
Similarly where 5 arbitrators are to be appointed, every party will appoint two arbitrators and the four
arbitrators will together appoint the presiding arbitrator.
Step III If any party fails to follow the default procedure, then other
party can approach the court.
are from different countries. In such a situation an arbitrator who belongs to the nationality of one of
the parties may be considered as biased. At the same time merely because the arbitrator is of the
nationality of one of the parties, it would not automatically amount to presence of bias.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
d. Deliberation –
Arbitral tribunal should properly discuss all issues before issuing a decision oraward. The award should
be a reasoned award (Section 31). In other words, the arbitrators should discuss the matter with each
other thoroughly and through a majority render the award. (Section 29)
f. Ensure all documents and communication received from one party is communicated to
the other party –
The arbitral tribunal should ensure that all parties have copies of all communication and documents
received from any party.
This will ensure that all parties have the maximum opportunity to present its case.
g. Ensure that the award and all other decisions comply with legal requirements–
Unless the award complies with all the legal requirements the award would not be enforced.
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h. Ensure that he/she himself at all times comply with legal requirements associated with
arbitrator:
This is of utmost importance, since non-compliance would mean that continuance of a person as
arbitrator is liable to be challenged.
One such requirement is that of duty to disclose grounds which may lead to an apprehension of bias.
b. When all parties involved in the arbitration agree that the arbitratorshould be
removed-
At times all the parties involved may decide to no longer continue with a particular arbitrator.
This could be for many reasons including that the parties realise that the arbitrator does not have the
particular expertise they had desired. For example a person was appointed as arbitrator for his expertise
as a civil engineer.
However the parties during the arbitration found out that his experience was inadequate in construction
projects involving large dams.
The parties could through a unanimous decision, decide to have another person as arbitrator.
c. Operation of law-
Arbitrator unable to continue- assume for an instance where the arbitrator falls ill and is unable to, for
a very long period of time, conduct any proceedings.
Similarly there could be other issues, the arbitrator became busy with other matters, his own business
or simply lost interest in the matter.
These are factual inability.
There may also be a possibility that law no longer permits the person to remain as an arbitrator.
If any of the above happens, it would lead to long delays in arbitration which in turn would increase the
expenses related to arbitration.
Therefore in such situations, the law steps in and automatically terminates the arbitrators.
If confusion remains as to whether arbitrator has indeed been terminated, then any party could proceed
to the court which finally decides on the question of termination (Section 14).
a party feels that the arbitrator should not continue, then it could, for reasons of bias approach the court
to remove the arbitrator (Sections 12 and 13).
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
ARBITRAL AWARD
An award is a conclusive determination as to the questions, issues or disputes that are put forward before
the arbitral tribunal.
The arbitral tribunal is constituted to hear the complete dispute between the parties, give reasonable
opportunity to all parties to present their case and then based on the evidence submitted and applicable
law deliver a final decision on the matter.
Definition
An arbitral award is similar to a judgment given by a court of law.
In other words, an arbitral award is given by the arbitral tribunal as a decision on various issues in a
matter which the parties had placed before the arbitral tribunal. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act
1996, does not clearly define the idea of an arbitral award.
However the concept of an award could also be understood as a final determination of a particular issue
or claim that had been submitted for arbitration.
It represents a resolution of dispute between the parties.
General Principles
(a) Who can challenge –
Only a party to the arbitration agreement can challenge an arbitral award.
A person who is not a party to the arbitration cannot raise a challenge against an arbitral award.
(b) Authority –
An award can only be challenged before a court, which would include a districtcourt and a High Court
exercising original jurisdiction (for awards from domestic arbitration) and High Court (for awards from
international commercial arbitration).
(c) Timeline –
Timeline refers to by when a challenge against arbitral award can be raised. The law notes an initial time
period of three months from when the award is received by party, with a maximum extension of thirty
more days by the court.
Example: The award was rendered on 1st January 2017. Therefore the award can be challenged by 31st
March. This date could be extended by another 30 days on application to the court i.e. till 30th April
2017. There can be no further extensions.
(d)Automatic stay –
According to the Act, there is no automatic stay on the enforcement.
A party has to specifically request for a stay, and the court at the time of granting stay can impose
conditions. (Section 36(2)&(3))
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Additional Award –
When a final award has been rendered, but it is later found out that certainclaims that had been
submitted to the arbitral tribunal were not resolved/adjudicated, the parties can request the arbitral
tribunal to make an additional award covering the issues that had been left out.
Such as request must be made within 30 days from the date of receipt of the final award.
[Section33(4)]
Example from Module: Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) entered into a long term
concession agreement with Nagpur Airport Metro Express Private Limited (NAMEPL) a
subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure to develop and operate the airport express metro project
which included brining in rolling stock.
NAMEPL was to run the metro services for 30 years. This agreement was enteredinto in 2008
and was terminated in 2012.
The main disagreements were –
a) failure to fix civil structure defects,
b) misrepresentation as to viability of the project including expected passenger,
c) failure to transfer outstanding amounts, and
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The matter was submitted to a three member arbitral tribunal for adjudication.
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Scenario I –The arbitral tribunal gives an award dealing with all the four disagreements.
It is one comprehensive award with reasons for all conclusions. This would be a final award as it
conclusively deals with all the questions submitted to arbitration. There is nothing further left to
be adjudicated.
Scenario II –The arbitral tribunal renders an award (Award no.1) which deals only
withdisagreements (a), (b) and (c). The arbitrators inform the parties that they will render another
award dealing with disagreement (d). Award no.1 is an interim award.
Scenario III –The arbitral tribunal gave an award and informed the parties that this was the
finalaward. However when the parties examined it they realised that the award only dealt with
disagreement (a), (c) and (d). They bring it to the notice of the arbitral tribunal which gives another
award dealing with disagreement (b). This latter award is an additional award.
Scenario IV –While the arbitral proceedings were going on the lawyers of both parties met for
longdiscussions. They later informed the arbitral tribunal that the parties had settled the matter on
all disagreements. They submitted the settlement agreement to the arbitral tribunal with the
request that it be incorporated into an arbitral award. The arbitral tribunal after scrutinizing the
agreement gave an award in which they included all the terms of the agreement. This would be a
settlement award.
The arbitral award should be both certain and clearly note which party has to do what. In other
words it must be clear about decision on each issue, what liabilities each party has and finally what
relief has been awarded to parties. In other words it should not seem like a recommendation, must
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Scenario III –Monil should pay Mukesh 2 crores, within 2 weeks from the date of the award alongwith
10% interest. Failure to do so will attract additional 2% per day interest on the outstanding amount till
the amount is finally paid. Payment should be done either through RTGS or through a demand draft.
In this instance only Scenario III is clear enough. Even Scenario II though seemingly clear, doesnot
clearly specify by when it should be paid. Every award should clearly specify all these details.
(e) Should be capable of being performed –
The award should be capable of being performed.
The award must be realistic in what it suggests, and should not ask parties to do something that is not
possible or illegal. An unenforceable award would be set aside.
(f) Must not be illegal (against public policy) –
Under the law a particular award that is in violation of the public policy would be set aside. Public
policy represents some of the most cherished and important principles and policies of the State. An
award would be in violation of public policy if it is contrary to substantive provisions of law.
Other requirements:
Delivery –An award is ready to be delivered as soon as it is signed. An award that is signed should be
delivered to the parties.
Challenging an Award
An arbitral award can be challenged on specific grounds only.
These grounds are clearly noted in law.
It is important to remember that a review is different from an appeal.
In an appeal both questions relating to law and fact can be raised.
However review can happen only on specific grounds and is not the same as an appeal.
The grounds are noted under three different provisions of law:
A. under Section 13 – challenge of bias against the arbitral tribunal
The parties can challenge an arbitral tribunal on the ground that the arbitral tribunal is favouring or is
biased in favour of one of the parties. Such a challenge should be first raised before the arbitraltribunal
under Section 13. If the challenge is not accepted by the arbitral tribunal then the award rendered by
that arbitral tribunal can be challenged.
This is because arbitration agreement forms the basis for any arbitration as it contain the consent of the
parties that in the event there is dispute between them, the parties would not go to the court instead
would submit it to arbitration.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
e. Arbitral tribunal or procedure was not in accordance with necessary requirements under
the law:
The law prescribes certain basic minimum requirements that all dispute resolution procedures must
adhere to.
One of the simplest example would be to treat both parties equally. An award that does adhere to such
minimum requirement would be set aside.
Second set of grounds which the court can look at its own motion, includes:
(a) the subject matter of the dispute is not capable of settlement by arbitration (arbitrability).
(b)the award is in contravention of the public policy of India.
Consequence of challenge
There are four major outcomes when an award is challenged before the court.
(a) Set aside –the court reviewing the award could set aside an award on grounds noted above. Once
an award has been set aside that award has no legal consequence. It is no longer an award and has no
legal sanctity. It is nothing more than a document and has no legal value.
(b) Confirm –the reviewing court also confirm the complete award. Confirming an award means that
the court is of the opinion that there is nothing legally wrong with the award i.e. it fulfils all the
requirements noted in law.
(c) Modify – the court the power to modify the award so that it may not be set aside.
(d) Remit back to the arbitral tribunal - the court may instead of setting aside the award, send the
matter back to the arbitral tribunal to rectify some defect, which if not corrected would lead to setting
aside of the award.
Enforcement
Where the time for making an application to set aside an award has expired, or when such application
was made but it was rejected then the award can be enforced. Enforcement of an arbitral award shall
happen under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 in the same manner as if it were a decree of the court.
The award can be put for enforcement right after it has been rendered without waiting for challenge
proceedings to conclude.
CONCILIATION
Arbitration is one of the many ADR methods utilised to resolve dispute outside of the court system.
However Arbitration remains adversarial in nature.
It mimics the court system, and therefore like a court adjudicates a matter.
This however means that the parties remain as adversaries, with one party having won and the other
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In order to avoid these consequences of arbitration, other methods of ADR are adopted.
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Conciliation
Definition &
Characteristics of
Conciliation
Role of Conciliators
Enforcement of settlement
Agreement
Definition
There is no single definition of Conciliation.
It is an alternative method of dispute resolution. It can be understood as a process of getting the parties
to come to an agreement about a common problem / dispute through confidential discussion and
dialogue. In its operation it is very similar to mediation and like mediation it is voluntary, flexible and
completely at parties initiative.
Characteristics
(a)Voluntary– The process of conciliation is voluntary which implies that all parties have toagree to
have their disputes conciliated. Unless all the parties involved in the dispute agree, the matter cannot be
conciliated. No party can be forced to conciliate matter or attend conciliation proceedings. If a party is
forced, then the outcome of such conciliation would not be binding on that party. Thus party autonomy
and consent are an important aspect of conciliation.
(b) Non Adversarial– Unlike arbitration or court based adjudication the parties don’t compete against
each other to prove themselves as correct and others as wrong. Parties don’t behave as adversaries, who
can only win by defeating the other party. Instead of focusing on win-lose, the attempt is to find a solution
to the problem that best suits all the parties involved, in such a manner that no party is made worse off.
(c) Assisted procedure– The conciliation proceedings can be crafted in a manner which most suits
the parties’ convenience. At all times to assist the parties in arriving at a solution the conciliator(s) are
present. They, along with the parties, craft a procedure for sharing of information among the parties so
as to reach an amicable settlement.
(d) Finality of settlement – The outcome i.e. settlement as an end result of the conciliation process
is final and binding between the parties.
(e) Confidentiality– All aspects of the conciliation process are confidential. In other words,the
conciliator(s) and the parties cannot disclose to persons not party to conciliation, any matter relating to
the conciliation proceedings.
Thus confidentiality primarily operates to cover the process and its participants. It prevents leak of
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information. However within the process information received by the conciliator from one party must
be disclosed to the other party, unless the party giving the information has specifically requested that it
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Even the agreement arrived at by the parties is covered under the broad spectrum ofconfidentiality. This
is important because it assures the parties that any information they share would remain private and
would not be used against them in an adversarial process.
Conciliation in India
In India conciliation is governed by the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and by Section 89 of the
Code of Civil Procedure 1908.
Any dispute arising out of a legal relationship, whether from being conciliated can be submitted to
conciliation.
The law provides for number of conciliators, and provides for a process using which conciliation
would be conducted.
a. Number of Conciliator – The number of conciliators depends upon the parties, but with a
maximum of three conciliators. In other words, number of conciliators can range from one to three.
(Section 63)
c. Procedure of Conciliation- Once the conciliators have been appointed both parties are required
to submit their statements in writing, supply documents and other evidence to the conciliator.
The conciliator then provides a copy of the statements, documents and otherevidence of one party to
the other party. The conciliator is then required to encourage and assist parties to engage in discussions
based on the information to arrive at a settlement. (Section 65)
d. Bar on judicial or arbitral proceedings –When the conciliation proceedings are ongoing parties
cannot start arbitration proceedings or approach a court regarding the same dispute which is part of
conciliation proceedings.
The exception to this rule is that when it concerns preserving its right, the party can approach a court or
initiate arbitration. (Section 77)
In this scenario what could Orion Decorators have done to ensure they continued to receive exotic
flowers required by them to fulfil their orders?
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Under Section 77 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996, even though approach to court is
prohibited during the conciliation proceedings, as an exception a party could approach the court to
protect its rights. Orion Decorators could approach the court for interim measures, whereby till the
conclusion of conciliation proceedings it could request the court to direct Surat to continue
providingflowers at the lower rate. The court would have the power to grant the requested measure of
protection on such conditions as it deems appropriate.
Mediation Conciliation
Mediator plays a facilitative role and attempts to The Council plays a more proactive role. He acts
guide the parties towards a solution. Thus the a facilitator, evaluator and intervener. In other
solution should come from the parties words, he can also along with the parties suggest
themselves. solutions.
The outcome is an agreement between the The outcome is a settlement agreement.
parties.
The agreement reached by the parties is a The settlement agreement reached between the
contract enforceable by law. parties has the same status as an arbitral award
on agreed terms. In other words it is executable
as a decree of the civil court.
Mediation is governed by Section 89 of the Code Conciliation is governed by Part III of the
of Civil Procedure, 1908. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Mediation is governed by confidentiality. Conciliation is bound by confidentially. Extent of
However confidentiality in mediation is often confidentiality is defined by the law. Breach of
based on trust. confidentially could be fatal to the entire process.
If the agreement is breached, the parties would The settlement agreement is enforced as an
have to proceed in the usual process adopted for arbitral award. Breach of the settlement
breach of contract. agreement, would be the same as breach of an
arbitral award. The Arbitration and Conciliation
Act, 1996 provides mechanisms for enforcing
arbitral award and recourse in instances the
award is not followed.
Settlement Agreement
a. Initial steps –
Attempt of conciliation is to resolve the dispute and arrive at a settlement. This settlement could be
based on suggestions made by the Conciliator(s) [Section 67(4)], or the parties [Section 72].
When it appears to the conciliator that a settlement is possible, he should identify possible terms of
settlement and submit them to the parties for their observations and suggestions. The parties may also
make suggestions as to contents of the agreement.
b. Agreement –
If the parties reach a settlement, then it has to be written down as an agreement. This agreement is
known as settlement agreement (at times it is also referred to as Memorandum of Conciliation). It can
be made by the parties or by the Conciliator on behalf of the parties. However the conciliator is required
to authenticate the agreement without which the agreement would have no legal sanctity.
c. Enforcement –
The settlement agreement has the same status as that of an arbitralaward. An arbitral award is final and
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binding on the parties and persons claiming under them. The award can be challenged before a court,
and once the time for challenge has lapsed, or if the challengehad been made but was unsuccessful, then
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d. Confidentiality –
The conciliation proceedings and its outcome are subject to stringent confidentiality requirements.
a. Both the conciliator and the parties are required to keep all matter relating to the proceedings and
the settlement agreement confidential. The only exception is when disclosure becomes necessary for
purposes of implementation and enforcement of the settlement agreement.
b. The Conciliator cannot act as an arbitrator or representative of any of the party in arbitral or judicial
proceedings in respect of the dispute that was subject of conciliation proceedings.
c. None of the views expressed, suggestions made, admissions by parties, or proposals made could be
relied upon or introduced as evidence in arbitral or judicial proceedings, irrespective of whether or not
those proceedings relate to dispute that was the subject of arbitral or judicialproceedings.
Breach of confidentiality would vitiate the arbitral or judicial proceedings they are attempted to be
utilised in.
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“foreign contribution” means the donation, delivery or transfer made by any foreign source,—
(i) of any article, not being an article given to a person as a gift for his personal use, if the market value,
in India, of such article, on the date of such gift, is not more than such sum as may be specified from
time to time, by the Central Government by the rules made by it in this behalf; (This sum has been
specified as Rs. 25,000/- currently)
(ii) any currency, whether Indian or foreign;
(iii) of any security as defined in the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 and includes any foreign
security as defined in the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 .
Explanation 1—A donation, delivery or transfer of any article, currency or foreign security referred to in
this clause by any person who has received it from any foreign source, either directly or through one or
more persons, shall also be deemed to be foreign contribution within the meaning of this clause.
Explanation 2—The interest accrued on the foreign contribution deposited in any bank referred to in
section 17(1) or any other income derived from the foreign contribution or interest thereon shall also
be deemed to be foreign contribution within the meaning of this clause.
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Explanation 3—Any amount received, by any person from any foreign source in India, by way of fee
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(including fees charged by an educational institution in India from foreign student) or towards cost in
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
lieu of goods or services rendered by such person in the ordinary course of his business, trade or
commerce whether within India or outside India or any contribution received from an agent of a foreign
source towards such fee or cost shall be excluded from the definition of foreign contribution within the
meaning of this clause; [Section 2(h)]
In terms of FCRA, 2010 "person" includes:
(i) an individual;
(ii) a Hindu undivided family;
(iii) an association;
(iv) a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (now Section 8 of Companies
Act, 2013). [Section 2(m)]
“foreign hospitality” means any offer, not being a purely casual one, made in cash or kind by a foreign
source for providing a person with the costs of travel to any foreign country or territory or with free
boarding, lodging, transport or medical treatment; [Section 2(i)]
A few bodies/ organisations of the United Nations, World Bank and some other International agencies
or multilateral organisations are exempted from this definition, and are not treated as foreign source.
Hence, the funds received from them are not considered as foreign contribution.
[Section 2(j)]
“political party” means—
(i) an association or body of individual citizens of India—
(A) to be registered with the Election Commission of India as a political party under section 29A of
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be registered under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968;
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(ii) a political party mentioned in column 2 of Table 1 and Table 2 to the notification of the Election
Commission of India No. 56/J&K/02, dated the 8th August, 2002, as in force for the time being;[ Section
2(n)]
“relative” has the meaning assigned to it in section 2(41) of the Companies Act, 1956 (Now section 2(77)
of the Companies Act, 2013) [Section 2(r)]
(2) Further following other persons are also prohibited from accepting foreign contribution:
(a) Person, resident in India, and citizen of India resident outside India- shall not accept any foreign
contribution, or acquire or agree to acquire any currency from a foreign source, on behalf of any political
party, or any person referred to in sub-section (1), or both.
(b) Person, resident in India- shall not deliver any currency, whether Indian or foreign, which has been
accepted from any foreign source, to any person if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that
such other person intends, or is likely, to deliver such currency to any political party or any person
referred to in sub-section (1), or both.
(c) Citizen of India resident outside India- shall not deliver any currency, whether Indian or foreign,
which has been accepted from any foreign source, to—
(i) any political party or any person referred to in sub-section (1), or both; or
(ii) any other person, if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that such other person intends, or
is likely, to deliver such currency to a political party or to any person referred to in sub-section (1), or
both.
(3) Person receiving any currency, whether Indian or foreign, from a foreign source on behalf of any
person or class of persons (referred to in section 9) shall not deliver such currency—
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(a) to any person other than a person for which it was received, or
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(b) to any other person, if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that such other person intends,
or is likely, to deliver such currency to a person other than the person for which such currency was
received.
person gives an Intimation to CG of such hospitality received within 1 month from the date of receipt.
As per Rule 7 of FCR, 2011 foreign hospitality may be received by specified categories of persons in the
following manner:
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(1) Any person belonging to any of the categories specified in section 6 above, who if wishes to avail of
foreign hospitality, shall apply to the Central Government in prescribed Form for prior permission to
accept such foreign hospitality.
(2) Every application for acceptance of foreign hospitality shall be accompanied by an invitation letter
from the host or the host country and administrative clearance of the Ministry or department concerned
in case of visits sponsored by a Ministry or department of the Government.
(3) The application for grant of permission to accept foreign hospitality must reach the appropriate
authority ordinarily two weeks before the proposed date of onward journey.
(4) In case of emergent medical aid needed on account of sudden illness during a visit abroad, the
acceptance of foreign hospitality shall be required to be intimated to the Central Government within 1
month of such receipt giving full details including the source, approximate value in Indian Rupees, and
the purpose for which and the manner in which it was utilised.
However, no such intimation is required if the value of such hospitality in emergent medical aid is upto
one lakh rupees or equivalent thereto.
The relevance of Rule 24 (Which specifies where transfer to unregistered person is allowed
upto 10% with CG Approval) in the lightof the blanket prohibition is debatable.
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receipt of any foreign hospitality, the source from which and the manner in which such hospitality was
received.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Above prohibition or requirement shall not be made unless the Central Government is satisfied that the
acceptance of foreign contribution by such person or class of persons, as the case may be, or the
acceptance of foreign hospitality by such person, is likely to affect prejudicially—
(i) the sovereignty and integrity of India; or
(ii) public interest; or
(iii) freedom or fairness of election to any Legislature; or
(iv) friendly relations with any foreign State; or
(v) harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic or regional groups, castes or communities.
REGISTRATION
The provisions related to registration of persons for acceptance of foreign contribution, grant of
certificate, its suspension, cancellation and renewal are dealt in chapter III of the FCRA.
There are two modes of obtaining permission to accept foreign contribution according to FCRA, 2010-
Provided that the Central Government, on the basis of any information or report, and after
holding a summary inquiry, has reason to believe that a person who has been granted prior
permission has contravened any of the provisions of this Act, it may, pending any further
inquiry, direct that such person shall not utilise the unutilised foreign contribution or receive
the remaining portion of foreign contribution which has not been received or, as the case may
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be, any additional foreign contribution, without prior approval of the Central Government:
Provided further that if the person referred to in sub-section (1) or in this sub-section has been
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found guilty".
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(3) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify—
(i) the person or class of persons who shall obtain its prior permission before accepting the foreign
contribution; or
(ii) the area or areas in which the foreign contribution shall be accepted and utilised with the prior
permission of the Central Government; or
(iii) the purpose or purposes for which the foreign contribution shall be utilised with the prior permission
of the Central Government; or
(iv)the source or sources from which the foreign contribution shall be accepted with the prior permission
of the Central Government.
Example from Module: Can a private limited company or a partnership firm get registration or prior
permission under FCRA, 2010?
Answer: Yes, a private limited company too may seek prior permission/registration for receivingforeign
funds in case they wish to do some charitable work at some point of time.
Example from Module: Whether an individual or a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) can be given
registration or prior permission to accept foreign contribution in terms of section 11 of FCRA, 2010?
Answer: Yes. The definition of the ‘person’ in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 includes
any individual and ‘Hindu Undivided Family’ among others. As such an Individual or an HUF is also
eligible to apply for prior permission to accept foreign contribution.
Example from Module: Whether organisations under Central/State Governments are required to obtain
registration or prior permission under FCRA, 2010 for accepting foreign contribution?
Answer: Yes. However, all bodies constituted or established by or under a Central Act or a State Act
requiring to have their accounts compulsorily audited by Comptroller & Auditor General of India are
exempted from the operations of all the provisions of FCRA, 2010.
(b) the acceptance of foreign contribution by the association/ person is not likely to affect prejudicially -
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(1A) Every person who makes an application under sub-section (1) shall be required to open
‘‘FCRA Account’’ in the manner specified in section 17 and mention details of such account in
his application.
(2) Procedure for grant of certificate of Registration
(1) An application by a person, referred to in section 11 for grant of certificate or giving prior permission,
shall be made to the Central Government in such form and manner and along with such fee, as may be
prescribed.
(2) On receipt of an application the Central Government shall, by an order, if the application is not in
the prescribed form or does not contain any of the particulars specified in that form, reject the
application.
(3) If on receipt of an application for grant of certificate or giving prior permission and after making such
inquiry as the Central Government deems fit, it is of the opinion that the conditions specified in sub-
section(4)are satisfied, it may, ordinarily within ninety days from the date of receipt of application,
register such person and grant him a certificate or give him prior permission, as the case may be, subject
to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.
If that in case the Central Government does not grant, within the said period of ninety days, a
certificate or give prior permission, it shall communicate the reasons therefor to the applicant.
And that a person shall not be eligible for grant of certificate or giving prior permission, if his certificate
has been suspended and such suspension of certificate continues on the date of making application.
(4) Where the Central Government refuses the grant of certificate or does not give prior permission, it
shall record in its order the reasons therefor and furnish a copy thereof to the applicant.
However the Central Government may not communicate the reasons for refusal for grant of certificate
or for not giving prior permission to the applicant under this section in cases where is no obligation to
give any information or documents or records or papers under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
(5) The certificate granted shall be valid for a period of five years from the date of its issue and the prior
permission shall be valid for the specific purpose or specific amount of foreign contribution proposed
to be received, as the case may be.
(2) Effect of suspension: Every person whose certificate has been suspended shall—
(a) not receive any foreign contribution during the period of suspension of certificate.
However, the Central Government, on an application made by such person, if it considers appropriate,
allow receipt of any foreign contribution by such person on such terms andconditions as it may specify;
(b) utilise, in the prescribed manner, the foreign contribution in his custody with the prior approval of
the Central Government.
Rule 14 of FCR, 2011 defines the extent of amount that can be utilised in case of suspension of the
certificate of registration. The unspent amount that can be utilised in case of suspension of a certificate
of registration may be as under:—
(i) In case the certificate of registration is suspended under sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Act, up
to 25% of the unutilised amount may be spent, with the prior approval of the Central Government, for
the declared aims and objects for which the foreign contribution was received.
(ii)The remaining 75% of the unutilised foreign contribution shall be utilised only after revocation
of suspension of the certificate of registration.
(2) No order of cancellation of certificate under this section shall be made unless the person concerned
has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(3) Cooling period of 3 years: Any person whose certificate has been cancelled under this section shall
not be eligible for registration or grant of prior permission for a period of three years from the date of
cancellation of such certificate.
(1) The foreign contribution and assets created out of the foreign contribution in the custody of every
person whose certificate has been cancelled - shall vest in such authority as may be prescribed.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(2) Such an authority may, if it considers necessary and in public interest- manage the activities of the
person, as the Central Government may direct and such authority may utilise the foreign contribution
or dispose of the assets created out of it in case adequate funds are not available for running such activity.
(3) The authority shall return the foreign contribution and the assets vested upon it to the person, if such
person is subsequently registered under this Act.
(2) Every person shall apply to the Central Government in prescribed form six months before the date
of expiry of the certificate of registration, for its renewal.
(3) An application made for renewal of the certificate of registration shall be accompanied by a fee of
Rs. 500.
(4) The fee for renewal of the certificate of registration shall be remitted by demand draft or banker's
cheque in favour of the "Pay and Accounts Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs", payable at New Delhi or
through online electronic payment gateway as specified by the Central Government.
(5) In case no application for renewal of registration is received or such application is not accompanied
by the requisite fee, the validity of the certificate of registration of such person shall be deemed to have
ceased from the date of completion of the period of five years fromthe date of the grant of registration.
Example: A certificate of registration granted on the 1st January, 2012 shall be valid till the 31st December,
2016. A request for renewal of the registration certificate shall reach the Central Government,
accompanied by the requisite fee, by the 30th June, 2016. If no application is received or is not
accompanied by the renewal fee, the validity of the registration certificate issued on the 1 st January 2012
shall be deemed to have lapsed with effect from the close of the day on 31st December, 2016.
(6) If the validity of the certificate of registration of a person has ceased in accordance with the provisions
of these rules, a fresh request for the grant of a certificate of registration may be made by the person to
the Central Government as per the provisions of rule 9.
(7) In case a person provides sufficient grounds, in writing, explaining the reasons for not submitting the
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certificate of registration for renewal within the stipulated time, his application may be accepted for
consideration along with the requisite fee, but not later than four months after the expiry of the original
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certificate of registration.
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(2) The specified branch of the State Bank of India at New Delhi or the branchof the scheduled bank
where the person referred to in sub-section (1) hasopened his foreign contribution account or the
authorised person in foreignexchange, shall report to such authority as may be specified, -
(a) the prescribed amount of foreign remittance;
(b) the source and manner in which the foreign remittance was received; and
(c) other particulars, in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(d) in such form and manner as may be prescribed.'
• by general or special order, authorise such Gazetted Officer, holding a Group A post under the
Central Government or any other officer or authority or organisation, as it may think fit
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(2) Every such officer shall have the right to enter in or upon any premises at any reasonable hour,
before sunset and after sunrise, for the purpose of auditing the said books of account.
(3) Any information obtained from such audit shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed
except for the purposes of this Act.
ADJUDICATION
The provisions related to adjudication is given under chapter VI &VII covering sections from 28-31 of
the Act
Note:
Appeal may be preferred within one month from the date of communication to such person of the
order.
However, the appeallate court may, allow such appeal to be preferred within a further period of one
month, but not thereafter.
(2) Any organisation referred to in section 3(1)(f), or any person or association referred to in section 6
or section 9, aggrieved by an order made in pursuance of section 5 or by an order of the Central
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Government refusing to give permission under this Act, or by any order made by the Central
Government section 12(2) or 12(4), or section 14(1), as the case may be, may,
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• prefer an appeal against such order to the High Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction
the appellant ordinarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain, or, where the
appellant is an organisation or association, the principal office of such organisation or association is
located
• within sixty days from the date of such order.
(2) Restriction on entertainment of revision: The Central Government shall notofits own motion revise
any order under this section if the order has been made more than one year previously.
(3) In the case of an application for revision under this section:the application must be made within one
year from the date on which the order in question was communicated to him or the date on which he
otherwise came to know of it, whichever is earlier.
Where if, the Central Government is satisfied that such person was prevented by sufficient cause from
making the application within that period - may admit an application made after the expiry of that
period.
the court trying a person, who, in relation to any fine of Maximum five times the value of the
article or currency or security, whether Indian article or currencyor security or Rs. 1000,
or foreign, does or omits to do any act which whichever is more, if such article or currency or
act or omission would render such article or security is not available for confiscation, and the
currency or security liable to confiscation under fine so imposed shall be in addition to any other
this Act, may, in the event of the conviction of fine which may be imposed on such person under
such person for the act or omission aforesaid this Act
Whoever fails to comply with any provision of imprisonment for a upto 1year, or with fine or
This Act for which no separate penalty has been with both
Provided in this act.
Section 35 or section 37 , in so far as such offence Shall not accept any foreign contribution for a
relates to the acceptance or utilization of foreign period of 5 years from the date of subsequent
contribution, is again convicted of such offence conviction.
Offences by companies
Where an offence under this Act or any rule or order made thereunder has been committed by a
company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was
responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company,
shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly.
However, such person shall not be liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed
–
• without his knowledge, or
• he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
Where an offence under this Act or any rule or order made thereunder has been committed by a
company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is
attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the
company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that
offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
For the purposes of this section, any second or subsequent offence committed after the expiry of a
period of three years from the date on which the offence was previously compounded, shall be deemed
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
• Every officer or authority shall exercise the powers to compound an offence, subject to the direction,
control and supervision of the Central Government.
• Where any offence is compounded before the institution of any prosecution, no prosecution shall
be instituted in relation to such offence, against the offender in relation to whom the offence is so
compounded.
• Every officer or authority while dealing with a proposal for the compounding of an offence for a
default in compliance with any provision of this Act which requires by an individual or association or its
officer or other employee to obtain permission or file or register with, or deliver or send to, the Central
Government or any prescribed authority any return, account or other document, may direct, by order,
any individual or association or its officer or other employee to file or register with, such return, account
or other document within such time as may be specified in the order.
MISCELLANEOUS
Power to call of information or document and Investigation into cases under the Act
(Sections 42 & 43)
• Any inspecting officer, authorised by the Central Government may, during the course of any
inspection of any account or record maintained by any political party, person, organisation or association
in connection with the contravention of any provision of this Act,—
(a) call for information from any person for the purpose of satisfying himself whether there has been
any contravention of the provisions of this Act or rule or order made thereunder;
(b) require any person to produce or deliver any document or thing useful or relevant to such inspection;
(c) examine any person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case related to the inspection.
• Investigation into cases under the Act: Any offence punishable under this Act may also be
investigated into by such authority as the Central Government may specify in this behalf and the
authority so specified shall have all the powers which an officer-in-charge of a police station has while
making an investigation into a cognizable offence.
Power of Central Government to give directions and delegation of powers (Sections 46 & 47)
• The Central Government may give such directions as it may deem necessary to any other authority
or any person or class of persons regarding the carrying into execution of the provisions of this Act.
• The Central Government may direct that any of its powers or functions under this Act, except power
to make rule under section 48, shall, in relation to such matters and subject to such conditions, if any,
may be specified in the notification, be exercised or discharged also by such authority as may be
specified.
be required to furnish intimation regarding the amount of foreign contribution received under section
9(c);
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(h) the time within which and the manner in which any person or class of persons may be required to
furnish
intimation regarding foreign hospitality under section 9(e);
(i) the manner in which the copy of the order of the CG shall be served upon any person under
section 10;
(j) the form and manner in which the application for grant of certificate of registration or giving of
prior permission under section 12(1);
(k) the fee to be accompanied by the application under section 12(1);
(l) the terms and conditions for granting a certificate or giving prior permission under section 12(4)(g);
(m) the manner of utilising the foreign contribution under section 13(2)(b);
(n) the authority with whom the foreign contribution to be vested under section 15(1);
(o) the period within which and the manner in which the foreign contribution shall be managed
section 15(2);
(p) the form and manner in which the application for a renewal of certificate of registration shall be
made under section 16(2);
(q) the fee to be accompanied by the application for renewal of certificate under section 16(2);
(r) the prescribed amount of foreign remittance, the form and manner in which the foreign remittance
received by every bank or authorised person in foreign exchange shall be reported under section
17(2);
(s) the time within which and the manner in which the person who has been granted certificate of
registration or given prior permission under this Act shall give intimation under section 18;
(t) the form and manner in which account of any foreign contribution and the manner in which such
contribution has been utilised shall be maintained under section 19;
(u) the time within which and the manner in which a candidate for election shall give intimation under
section 21;
(v) the manner and procedure to be followed in disposing of the assets under section 22;
(w) the limits subject to which any confiscation may be adjudged under section 29(1)(c);
(x) the fee to be accompanied along with every application for revision section 32(5);
(y) the form and manner for making of an application for compounding of an offence and the fee
therefor under section 41(4);
(z) the form and manner in which and the time within which returns and statements to be furnished by
the prescribed authority under section 44;
(za) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.
The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the provisions of any other
law for the time being in force.
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(2) The organisations specified under clauses (v) and (vi) of sub-rule (1) shall be considered to be of
political nature, if they participate in active politics or party politics, as the case may be.
equipment;
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Rule 6A. When articles gifted for personal use do not amount to foreign contribution. –
Any article gifted to a person for his personal use whose market value in India on the date of such gift
does not exceed [one lakh rupees] shall not be a foreign contribution within the meaning of sub-clause
(i) of clause (h) of sub-section (1) of section (2).
Rule 8. Action in respect of article, currency or security received in contravention of the Act. –
(1) The Central Government may issue a prohibitory order for contravention of the Act in respect of
any article, currency or securities.
(2) The prohibitory order issued under sub-rule (1) shall be served on the person concerned in the
following manner:-
(a) by delivering or tendering it to that person or to his duly authorised agent; or
(b) by sending it to him by 'registered post with acknowledgement due' or 'speed post' to the address of
his last known place of residence or the place where he carries on, or is known to have last carried on,
business or the place where he personally works for gain or is known to have last worked for gain and,
in case the person is an organisation or an association, to the last known address of the office of such
organisation or association; or
(c) if it cannot be served in any of the manner aforesaid, by affixing, it on the outer door or some other
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conspicuous part of the premises in which that person resides or carries on, or is known to have last
carried on, business or personally works for gain or is known to have last worked personally for gain
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and, in case the person is an organisation or an association, on the outer door or some other
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
conspicuous part of the premises in which the office of that organisation or association is located, or is
known to have been last located, and the written report whereof should be witnessed by at least two
persons.
Rule 9. Application for obtaining 'registration' or 'prior permission' to receive foreign contribution. –
(1)(a) An application for certificate of registration by a person under sub-section (1) of section 11, for
acceptance of foreign contribution shall be made [in electronic form] in Form FC-3A [with an affidavit
executed by each office bearer and key functionary and member in Proforma 'AA' appended to these
rules] and an application for obtaining prior permission by a person under sub-section (2) of section
11, for acceptance of foreign contribution, shall be made [in electronic form] in Form FC-3B [with an
affidavit executed by each office bearer and key functionary and member in Proforma 'AA' appended
to these rules].
(b) The applicant shall upload the signed or digitally signed application along with scanned documents
as specified by the Central Government from time to time;
(d) Any person making an application for registration under clause (a) of sub-rule (1) shall have an
FCRA Account.
(e) The person may open one or more accounts in one or more banks for the purpose of utilising the
foreign contribution after it has been received and, in all such cases, intimation [in electronic form] in
form [FC-6D]] shall be furnished to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi within fifteen
days of the opening of any account.
(f) A person seeking registration under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 12 of the Act shall meet
the following conditions, namely: -
(i) it shall be in existence for three years and have spent a minimum amount of rupees fifteen lakh on
its core activities for the benefit of society during the last three financial years:
Provided that the Central Government, in exceptional cases or in cases where a person is controlled by
the Central Government or a State Government may waive the conditions;
(ii) if the person wants inclusion of its existing capital investment in assets like land, building, other
permanent structures, vehicles, equipment in the computation of its spending during last three years,
then the chief functionary shall give an undertaking that the assets shall be vested henceforth with the
person till the validity of the certificate and they shall be utilised only for the activities covered under
the Act and the rules made thereunder and shall not be diverted for any other purpose till the validity
of its certificate of registration remains valid.
(1A) Every application seeking registration under clause (a) of sub-rule (1), made before the
commencement of these rules but not disposed of, shall be considered after furnishing the details of
FCRA Account.
(2) [* * *]
(d) Any person making an application for obtaining prior permission under clause (a) of sub-rule (1)
shall have an FCRA Account.]
(e) person seeking prior permission under this rule may open one or more accounts in one or more
banks for the purpose of utilising the foreign contribution after it has been received and in all such
cases intimation [ [in electronic form] in form [FC-6D]] shall be furnished to the Secretary, Ministry of
Home Affairs, New Delhi within fifteen days of the opening of any account.
(f) A person seeking prior permission for receipt of specific amount from a specific donor for carrying
out specific activities or projects mentioned in clause (c) of sub-section (4) of section 12 of the Act shall
meet the following criteria, namely: -
(i) submit a specific commitment letter from the donor indicating the amount of foreign contribution
and the purpose for which it is proposed to be given;
(ii) for the Indian recipient persons and foreign donor organisations having common members, prior
permission shall be granted to the person subject to it satisfying the following conditions, namely: -
(A) the chief functionary of the recipient person shall not be a part of the donor organisation;
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(B) seventy-five per cent. of the office-bearers or members of the governing body of the person shall
not be members or employees of the foreign donor organisation;
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(C) in case of foreign donor organisation being a single individual that individual shall not be the chief
functionary or office bearer of the recipient person; and
(D) in case of a single foreign donor, seventy-five per cent. of the office bearers or members of the
governing body of the recipient person shall not be the family members or close relatives of the donor.
(2A) Every application for obtaining prior permission under clause (a) of sub-rule (1) made before the
commencement of these rules but not disposed of, shall be considered after furnishing the details of
FCRA Account.
(3) No person shall prefer a second application for registration or prior permission within a period of
six months after submitting an application either for the grant of prior permission for the same project
or for registration.
(4) (a) An application made for the grant of prior permission shall be accompanied by a fee of rupees
five thousand only, which shall be paid through the payment gateway specified by the Central
Government.
[(b) An application made for the grant of registration shall be accompanied by a fee of rupees ten
thousand only, which shall be paid through the payment gateway specified by the Central Government.
(c) The fee may be revised by the Central Government from time to time.
[***]
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rules (1) to (4), every application made for registration
or prior permission under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 (49 of 1976) but not
disposed of before the date of commencement of these rules shall be deemed to be an application for
registration or prior permission, as the case may be, under these rules, subject to the condition that the
applicant furnishes the prescribed fees for such registration or prior permission, as the case may be.
Rule 9A. Permission for receipt of foreign contribution in application for obtaining prior permission. –
If the value of foreign contribution on the date of final disposal of an application for obtaining prior
permission under clause (a) of sub-rule (1) of rule 9 is over rupees one crore, the Central Government
may permit receipt of foreign contribution in such instalments, as it may deem fit:
Provided that the second and subsequent instalment shall be released after submission of proof of
utilisation of seventy five per cent. of the foreign contribution received in the previous instalment and
after field inquiry of the utilisation of foreign contribution.
registration. (2B) Every application for renewal of the certificate of registration made under sub-rule (2)
before commencement of these rules, but not disposed of, shall be considered after furnishing the
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(4) An application made for renewal of the certificate of registration shall be accompanied by a fee of
rupees five thousand only, which shall be paid through payment gateway specified by the Central
Government.
(5) No person whose certificate of registration has ceased to exist shall either receive or utilise the
foreign contribution until the certificate is renewed.
(6) If no application for renewal of registration is received or the application is not accompanied by
requisite fee before the expiry of the validity of the certificate of registration, the validity of the
certificate of registration shall be deemed to have ceased from the date of completion of the period of
five years from the date of the grant of certificate of registration.
Note 1: A certificate of registration granted on the 1st January, 2012 shall be valid till the 31st
December, 2016 and a request for renewal of certificate of registration shall be submitted in electronic
form accompanied by requisite fee after the 30th June, 2016 and within the 31st December, 2016.
Note 2: If no application is received or is not accompanied by renewal fee, the validity of the certificate
of registration issued on the 1st January 2012 shall be deemed to have ceased after the 31st December,
2016 and the applicant shall neither receive nor utilise the foreign contribution until the certificate of
registration is renewed.
(6A) The amount of foreign contribution lying unutilised in the FCRA Account and utilisation account
of a person whose certificate of registration is deemed to have ceased under sub-rule (6) and assets, if
any, created out of the foreign contribution, shall vest with the prescribed authority under the Act until
the certificate is renewed or fresh registration is granted by the Central Government.
(7) If the validity of the certificate of registration of a person has ceased in accordance with the
provisions of these rules, a fresh request for the grant of a certificate of registration may be made by the
person to the Centra1 Government as per the provisions of rule 9.
(8) In case a person provides sufficient grounds, in writing, explaining the reasons for not submitting
the certificate of registration for renewal within the stipulated time, his application may be accepted for
consideration along with the requisite fee [and with late fee of Rs.5000/- (Five Thousand rupees only)],
but not later than [one year] after the expiry of the original certificate of registration.
Rule 14. Extent of amount that can be utilised in case of suspension of the certificate of registration. –
The unspent amount that can be utilised in case of suspension of a certificate of registration may be as
under –
(a) In case the certificate of registration is suspend under sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Act, up to
twenty-five per cent of the unutilised amount may be spent, with the prior approval of the Central
Government, for the declared aims and objects for which the foreign contribution was received.
(b) The remaining seventy-five per cent of the unutilised foreign contribution shall be utilised only after
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Rule 15. Custody of foreign contribution in respect of a person whose certificate has been cancelled. –
If the certificate of registration of a person who has opened an FCRA Account under section 17 is
cancelled, the amount of foreign contribution lying unutilised in that Account shall vest with the
prescribed authority under the Act.
Rule 17A - Change of designated bank account, name, address, aims, objectives or Key members of
the association. –
A person who has been granted a certificate of registration under section 12 or prior permission under
section 11 of the Act shall intimate in electronic form within fifteen days, of any change in the
following, namely: -
(i) name of the association or its address within the State for which registration/ prior permission has
been granted under the Act [in Form FC-6A;
(ii) its nature, aims and objects and registration with local/relevant authorities [in Form FC-6B;
(iii) bank and/or branch of the bank and/or designated foreign contribution account number [in Form
FC-6C]; [***]
(iiia) bank and/or branch of the bank for the purpose of utilising the foreign contribution after it has
been received in Form FC-6D; and
(iv) office bearers or key functionaries or members mentioned in the application for grant of
registration or prior permission or renewal of registration, as the case may be, in Form FC-6E.
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Provided that the change shall be effective only after final approval by the Central Government.
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Rule 19. Limit to which a judicial officer, not below the rank of an Assistant Sessions Judge may make
adjudication or order confiscation. –
An officer referred in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 29 may adjudge confiscation in relation to
any article or currency seized under section 25, if the value of such article or the amount of such
currency seized does not exceed Rs. 10,000,000/- (Ten Lakh only).
2 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
Person - Section 2(u)
Person includes individual, HUF, Co., firm, AOP whether incorporated or not, BOI whether
incorporated or not and any agency, office or branch owned or controlled by such person.
Person Resident in India - Section 2(v)
A person residing in India for more than 182 days during the course of the preceding financial year but
does not include:
A)A person who has gone out of India or who stays outside India, in either case:
• for or on taking up employment outside India.
• for carrying on any business or vocation outside India.
• for any other purpose, in such circumstances as would indicate his intention to stay outside India for
uncertain period.
B) A person who has come to or stays in India in either case otherwise than:
• for or on taking up employment in India.
• for carrying on any business or vocation in India.
• for any other purpose, in such circumstances as would indicate his intention to stay in India
foruncertain period.
Any person or body corporate registered or incorporated in India.
Any branch, office or agency in India owned or controlled by a person resident outside India.
Any branch, office or agency outside India owned or controlled by a person resident in India.
The current account transaction can be divided into following three categories:
1) Prohibited current account transaction — Schedule I Rule 3
2) Current account transaction with prior approval of Central Government — Schedule II Rule 4
3) Current account transaction with prior approval of RBI — Schedule III Rule 5
(vi) C-Payment of commission on exports under Rupee State Credit Route, except commission up
to 10% of invoice value of exports of tea and tobacco.
(vii) C-Payment related to ― Call Back Services of telephones.
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(viii) N-Remittance of interest income on funds held in Non -resident Special Rupee Scheme A/c.
Release of foreign exchange is not admissible for travel to and transaction with residents of Nepal and
Bhutan. However, the prohibition related to the transaction with residents of Nepal and Bhutan may
be exempted by RBI subject to such terms and conditions as it may consider necessary to stipulate by
special or general order.
3) Current account transaction with prior approval of RBI — Schedule III Rule 5
Prior approval of RBI is required for drawal of foreign exchange by any person forthe purposes listed
below:
Facilities for individuals—Individuals can avail of foreign exchange facility for the following purposes
within the limit of USD 250,000 only.:
(i) Private visits to any country (except Nepal and Bhutan)
(ii) Gift or donation.
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Further, that for a person who is resident but not permanently resident in India and-
(a) is a citizen of a foreign State other than Pakistan; or
(b) is a citizen of India, who is on deputation to the office or branch of a foreign company or subsidiary
or joint venture in India of such foreign company,
may make remittance up to his net salary (after deduction of taxes, contribution to provident fund and
other deductions).
Explanation: For the purpose of this item, a person resident in India on account of his employment or
deputation of a specified duration (irrespective of length thereof) or for a specific job or assignments,
the duration of which does not exceed three years, is a resident but not permanently resident:
Further, a person other than an individual may also avail of foreign exchange facility, mutatis mutandis,
within the limit prescribed under the said Liberalised Remittance Scheme for the purposes mentioned
herein above.
2. Facilities for persons other than individual—The following remittances by persons other than
individuals shall require prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India:
(i) Donations exceeding one per cent. of their foreign exchange earnings during the previous three
financial years or USD 5,000,000, whichever is less, for-
a. creation of Chairs in reputed educational institutes,
b. contribution to funds (not being an investment fund) promoted by educational institutes; and
c. contribution to a technical institution or body or association in the field of activity of the donor
Company.
(ii) Commission, per transaction, to agents abroad for sale of residential flats or commercial plots in
India exceeding USD 25,000 or five percent of the inward remittance whichever is more.
(iii) Remittances exceeding USD 10,000,000 per project for any consultancy services in respect of
infrastructure projects and USD 1,000,000 per project, for other consultancy services procured from
outside India.
(iv) Remittances exceeding five per cent of investment brought into India or USD 100,000 whichever is
higher, by an entity in India by way of reimbursement of pre-incorporation expenses.
3. Procedure— The procedure for drawal or remittance of any foreign exchange under this schedule
shall be the same as applicable for remitting any amount under the said Liberalised Remittance
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Scheme.
If the transaction is not listed in any of the above three schedules, it can be freely undertaken.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Exemption for remittance from RFC Account – No approval is required where any remittance has to
be made for the transactions listed in Schedule II and Schedule III above from an RFC account.
Exemption for remittance from EEFC Account – If any remittance has to be made for the transactions
listed in Schedule II and Schedule III above from EEFC account, then also no approval is required.
However, if payment has to be made for the following transactions, approval is required even if
payment is from EEFC account:
- Remittance for membership of P & I Club.
- Commission, per transaction, to agents abroad for sale of residential flats or commercial plots in
India exceeding USD 25,000 or 5% of the inward remittance whichever is more.
Remittances exceeding 5% of investment brought into India or USD 100,000 whichever is higher, by
an entity in India by way of reimbursement of pre-incorporation expenses.
Note: Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS): Under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), all
resident individuals, including minors, are allowed to freely remit up to USD 250,000 per financial
year (April – March) for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of
both.
In case of remitter being a minor, the LRS declaration form must be countersigned by the minor’s
natural guardian. The Scheme is not available to corporates, partnership firms, HUF, Trusts etc.
(j) giving of a guarantee or surety in respect of any debt, obligation or other liability incurred by a person
resident in India and owed to a person resident outside India; or by a person resident outside India.
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6 Permissible Transactions
1)The list of permissible classes of transactions
made by persons resident in India is:
(a) Investment by a person resident in India in
foreign securities.
(b) Foreign currency loans raised in India and
abroad by a person resident in India.
(c) Transfer of immovable property outside India
by a person resident in India.
(d) Guarantees issued by a person resident in India
in favour of a person resident outside India.
(e) Export, import and holding of
currency/currency notes.
(f) Loans and overdrafts (borrowings) by a person
resident in India from a person resident outside India.
(g) Maintenance of foreign currency accounts in India and outside India by a person resident in India.
(h) Taking out of insurance policy by a person resident in India from an insurance Co. outside India.
(i) Loans and overdrafts by a person resident in India to a person resident outside India.
(j) Remittance outside India of capital assets of a person resident in India.
(k) Sale and purchase of foreign exchange derivatives in India and abroad and commodity, derivatives
abroad by a person resident in India.
2) The list of permissible classes of transactions made by persons resident outside India is:
(a) Investment in India by a person resident outside India, that is to say,
• issue of security by a body corporate or an entity in India and investment therein by a person resident
outside India; and
• investment by way of contribution by a person resident outside India to the capital of a firm or a
proprietorship concern or an association of a person in India.
(b)Acquisition and transfer of immovable property in India by a person resident outside India
**AMENDMENT-
A person resident in India may acquire immovable property outside India,-
-by way of gift or inheritance acquired by a person resident in India on or before 8th July 1947 and
continued to be held by him with the permission of the Reserve Bank.
-by way of purchase out of foreign exchange held in Resident Foreign Currency (RFC) account
-jointly with a relative who is a person resident outside India, provided there is no outflow of funds
from India
Note - A company incorporated in India having overseas
offices, may acquire immovable property outside India
for its business and for residential purposes of its staff, in
accordance with the direction issued by the Reserve Bank
of India from time to time.
(c) Guarantee by a person resident outside India in favour
of, or on behalf of, a person resident in India.
(d) Import and export of currency/currency notes
into/from India by a person resident outside India.
(e) Deposits between a person resident in India and a
person resident outside India.
(f) Foreign currency accounts in India of a person resident
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outside India.
(g) Remittance outside India of capital assets in India of a person resident outside India.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Meaning of export
'Export' means-
(i) the taking out of India to a place outside India any goods; and (ii) provision of services from India to
any person outside India.
• RBI may direct any exporter to comply with such requirements as it deems fit, for the purpose of
ensuring that the full export proceeds are realised without any delay.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
• RBI may determine in a particular case, the reduced value of the export proceeds that may be
realised by the exporter.
(v) specified authority' meansthe person or the authority to whom the declaration as specified in
Regulation 3 is to be furnished;
3. Declaration of exports:-
(1) In case of exports taking place through Customs manual ports, exporter of goods or software
inphysical form or through any other form, either directly or indirectly, to any place outside India,other
than Nepal and Bhutan, shall furnish, a declaration in one of the forms set out in the Scheduleand
supported by such evidence as may be specified, containing true and correct material particulars
including the amount representing –
(i) the full export value of the goods or software;or
(ii) if the full export value is not ascertainable at the time of export, the value which the exporter, having
regard to the prevailing market conditions expects to receive on the sale of the goods or the software in
overseas market, and affirms in the said declaration that the full export value of goods (whether
ascertainable at the time of export or not) or the software has been or will within the specified period
be, paid in the specified manner.
(2) Declarations shall be executed in sets of such number as specified.
(3) For the removal of doubt, it is clarified that, in respect of export of services to which none of the
Forms specified in these Regulations apply, the exporter may export such services without furnishing
any declaration, but shall be liable to realise the amount of foreign exchange which becomes due or
accrues on account of such export, and to repatriate the same to India in accordance with theprovisions
of the Act, and these Regulations, as also other rules and regulations made under the Act.
209
(4) Realization of export proceeds in respect of export of goods / software from third party should
beduly declared by the exporter in the appropriate declarationform.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
4. Exemptions:-
Notwithstanding anything contained in Regulation 3, export of goods / software may be made without
furnishing the declaration in the following cases, namely:
(a) trade samples of goods and publicity material supplied free ofpayment;
(b) personal effects of travellers, whether accompanied orunaccompanied;
(c) ship's stores, trans-shipment cargo and goods supplied under the orders of Central Government or
of such officers as may be appointed by the Central Government in this behalf or of the military, navalor
air force authorities in India for military, naval or air force requirements;
(d) by way of gift of goods accompanied by a declaration by the exporter that they are not more than
five lakh rupees in value
(e) aircrafts or aircraft engines and spare parts for overhauling and/or repairs abroad subject to their
reimport into India after overhauling /repairs, within a period of six months from the date of their
export;
(ea) re-export of leased aircraft/ helicopter and/or engines/auxiliary power units (APUs) re-possessed by
overseas lessor and duly de-registered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on the
request of Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) holder under ‘Cape
Town Convention’ subject to permission by DGCA/Ministry of Civil Aviation for such export/s.
(f) goods imported free of cost on re-export basis;
(g) the following goods which are permitted by the Development Commissioner of the Special
Economic Zones, Electronic Hardware Technology Parks, Software Technology Parks or Free Trade
Zones to be re-exported, namely:
(1) imported goods found defective, for the purpose of their replacement by the foreign
suppliers/collaborators;
(2) Goods imported from foreign suppliers/collaborators on loan basis;
(3) Goods imported from foreign suppliers/collaborators free of cost, found surplus after production
operations.
(ga) goods listed at items (1), (2) and (3) of clause (i) to be re-exported by units in Special Economic
Zones, under intimation to the Development Commissioner of Special Economic Zones / concerned
Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Customs
(h) replacement goods exported free of charge in accordance with the provisions of Foreign Trade
Policy in force, for the time being.
(i) goods sent outside India for testing subject to re-import into India;
(j) defective goods sent outside India for repair and re-import provided the goods are accompanied by
a certificate from an authorised dealer in India that the export is for repair and re-import and that the
export does not involve any transaction in foreign exchange.
(k) exports permitted by the Reserve Bank, on application made to it, subject to the terms and
conditions, if any, as stipulated in the permission.
6.Authority to whom declaration is to be furnished and the manner of dealing with the
declaration:-
A. Declaration in Form EDF
(i)The declaration in form EDF shall be submitted in duplicate to the Commissioner of Customs.
(ii)After duly verifying and authenticating the declaration form, the Commissioner of Customs shall
210
forward the original declaration form/data to the nearest office of the Reserve Bank and hand over the
duplicate form to the exporter for being submitted to the authorised dealer.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
**For the purpose of this regulation, 'final place of destination' means a place in a country in which
thegoods are ultimately imported and cleared through Customs of that country.
(b) further that the Reserve Bank, or subject to the directions issued by that Bank in this behalf, the
authorised dealer may, for a sufficient and reasonable cause shown, extend the said period.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(2) (a) Where the export of goods / software / services has been made by Units in Special Economic
Zones (SEZ) / Status Holder exporter / Export Oriented Units (EOUs) and units in Electronics
Hardware Technology Parks (EHTPs), Software Technology Parks (STPs) and Bio-Technology Parks
(BTPs) as defined in the Foreign Trade Policy in force, then notwithstanding anything contained in sub-
regulation (1), the amount representing the full export value of goods or software shall be realised and
repatriated to India within nine months or within such period as may be specified by the Reserve Bank,
in consultation with the Government, from time to time, from the date of export.
Provided further that the Reserve Bank, or subject to the directions issued by the Bank in this behalf,
the authorised dealer may, for a sufficient and reasonable cause shown, extend the said period.
(b) The Reserve Bank may for reasonable and sufficient cause direct that the said exporter/s shall cease
to be governed by sub-regulation (2);
Provided that no such direction shall be given unless the unit has been given a reasonable opportunity
to make a representation in the matter.
(c) On such direction, the said exporter/s shall be governed by the provisions of sub-regulation (1), until
directed otherwise by the Reserve Bank.'
Explanation: For the purpose of this regulation, the “date of export” in relation to the export of software
in other than physical form, shall be deemed to be the date of invoice covering such export.
(i) that the payment for the goods or software is made otherwise than in the specified manner; or
(ii) that the payment is delayed beyond the period specified under these Regulations;or
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(iii) that the proceeds of sale of the goods or software exported do not represent the full export value of
the goods or software subject to such deductions, if any, as may be allowed by the Reserve Bank or,
subject to the directions of the Reserve Bank, by an authorised dealer;
Provided that no proceedings in respect of contravention of these provisions shall be instituted unless
the specified period has expired and payment for the goods or software representing the full export
value, or the value after deductions allowed under clause (iii), has not been made in the specified manner
within the specified period.
(iv) Export of services to which no Form specified in these Regulations apply, the exporter may export
such services without furnishing any declaration, (i), (ii) & (iii) above shall apply.
13. Certain Exports requiring prior approval:- Exports under trade agreement/rupee credit etc.
(i) Export of goods under special arrangement between the Central Government and Government of a
foreign state, or under rupee credits extended by the Central Government to Govt. of a foreign state
shall be governed by the terms and conditions set out in therelative public notices issued by theTrade
ControlAuthority in India and the instructions issued from time to time by the Reserve Bank.
(ii) An export under the line of credit extended to a bank or a financial institution operating in a
foreign state by the Exim Bank for financing exports from India, shallbe governed by the terms
andconditions advised by the Reserve Bank to the authorised dealers from time to time.
(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of Regulation 3 in relation to the export of goods or software
which is required to be declared, the Reserve Bank may, for the purpose of ensuring that the full export
value of the goods or, as the case may be, the value which the exporter having regard to the prevailing
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
market conditions expects to receive on the sale of goods or software in the overseas market, is received
in proper time and without delay, by general or special order, direct from time to time that in respect
of export of goods or software to any destination or any class of export transactions or any class of goods
or software or class of exporters, the exporter shall, prior to the export, comply with the conditions as
may be specified in the order, namely ;
(a) that the payment of the goods or software is covered by an irrevocable letter of credit or by such
other arrangement or document as may be indicated in the order ;
(b) that any declaration to be furnished to the specified authority shall be submitted to the authorised
dealer for its prior approval, which may, having regard to the circumstances, be given or withheld or
may be given subject to such conditions as may be specified by the Reserve Bank by directions issued
from time to time.
(c) that a copy of the declaration to be furnished to the specified authority shall be submitted to such
authority or organisation as may be indicated in the order for certifying that the value of goods or
software specified in the declaration represents the proper value thereof.
(2) No direction under sub-regulation (1) shall be given by the Reserve Bank and no approval under
clause(b)of that sub-regulation shall be withheld by the Authorised Dealer, unless the exporter has been
given a reasonable opportunity to make a representation in the matter.
- 'Repatriate to India' includes use of the realised amount for discharge of a debt or liability denominated
in foreign exchange.
10 PENALTY
Sec.11- If AP contravenes any directions of RBI or does not file return as required by RBI :
214
(2) He should given OOBH by showing show cause notice. The accused should be given atleast 10
days time to reply.
1) Automatic route for Direct Investment or 2) Approval route for direct investment or
Financial Commitment outside India financial commitment outside India
1) Automatic Route:
wants to
Invest
Indian Entity (I.E.) Foreign Entity (WOS/JV)
➔ I.E. → Apply to AD in form ODI + Enclosures
➔ I.E. = Must Not be on Defaulters list of RBI
Exception: N.A. if invested out of funds from EEFC A/c / ADR’s / GRD’s
➔ All transactions of I.E. = Only through / Branch of AD.
(2) Approval route for direct investment or financial commitment outside India
(i) Prior approval of the RBI would be required in all other cases of direct investment (or financial
commitment) abroad.
(ii) RBI would, inter alia, take into account the following factors while considering such applications:
(V – FEB)
a) Prima facie viability of the JV / WOS outside India;
b) Financial position and business track record of the Indian Party and the foreign entity;
c) Expertise and experience of the Indian Party in the same or related line of activity as of the JV /
WOS outside India.
d) Contribution to external trade and other benefits which will accrue to India through such
investment (or financial commitment) and
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Therefore, under the approval route prior approval of the RBI would be required in Form ODI with
the documents prescribed therein to be made through the Authorized Dealer Category – I banks.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
- The limit of overseas direct investment by the resident individual shall be within the overall limit
prescribed by the RBI under the provisions of Liberalised Remittance Scheme, as prescribed by the
RBI from time to time. (Current Account Transations)
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(ii) Evidence of import: Where foreign exchange acquired has been utilised for import of goods
into India, the AD should ensure that the importer furnishes evidence of import viz., as in IDPMS,
Postal Appraisal Form or Customs Assessment Certificate, etc., and satisfy himself that goods
equivalent to the value of remittance have been imported.
AD should ensure that all import remittances outstanding on the notified date of IDPMS are
uploaded in IDPMS (Import Data Processing and Monitoring System).
(iii) Mode of payment: A person resident in India may make payment for import of goods in
foreign exchange through-
• an international card held by him/in rupees from international credit card/ debit card through bank
in India against the charge slip signed by the importer, or
• as prescribed by Reserve Bank from time to time, provided that the transaction is in conformity
with the extant provisions and the import is in conformity with the Foreign Trade Policy in force.
(iv) Other mode: Any person resident in India may also make payment as under :
(a) In rupees towards expenses of boarding, lodging and services related thereto or travel to and from
and within India of a person resident outside India who is on a visit to India;
(b) By means of a crossed cheque or a draft as consideration for purchase of gold or silver in any form
imported by such person in accordance with the terms and conditions imposed under any order
issued by the Central Government;
(c) A company or resident in India may make payment in rupees to its non-whole time director who is
resident outside India and is on a visit to India for the company’s work and is entitled to payment of
sitting fees or commission or remuneration, and travel expenses to and from and within India, in
accordance with the provisions contained in the company’s Memorandum of Association or Articles
of Association or in any agreement entered into it or in any resolution passed by the company in
general meeting or by its Board of Directors, provided the requirement of any law, rules, regulations,
directions applicable for making such payments are duly complied with.
b. While considering extension beyond one year from the date of remittance, the total outstanding of
the importer does not exceed USD one million or 10 percent of the average import remittances
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and
c. Where extension of time has been granted by the AD, the date up to which extension has been
granted may be indicated in the ‘Remarks’ column.
(iii) In exceptional cases: Cases not covered by the above instructions / beyond the above limits,
may be referred to the concerned Regional Office of Reserve Bank of India.
(iv) Noting of the extension: The above extension period shall be reported in IDPMS as per
message “Bill of Entry Extension” and the date up to which extension is granted will be indicated in
“Extension Date” column.
(ii) A person may bring into India from Nepal or Bhutan, currency notes of Government of India and
Reserve Bank of India for any amount in denominations up to Rs.100/-.
time to time.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(iii) An authorised dealer may, in the ordinary course of his business, give a guarantee in favour of a
non-resident service provider, on behalf of a resident customer who is a service importer, subject to
such terms and conditions as stipulated by Reserve Bank of India from time to time:
(iv) An authorised dealer may, subject to the directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India in this
behalf, permit a person resident in India to issue corporate guarantee in favour of an overseas lessor
for financing import through operating lease effected in conformity with the Foreign Trade Policy in
force and under the provisions of the Foreign exchange Management (Current Account Transactions)
Rules, 2000, and the Directions issued by Reserve Bank of India under Foreign Exchange
Management Act, 1999 from time to time.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
c) Equity investment
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
d) 8Working capital purposes, except in case of ECB mentioned at v(b) and v(c)
above.
e) General corporate purposes, except in case of FCB mentioned at v(b) and
v(c) above
f) Repayment of Rupee loans, except in case of ECB mentioned at v(d) and v(e)
above.
g) On-lending to entities for the above activities, except in case of ECB raised
by NBFCs as given at v(c), v(d) and v(e) above.
ix Exchange Change of currency of FCY ECB into INR ECB For conversion to Rupee,
rate can be at the exchange rate prevailing on the the exchange rate shall be
date of the agreement for such change between the rate prevailing on the
the parties concerned or at an exchange rate, date of settlement.
which is less than the rate prevailing on the date
of the agreement, if consented to by the ECB
lender.
x Hedging The entities raising ECB are required to follow Overseas investors are
provision the guidelines for hedging issued, if any, by the eligible to hedge their
concerned sectoral or prudential regulator in exposure in Rupee through
respect of foreign currency exposure. permitted derivative
Infrastructure space companies shall have a products with AD Category
Board approved risk management policy. I banks in India. The
Further, such companies are required to investors can also access the
mandatorily hedge 70 per cent of their ECB domestic market through
exposure in case the average maturity of the branches / subsidiaries of
ECB is less than 5 years. The designated AD Indian banks abroad or
Category-I bank shall verify that 70 per cent branches of foreign banks
hedging requirement is complied with during with Indian presence on
the currency of the ECB and report the position back to back basis.
to RBI through Form ECB 2. The following
operational aspects with respect to hedging
should be ensured:
a. Coverage: The ECB borrower will be
required to cover the principal as well as the
coupon through financial hedges.
b. Tenor and rollover: A minimum tenor of one
year for the financial year hedge would be
required with periodic rollover, duly ensuring
that the exposure on account of ECB is not
unhedged at any point during the currency of the
ECB.
c. Natural Hedge: Natural hedge in lieu of
financial hedge, will be considered only to the
extent of offsetting projected cash flows/
revenues in matching currency, net of all other
projected outflows. For this purpose, an ECB
may be considered naturally hedged if the
offsetting exposure has the maturity / cash flow
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Entities desirous to raise ECB under the automatic route may approach an AD Category I bank with
their proposal along with duly filled in Form ECB.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Reporting Requirements:
Borrowings under ECB Framework are subject to following reporting requirements apart from any
other specific reporting required under the framework:
Loan Registration Number (LRN): Any draw-down in respect of an ECB should happen only after
obtaining the LRN from the Reserve Bank. To obtain the LRN, borrowers are required to submit
duly certified Form ECB, which also contains terms and conditions of the ECB, in duplicate to the
designated AD Category I bank.
In turn, the AD Category I bank will forward one copy to the Director, Reserve Bank of India,
The borrower, through its AD bank, may pay the LSF by way of demand draft in favour of “Reserve
Bank of India” or any other mode specified by the Reserve Bank. Such payment should be
accompanied with the requisite return(s).
Form ECB and Form ECB 2 returns reporting contraventions will be treated separately.
Non-payment of LSF will be treated as contravention of reporting provision and shall be subject to
compounding or adjudication as provided in FEMA 1999 or regulations/rules framed thereunder.
The following SOP has to be followed by designated AD Category-I banks in case of untraceable
entities who are found to be in contravention of reporting provisions for ECB by failing to submit
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
prescribed return(s) under the ECB framework, either physically or electronically, for past eight
quarters or more.
i. Definition:
Any borrower who has raised ECB will be treated as ‘untraceable entity’, if
entity/auditor(s)/director(s)/ promoter(s) of entity are not reachable/responsive/reply in negative over
email/letters/phone for a period of not less than two quarters with documented communication/
reminders numbering 6 or more and it fulfills both of the following conditions:
a) Entity not found to be operative at the registered office address as per records available with the AD
Bank or not found to be operative during the visit by the officials of the AD Bank or any other
agencies authorised by the AD bank for the purpose;
b) Entities have not submitted Statutory Auditor’s Certificate for last two years or more;
ii. Action:
The followings actions are to be undertaken in respect of ‘untraceable entities’:
a) File Revised Form ECB, if required, and last Form ECB 2 Return without certification from
company with ‘UNTRACEABLE ENTITY’ written in bold on top. The outstanding amount will be
treated as written-off from external debt liability of the country but may be retained by the lender in its
books for recovery through judicial/ non-judicial means;
b) No fresh ECB application by the entity should be examined/processed by the AD bank;
c) Directorate of Enforcement should be informed whenever any entity is designated
‘UNTRACEABLE ENTITY’; and
d) No inward remittance or debt servicing will be permitted under auto route.
Cancellation of LRN:
The designated AD Category I banks may directly approach DSIM for cancellation of LRN for ECB
contracted, subject to ensuring that no draw down against the said LRN has taken place and the
monthly ECB2 returns till date in respect of the allotted LRN have been submitted to DSIM.
Indian banks are permitted to participate in refinancing of existing ECB, only for highly rated
corporates (AAA) and for Maharatna/ Navratna public sector undertakings.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Once the aforesaid stipulations are met, the AD Category I bank may permit creation of charge on
immovable assets, movable assets, financial securities and issue of corporate and/or personal
guarantees, during the currency of the ECB with security co-terminating with underlying ECB, subject
to the following:
(i) Creation of Charge on Immovable Assets:
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(a) Such security shall be subject to provisions contained in the Foreign Exchange Management
(Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property in India) Regulations, 2017, as amended from time
to time.
(b) The permission should not be construed as a permission to acquire immovable asset (property) in
India, by the overseas lender/ security trustee.
(c) In the event of enforcement / invocation of the charge, the immovable asset/ property will have to
be sold only to a person resident in India and the sale proceeds shall be repatriated to liquidate the
outstanding ECB.
(ii) Creation of Charge on Movable Assets:
In the event of enforcement/ invocation of the charge, the claim of the lender, whether the lender
takes over the movable asset or otherwise, will be restricted to the outstanding claim against the ECB.
Encumbered movable assets may also be taken out of the country subject to getting ‘No Objection
Certificate’ from domestic lender/s, if any.
(iii) Creation of Charge over Financial Securities: The arrangements may be permitted
subject to the following:
(a) Pledge of shares of the borrowing company held by the promoters as well as in domestic associate
companies of the borrower is permitted. Pledge on other financial securities, viz. bonds and
debentures, Government Securities, Government Savings Certificates, deposit receipts of securities
and units of the Unit Trust of India or of any mutual funds, standing in the name of ECB
borrower/promoter, is also permitted.
(b) In addition, security interest over all current and future loan assets and all current assets including
cash and cash equivalents, including Rupee accounts of the borrower with ADs in India, standing in
the name of the borrower/promoter, can be used as security for ECB. The Rupee accounts of the
borrower/promoter can also be in the form of escrow arrangement or debt service reserve account.
(c) In case of invocation of pledge, transfer of financial securities shall be in accordance with the extant
FDI/FII policy including provisions relating to sectoral cap and pricing as applicable read with the
Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India)
Regulations, 2017, as amended from time to time.
branches/subsidiaries of Indian banks, any extension of tenure of ECB (whether matured or not) shall
be subject to applicable prudential guidelines issued by Department of Banking Regulation of Reserve
Bank including guidelines on restructuring.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
ii. The changes in the terms and conditions of ECB allowed by the ADs under the powers delegated
and / or changes approved by the Reserve Bank should be reported to the DSIM as given at
paragraph 6.2 above. Further, these changes should also get reflected in the Form ECB 2 returns
appropriately.
Special Dispensations under the ECB framework:
ECB facility for Oil Marketing Companies: Notwithstanding the provisions contained ‘Negative List’,
‘Hedging Provisions’ and ‘Limit and Leverage’ above, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies
(OMCs) can raise ECB for working capital purposes with minimum average maturity period of 3 years
from all recognised lenders under the automatic route without mandatory hedging and individual limit
requirements.
The overall ceiling for such ECB shall be USD 10 billion or equivalent.
However, OMCs should have a Board approved forex mark to market procedure and prudent risk
management policy, for such ECB.
All other provisions under the ECB framework will be applicable to such ECB.
(x) Security:
The choice of security to be provided to the lender is left to the borrowing entity. Security can be in
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the nature of movable, immovable, intangible assets (including patents, intellectual property rights),
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
financial securities, etc. and shall comply with foreign direct investment / foreign portfolio investment /
or any other norms applicable for foreign lenders / entities holding such securities.
Further, issuance of corporate or personal guarantee is allowed.
However, issuance of guarantee, standby letter of credit, letter of undertaking or letter of comfort by
Indian banks, all India Financial Institutions and NBFCs is not permitted.
(xi) Hedging:
The overseas lender, in case of INR denominated ECB, will be eligible to hedge its INR exposure
through permitted derivative products with AD Category – I banks in India. The lender can also
access the domestic market through branches/ subsidiaries of Indian banks abroad.
Note: Startups raising ECB in foreign currency, whether having natural hedge or not, are exposed to
currency risk due to exchange rate movements and hence are advised to ensure that they have an
appropriate risk management policy to manage potential risk arising out of ECB.
(xii) Conversion rate:
In case of borrowing in INR, the foreign currency - INR conversion will be at the market rate as on
the date of agreement.
(xiii) Other Provisions:
Other provisions like parking of ECB proceeds, reporting arrangements, powers delegated to AD
banks, borrowing by entities under investigation, conversion of ECB into equity will be as included in
the ECB framework.
However, provisions on leverage ratio and ECB liability: Equity ratio will not be applicable.
Further, the Start-ups as defined above as well as other start-ups which do not comply with the
aforesaid definition but are eligible to receive FDI, can also raise ECB under the general ECB
route/framework.
Borrowing by Entities under Investigation: All entities against which investigation / adjudication /
appeal by the law enforcing agencies for violation of any of the provisions of the Regulations under
FEMA pending, may raise ECB as per the applicable norms, if they are otherwise eligible,
notwithstanding the pending investigations / adjudications / appeals, without prejudice to the outcome
of such investigations / adjudications / appeals. The borrowing entity shall inform about pendency of
such investigation / adjudication / appeal to the AD Category-I bank / RBI as the case may be.
Accordingly, in case of all applications where the borrowing entity has indicated about the pending
investigations / adjudications / appeals, the AD Category I Banks / Reserve Bank while approving the
proposal shall intimate the agencies concerned by endorsing a copy of the approval letter.
ECB by entities under restructuring/ ECB facility for refinancing stressed assets:
• An entity which is under a restructuring scheme/ corporate insolvency resolution process can
raise ECB only if specifically permitted under the resolution plan
• Eligible corporate borrowers who have availed Rupee loans domestically for capital
expenditure in manufacturing and infrastructure sector and which have been classified as SMA-2
(means a Special Mention Account having outstanding >60Days but <90Days) or NPA can avail ECB
for repayment of these loans under any one time settlement with lenders. Lender banks are also
permitted to sell, through assignment, such loans to eligible ECB lenders, provided, the resultant
external commercial borrowing complies with all-in-cost, minimum average maturity period and other
relevant norms of the ECB framework. Foreign branches/ overseas subsidiaries of Indian banks are
not eligible to lend for the above purposes. The applicable MAMP will have to be strictly complied
with under all circumstances
• Eligible borrowers under the ECB framework, who are participating in the Corporate
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Insolvency Resolution Process under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 as resolution applicants,
can raise ECB from all recognised lenders, except foreign branches/subsidiaries of Indian banks, for
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
repayment of Rupee term loans of the target company. Such ECB will be considered under the
approval route, procedure of which is given ‘Procedure for Raising ECB’ above.
• Dissemination of information: For providing greater transparency, information with regard to
the name of the borrower, amount, purpose and maturity of ECB under both Automatic and
Approval routes are put on the RBI’s website, on a monthly basis.
• Compliance with the guidelines: The primary responsibility for ensuring that the borrowing is
in compliance with the applicable guidelines is that of the borrower concerned. Any contravention of
the applicable provisions of ECB guidelines will invite penal action under the FEMA. The designated
AD Category I bank is also expected to ensure compliance with applicable ECB guidelines by their
constituents.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
3.Chairman:
• Shall also have powers of general superintendence and direction of the affairs.
• Members shall be persons of ability, integrity and standing who have shown capacity in dealing
with problems relating to securities market or have special knowledge or experience in the opinion of
CG, shall be useful to SEBI.
b Magistrate’s Power:
After considering the application and hearing the Investigating Authority, the Magistrate may
Authorise the Investigating Authority –
- To Enter, with such Assistance as may be Required
- To Search those Places
- To Seize such books etc.
- An Adjudicating officer shall be appointed by SEBI, such officer shall not be a person below the
Rank of a Divisional Chief.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
- The A.O. shall before passing an order provide an OOBH to the Party.
- CG is Empowered to Establish Securities Appellate Tribunal [S.A.T.] by Issuing Notification.
- The Party Convicted by the order of Adjudicating Authority shall file an Appeal to S.A.T. within
45 days. S.A.T. may condone the delay for sufficient Reasons.
- Such Appeal must be filed in 3 copies + Additional copy for each Additional Respondent. (for
every other party to Appeal.)
- After the order of S.A.T. The Aggrieved Party shall file an Appeal to SC only in case of Que. of
law within a period of 60 days from the order of SAT.
- SC may condone the delay (maximum Additional 60 days) for sufficient Reason.
- The order of S.C. shall be Final & Binding.
→ S.A.T. is treated at Part with H.C.
Hence, Direct Appeal to S.C.
(1) No stock-broker, sub-broker, share transfer agent, banker to an issue, trustee of trust deed,
registrar to an issue, merchant banker, underwriter, portfolio manager, investment adviser and such
other intermediary who may be associated with securities market shall buy, sell or deal in securities
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
except under, and in accordance with, the conditions of a certificate of registration obtained from the
Board in accordance with the regulations made under this Act:
Provided that a person buying or selling securities or otherwise dealing with the securities market as a
stock-broker, sub-broker, share transfer agent, banker to an issue, trustee of trust deed, registrar to an
issue, merchant banker, underwriter, portfolio manager, investment adviser and such other
intermediary who may be associated with securities market immediately before the establishment of
the Board for which no registration certificate was necessary prior to such establishment, may continue
to do so for a period of three months from such establishment or, if he has made an application for
such registration within the said period of three months, till the disposal of such application:
Provided further that any certificate of registration, obtained immediately before the commencement
of the Securities Laws (Amendment) Act, 1995, shall be deemed to have been obtained from the
Board in accordance with the regulations providing for such registration.
Depository, participant, custodian of securities, foreign institutional investor, credit rating agency or
any other intermediary associated with the securities market as the Board may by notification in this
behalf specify, shall buy or sell or deal in securities except under and in accordance with the condi-
tions of a certificate of registration obtained from the Board in accordance with the regulations made
under this Act:
Provided that a person buying or selling securities or otherwise dealing with the securities market as a
depository, participant, custodian] of securities, foreign institutional investor or credit rating agency
immediately before the commencement of the Securities Laws (Amendment) Act, 1995, for which no
certificate of registration was required prior to such commencement, may continue to buy or sell
securities or otherwise deal with the securities market until such time regulations are made under
section 30(2)(d).
(1B) No person shall sponsor or cause to be sponsored or carry on or cause to be carried on any
venture capital funds or collective investment scheme including mutual funds, unless he obtains a
certificate of registration from the Board in accordance with the regulations:
Provided that any person sponsoring or cause to be sponsored, carrying or causing to be carried on
any venture capital funds or collective investment scheme operating in the securities market
immediately before the commencement of the Securities Laws (Amendment) Act, 1995 for which no
certificate of registration was required prior to such commencement, may continue to operate till such
time regulations are made under clause (d) of sub-section (2) of section 30.]
(2) Every application for registration shall be in such manner and on payment of such fees as may be
determined by regulations.
(3) The Board may, by order, suspend or cancel a certificate of registration in such manner as may be
determined by regulations:
Provided that no order under this sub-section shall be made unless the person concerned has been
given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
PENALTIES -
Section Nature of contravention Quantum of penalty
15A (a) Failure to furnish any document, return or report Lower of –
to SEBI Rs. 1 Lakh per day; or Rs. 1
(b) Failure to file any return or furnish any crore
information, books or other documents to SEBI.
(c) Failure to maintain the books of accounts or records.
15B Failure by an intermediary to enter into an Lower of –
agreement with his client. Rs. 1 Lakh per day; or Rs. 1
crore
15C If any listed company or any person who is registered as Lower of –
an intermediary, after having been called upon by the Rs. 1 Lakh per day; or Rs. 1
Board in writing including by any means of electronic crore
communication, to redress the grievances of investors,
fails to redress such grievances within the time specified
by the Board, such company or intermediary
15D (a) Carrying on any collective investment scheme Lower of –
Without obtaining certificate of registration Rs. 1 Lakh per day; or Rs. 1
(b) A person registered with the SEBI to carry on crore
collective investment scheme, makes an of the
following defaults:
i) Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of
certificate of registration.
ii) Failure to make an application for listing of its
schemes.
Failure to dispatch unit certificates of any scheme.
Failure to refund the application monies paid by the
investors.
Failure to invest money collected by it.
15E Failure by any asset management Co. of a mutual fund to Lower of –
comply with any of the regulations providing for Rs. 1 Lakh per day; or Rs. 1
restrictions on the activities of asset management crore
companies.
15EA Sec. 15EA : Where any person fails to comply shall be liable to penalty
with the regulations made by the Board in which shall not be less
respect of alternative investment funds, than one lakh rupees but
infrastructure investment trusts and real estate which may extend to one
investment trusts or fails to comply with the lakh rupees for each day
directions issued by the Board, such person during which such failure
continues subject to a
maximum of one crore
rupees or three times the
amount of gains made out
of such failure, whichever is
higher.
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made by the Board or directions issued by the than Rs. 100,000 but
Board, such investment adviser or research which may extend to Rs.
analyst 100,000 for each day
during which such failure
continues subject to a
maximum of Rs. 1 Crore
15F A registered stock broker fails to deliver any security or Lower of –
fails to make payment of the amount due to the investor Rs. 1 Lakh per day; or Rs. 1
crore
15F A registered stock broker fails to issue contract notes in Min. Rs. 1,00,000 upto
the form and in the manner specified by the stock
exchange Max. Rs. 1 Crore
15F A registered stock broker charges brokerage in excess of Higher of –
the brokerage specified in the regulations Rs. 1 lakh, or
5 times the amount of
excess brokerage charged
15G (a) Where an insider deal in securities of a body Higher of –
corporate listed on any stock exchange on the basis of Rs. 25 crores; or
any unpublished price sensitive information 3 times the amount of
(b) Where an insider communicates any unpublished profits made out of such
price sensitive information to any person except as Default
required in the ordinary course of business or under any
law.
(c) Where an insider counsels, or procures for any other
person to deal in any securities of anybody corporate on
the basis of unpublished price sensitive information.
15H (a) Failure to disclose of his shareholding in the body Higher of –
corporate before he acquires any shares of that body Rs. 25 crores; or
corporate. 3 times the amount of
(b) Failure to make a public announcement to profits made out of such
acquire shares at a minimum price Default
(c) Failure to make a private placement by sending letter
of offer to the shareholders of the concerned Co.
(d) Failure to make payment of consideration to the
shareholders who sold their shares pursuant to letter
of offer.
Higher of –
15HA Where a person indulges in fraudulent and unfair trade Rs. 25 crores; or
practices relating to securities. 3 times the amount of
profits made out of such
Default
15HAA Penalty for alteration destruction, etc., of records and shall be liable to a penalty which
failure to protect the electronic database of Board shall not be less than one lakh
Any person, who-- rupees but which may extend to
(a) knowingly alters, destroys, mutilates, conceals, ten crore rupees or three times
falsifies, or makes a false entry in any information, the amount of profits made out
record, document (including electronic records), which is of such act, whichever is higher.
237
(1) For the purpose of adjudging under Sections 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E, 15F, 15G, 15H,15HA and
15HB, the Board shall appoint any of its officers not below the rank of Division Chief to be an
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
adjudicating officer for holding an inquiry in the prescribed manner after giving any person concerned
a reasonable opportunity of being heard for the purpose of imposing any penalty.
(2)The adjudicating officer shall have power to summon and enforce the attendance of any person
acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case and if on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the
person has failed to comply with the provisions of sections specified in subsection (1), he may impose
such penalty as he thinks fit in accordance with the provisions of any of those sections.
(3) The Board may call for and examine the record of any proceedings under this section and if it
considers that the order passed by the adjudicating officer is erroneous to the extent it is not in
theinterests of the securities market, it may, after making or causing to be made such inquiry as it deems
necessary, pass an order enhancing the quantum of penalty, if the circumstances of the case so justify:
Provided that no such order shall be passed unless the person concerned has been given an opportunity
of being heard in the matter.
Provided further that nothing contained in this sub-section shall be applicable after an expiry of a period
of three months from the date of the order passed by the adjudicating officer or disposal of the appeal
under section 15T, whichever is earlier.
Appellate Tribunal
Establishment of Securities Appellate Tribunals (Section 15K):
The Central Government shall bynotification, establish one or more Appellate Tribunals to be known
as the Securities Appellate Tribunal to exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred on such
Tribunal by or under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.
The Central Government shall also specify in the notification referred above the matters and places in
relation to which the Securities Appellate Tribunal may exercise jurisdiction.
The Presiding Officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed by the Central
Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India or his nominee.
A person shall not be qualified for appointment as member of a Securities Appellate Tribunal unless
he is a person of ability, integrity and standing who has shown capacity in dealing with problems relating
to securities market and has qualification and experience of corporate law, securities laws, finance,
239
economics or accountancy.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
A member of the Board or any person holding a post at senior management level equivalent to
Executive Director in the Board shall not be appointed as Presiding Officer or Member of a Securities
Appellate Tribunal during his service or tenure as such with the Board or within two years from the
date on which he ceases to hold office as such in the Board.
Orders constituting Appellate Tribunal to be final and not to invalidate its proceedings (Section 15R):
No order of the Central Government appointing any person as the Presiding Officer or a Member of a
Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be called in question in any manner, and no act or proceeding before
a Securities Appellate Tribunal shall be called in question in any manner on the ground merely of any
defect in the constitution of a Securities Appellate Tribunal.
Chapter.
Definitions
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(a)Main Board means a recognised stock exchange having nationwide trading terminals, other than SME
exchange;
(b)nominated investor‖ means a qualified institutional buyer or private equity fund, who enters into an
agreement with the merchant banker to subscribe to the issue in case of under-subscription or to receive
or deliver the specified securities in the market-making process;
Explanation: ―private equity fund‖ means a fund registered with any regulatory authority or a fund
established by any person registered with any regulatory authority;
(c)SME exchange means a trading platform of a recognised stock exchange having nationwide trading
terminals permitted by the Board to list the specified securities issued in accordance with thisChapter
and includes a stock exchange granted recognition for this purpose but does not include the Main
Board;
(1) All other words and expression used in this Chapter but not defined under sub-regulation
(2) shall derive their meaning from regulation 2 of these regulations.
Provided further that the Board shall not issue any observation on the offer document.
(2)The merchant banker shall submit a due-diligence certificate as per Form A of Schedule VI including
additional confirmations as provided in Form H of Schedule VI alongwith the offer document to the
Board.
(3)The offer document shall be displayed from the date of filing in terms of subregulation:
(a) on the websites of the Board, the issuer, the merchant banker and
(b) the SME exchange where the specified securities offered through the offer document are
proposed to be listed.
underwritten along with the list of underwriters and nominated investors indicating the extent of
underwriting or subscription commitment made by them, one day before the opening of issue.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Market Making
(1)The merchant banker shall ensure compulsory market making through the stock brokers of SME
exchange in the manner specified by the Board for a minimum period of three years from the date of
listing of specified securities issued under this Chapter on SME exchange or from the date of migration
from Main Board in terms of regulation 106T, as the case may be.
(2) The merchant banker may enter into agreement with nominated investors for receiving or
242
delivering the
specified securities in the market making subject to the prior approval by the SME exchange where the
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(3)The issuer shall disclose the details of arrangement of market making in the offer document.
(4)The specified securities being bought or sold in the process of market making may be transferred to
or from the nominated investor with whom the merchant banker has entered into an agreement for the
market making:
Provided that the inventory of the market maker, as on the date of allotment of the specified securities,
shall be at least 5% of the specified securities proposed to be listed on SME exchange.
(5)The market maker shall buy the entire shareholding of a shareholder of the issuer in one lot, where
value of such shareholding is less than the minimum contract size allowed for trading on the SME
exchange:
Provided that market maker shall not sell in lots less than the minimum contract size allowed for trading
on the SME exchange.
(6)Market maker shall not buy the shares from the promoters or persons belonging to promoter group
of the issuer or any person who has acquired shares from such promoter or person belonging to
promoter group, during the compulsory market making period laid down under sub-regulation (1).
(7)The promoters‘ holding shall not be eligible for offering to the market maker under this Chapter
during the period specified in sub-regulation (1):
Provided that the promoters‘ holding which is not locked-in as per these regulations can be traded with
prior permission of the SME exchange, in the manner specified by the Board.
(8)Subject to the agreement between the issuer and the merchant banker/s, the merchant banker/s who
have the responsibility of market making may be represented on the board of the issuer.
Section 28C - Powers of Board not to apply to International Financial Services Centre: (wef –
1/10/2020)
Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the powers
exercisable by the Board under this Act,—
a) shall not extend to an International Financial Services Centre set up under section 18(1) of the
Special Economic Zones Act, 2005;
b) shall be exercisable by the International Financial Services Centres Authority established under
sub-section (1) of section 4 of the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019, in so
far as regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions that are permitted in
the International Financial Services Centres are concerned.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
The 2015 Regulations are applicable to any entity (whether a company or not) accessing the
stockexchange, for listing equity shares,debt securities, preference shares, depository receipts,
securitized debt instruments, mutual fund units, and other securities as may be specified by SEBI.
INTRODUCTION
The latest set of norms provides broad principles for periodic disclosures by listed entities.
These regulations shall apply to the listed
entity who has listed any of the following designated securities on recognized stock exchange(s):
• Specified securities listed on main board or SME Exchange or Institutional trading platform;
• Non-convertible debt securities, non-convertible redeemable preference Shares, perpetualdebt
instrument, perpetual non-cumulative preference Shares;
• Indian depository receipts;
• Securitized debt instruments;
• Units issued by mutual funds;
• Any other securities as may be specified by the Board.
2. Companies Act,2013:
The Regulations have been structured and designed in such a way so that they are alignedwith
Companies Act, 2013.
3.OECD
The regulations have provided broad principles for periodic disclosures by the listedentities and also
have incorporated the principles for corporate governance they havebeen formed on the lined with
OECD(Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).
4. Obligations:
Obligations which are applicable to specific types of securities have been incorporated in separate
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chapters.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
• Approval for related party transactions through a resolution.
and senior executives of the listed entity may be members of the committee.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
• The Board of directors shall define the role and responsibility of the Risk Management Committee
and may delegate monitoring and reviewing of the risk management plan to the committee and such
other functions as it may deem fit.
• The provisions of this regulation regarding risk management committee shall be applicable to top
100 listed entities, determined on the basis of market capitalization, as at the end of the immediate
previous financial year.
Amendment:
(1) Top 1000 companies to appoint one woman independent director by April 01, 2020 on its Board
of Directors.
(3) A person will not hold directorship position in more than seven listed firms from 2020.
(4) A person who is serving as a WTD/MD in any listed entity will not serve as an Independent
Director in more than three listed entity.
(5) A person will not serve as an independent director in more than seven listed entities.
(6) Any person or entity belonging to the promoter group of the listed entity and holding atleast 20
percent stake in the listed firm will be deemed to be a related party.
(7) Shareholder approval will be needed for making royalty or brand payments to related parties
exceeding 2 percent of consolidated turnover.
(8) Companies are now required to disclose details about utilisation of funds raised through qualified
248
(9) Further, companies will have to make disclosure about auditor credentials, audit fees and any
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material change in such fee as well as detailed reasons for resignation of auditor.
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(10) The approval of shareholders by passing an SR will be required every year in cases where the
annual remuneration payable to a single non- executive director exceeds 50% of the total annual
remuneration payable to all non-executive directors.
(11) Further, shareholders' approval will be needed if the annual fee payable to executive director,
who is part of promoter entity, exceeds Rs 5 crore or 2.5 percent of the net profits of the listed entity.
(12) Approval is also required in case if there is more than one such director and the aggregate annual
fee to such directors is more than 5 percent of the net profits of the listed entity.
(13) Top 100 listed entities by market capitalization, determined as on March 31st of every financial
year, shall hold their annual general meetings within a period of five months from the date of closing
of the financial year. (Market Cap. = Market Price/Share * No. of Shares)
(14) The quorum for every board meeting of top 2,000 listed entities from April 1, 2020 will be one-
third of its total strength or three directors, whichever is higher, including at least one independent
director.
(15) Special Resolution would be must for non-executive directors over 75 years of age.
(16) Top 500 listed companies also need to have a risk management committee for cyber security.
(17) With effect from October 1, 2018, all credit ratings obtained by the entity for all its outstanding
instruments, updated immediately as and when there is any revision in any of the ratings.
(18) These amended regulations also cover issues in accounting and auditing practices by listed
companies in order to improve effectiveness of board evaluation practices.
(19) With effect from April 1, 2022, the top 500 listed entities shall ensure that the Chairperson of the
board of such listed entity shall -
(a) be a non-executive director;
(b) not be related to the Managing Director or the Chief Executive Officer as per the definition of the
term “relative” defined under the Companies Act, 2013:
(20) For the top 1000 listed entities based on market capitalization (calculated as on March 31 of
every financial year), business responsibility report describing the initiatives taken by them from an
environmental, social and governance perspective, in the format as specified by the Board from time
to time:
Provided that listed entities other than top 1000 listed companies based on market capitalization and
listed entities which have listed their specified securities on SME Exchange, may include these
business responsibility reports on a voluntary basis in the format as specified.
If there is more than 1 such Director - Remuneration > 5% of Profit u/s 198
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Provided that the approval of the shareholders under this provision shall be valid only till the expiry of
the term of such director.
Given below is the table showcasing the Difference/Additional points in various Committees
as per SEBI LODR when compared to Companies Act Section 177 & 178.
Particulars Audit Committee NRC SRC Risk
Management
Applicability All Listed Entities All Listed Entities All Listed Entities Top 100 Listed
Entities
1 Major Definitions
(a) Money – Laundering
(b) Proceeds of crime
(c) Property
(d) Payment System
Actually to understand the meaning of money – laundering it is essential to define proceeds of crime,
property and scheduled offence. And infact, all the above definitions have to be read together.
Clause (p) of sub section (1) of section 2 provides that"money-laundering" has the meaning assigned to
it in section 3. Moving to section 3, it is observed that whosoever directly or indirectly attempts to indulge
or knowingly assists or knowingly is a party or is actually involved in any process or activity connected
with the proceeds of crime including its concealment, possession, acquisition or use and projecting or
claiming it as untainted property shall be guilty of offence of money laundering.
Section 2(1)(u) defines "proceeds of crime" as any property derived or obtained, directly or indirectly,
by any person as a result of criminal activity relating to a scheduled offence or the value of any such
property. In terms of clause (v) of sub – section (1) of section 2, "property" means any property or assets
of every description, whether corporeal or incorporeal, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible
and includes deeds and instruments evidencing title to, or interest in, such property or assets, wherever
located.
In terms of clause (rb) of sub – section (1) of section 2 "payment system" means a system that enables
payment to be effected between a payer and a beneficiary, involving clearing, payment or settlement
service or all of them. It includes the systems enabling credit card operations, debit card operations,
smart card operations, money transfer operations or similar operations;
Significance and Aim of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002: The preamble to the Act provides
thatit aims to prevent money–laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from, or
involved in, money–laundering and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
In order to further strengthen the existing legal framework and to effectively combat money laundering,
terror financing and cross-border economic offences, an Amendment Act, 2009 was passed. The new
law seeks to check use of black money for financing terror activities.
Financial intermediaries like full-fledged money changers, money transfer service providers and credit
card operators have also been brought under the ambit of The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act.
Consequently, these intermediaries, as also casinos, have been brought under the reporting regime of
the enforcement authorities. It also checks the misuse of promissory notes by FIIs, who would now be
required to furnish all details of their source.
The new law would check misuse of “proceeds of crime” be it from sale of banned narcotic substances
or breach of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The passage of the Prevention of Money
Laundering (Amendment), 2009 have enabled India’s entry into Financial Action Task Force (FATF),
an inter-governmental body that has the mandate to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
Access to information (Section 12A): (i) The Director may call for from any reporting entity any of the
records referred to in sub-section (1) of section 12 and any additional information as he considers
necessary for the purposes of this Act.
(ii) Every reporting entity shall furnish to the Director such information as may be required by him
under sub-section (1) within such time and in such manner as he may specify.
(iii) Save as otherwise provided under any law for the time being in force, every information sought by
the Director under sub-section (1), shall be kept confidential.
Section 12AA- ENHANCED DUE DILIGENCE (New Section inserted as per Finance Act,2019)
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(1) Every reporting entity shall, prior to the commencement of each specified transaction,-
(a) authenticate the identity of the clients undertaking such specified transaction in such manner and
subject to such conditions as may be prescribed;
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(b) take additional steps to examine the ownership and financial position, including sources of funds of
the client, in such manner as may be prescribed;
(c) take additional steps as may be prescribed to record the purpose behind conducting the specified
transaction and the intended nature of the relationship between the transaction parties.
(2) Where the client fails to fulfil the conditions laid down under subsection (1), the reporting entity
shall not allow the specified transaction to be carried out.
(3) Where any specified transaction or series of specified transactions undertaken by a client is
considered suspicious or likely to involve proceeds of crime, the reporting entity shall increase the
future monitoring of the business relationship with the client, including greater scrutiny or transactions
in such manner as may be prescribed.
Explanation.––
For the purpose of this section, “authentication” means the process as defined under sub-section (c) of
section 2 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services)
Act, 2016.
(4) The information obtained while applying the enhanced due diligence measures under sub-section
(1) shall be maintained for a period of five years from the date of transaction between a client and the
reporting entity.’.
Example: Specified transaction means – withdrawal / deposit in cash, exceeding such amount;
transaction in For Example, exceeding such amount; transaction in any high value imports or
remittances; such other transactions in the interest of revenue or where there is a high risk of money
laundering or terrorist financing.
Section 13 deals with the powers of the Director. The Director may, either of his own motion or on an
application made by any authority, officer or person, may make such inquiry or cause such inquiry to
be made, as he thinks fit to be necessary, with regard to the obligations of the reporting entity, under this
chapter. If at any stage of inquiry or any other proceedings before him, the Director having regard to
the nature and complexity of the case, is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so, he may direct the
concerned reporting entity to get its records, as may be specified, audited by an accountant from amongst
a panel of accountants, maintained by the Central Government for this purpose.
The expenses of, and incidental to, any audit specified above shall be borne by the Central
Government.
If the Director, in the course of any inquiry, finds that a reporting entity or its designated director on the
Board or any of its employees has failed to comply with the obligations under this Chapter, then, without
prejudice to any other action that may be taken under any other provisions of this Act, he may
(a) issue a warning in writing; or
(b) direct such reporting entity or its designated director on the Board or any of its employees, to comply
with specific instructions; or
(c) direct such reporting entity or its designated director on the Board or any of its employees, to send
reports at such interval as may be prescribed on the measures it is taking; or
(d) by an order, impose a monetary penalty on such reporting entiy or its designated director on the
Board or any of its employees, which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but may extend to one
lakh rupees for each failure.
The Director shall forward a copy of the order passed under sub-section (2) to every banking Co.,
financial institution or intermediary or person who is a party to the proceedings under that sub-section.
For the purpose of this section, "accountant" shall mean a chartered accountant within the meaning of
the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949.
Section 14 Gives immunity to reporting entity, its directors and employees etc., against civil or criminal
proceedings for furnishing information under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 12.
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Section 15 Provides for prescribing the procedure and manner of furnishing information by reporting
entities. The Central Government may, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, prescribe the
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
procedure and the manner of maintaining and furnishing information under sub-section (1) of section
12 for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act.
1. Individuals
2. Banks
NO
NO
trial.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
In case of any person who is under the age of 16 years or in case of a woman or in case of a sick or
infirm person, or is accused either on his own or along with other co-accused of money-laundering a
sum of less than Rs. 1 Crore, the Special Court can direct the release of such person on bail. The Special
Court cannot take cognizance of any offence under the Act, unless a complaint in writing is made by:-
(a) The Director or
(b) Any officer of the Central Government or a State Government authorised in writing in this behalf by
the Central Government by a general or special order made in this behalf by that Government.
Notwithstanding anything contained in the CrPC, 1973, or any other provision of this Act, no police
officer shall investigate into an offence under this Act unless specifically authorised, by the Central
Government by a general or special order, and, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, it extends to the whole of India except Part III (Insolvency
Resolution and Bankruptcy for Individuals and Partnership Firm) which excludes the state of Jammu
and Kashmir.
The Code shall apply for insolvency, liquidation, voluntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the following
entities:-
(a) Any company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 or under any previous law.
(b) Any other company governed by any special act for the time being in force, except in so far as the
said
provision is inconsistent with the provisions of such Special Act.
(c) Any Limited Liability Partnership under the LLP Act, 2008.
(d) Any other body incorporated under any law for the time being in force, as the Central Government
may by notification specify in this behalf.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will adjudicate insolvency resolution for companies. The
Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) will adjudicate insolvency resolution for individuals.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
due and payable and is not paid by the debtor or the corporate debtor, as the case may be. [Section 3(12)]
(7) Financial information, in relation to a person, means one or more of the following categories of
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information, namely:—
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Sec 5A - "corporate guarantor" means a corporate person who is the surety in a contract of guarantee to a
corporate debtor;’
(16) Dispute includes a suit or arbitration proceedings relating to-
(a) existence of the amount of debt;
(b) the quality of goods or service; or
(c) the breach of a representation or warranty; [Section5(6)]
(17) Financial creditor means any person to whom a financial debt is owed and includes a person to
whom such debt has been legally assigned or transferred to; [Section 5(7)]
(18) Financial position, in relation to any person, means the financial information of a person as on a
certain date; [Section 5(9)]
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(19) Initiation date means the date on which a financial creditor, corporate applicant or operational
creditor, as the case may be, makes an application to the Adjudicating Authority for initiating corporate
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insolvency resolution process or the pre-packaged insolvency resolution process; [Section 5(11)]
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(20) Insolvency commencement date means the date of admission of an application for initiating
corporate insolvency resolution process by the Adjudicating Authority under sections 7, 9 or section 10,
as the case may be; [Section5(12)]
(21) Insolvency resolution process period or by the corporate debtor during the pre-packaged insolvency
resolution process period, as the case may be means the period of one hundred and eighty days beginning
from the insolvency commencement date and ending on one hundred and eightieth day; [Section 5(14)]
(22) Liquidation commencement date means the date on which proceedings for liquidation commence
in accordance with section 33 or section 59, as the case may be; [Section 5(17)]
(23) Operational creditor means a person to whom an operational debt is owed and includes any person
towhom such debt has been legally assigned or transferred; [Section 5(20)]
(24) Related party, in relation to a corporate debtor, means—
(a) a director or partner or a relative of a director or partner of the corporate debtor;
(b) a key managerial personnel or a relative of a key managerial personnel of the corporate debtor;
(c) a limited liability partnership or a partnership firm in which a director, partner, or manager of the
corporate debtor or his relative is a partner;
(d) a private company in which a director, partner or manager of the corporate debtor is a director and
holds along with relatives, more than two percent of its share capital;
(e) a public company in which a director, partner or manager of the corporate debtor is a director and
holds along with relatives, more than two percent of its paid-up share capital;
(f) anybody corporate whose board of directors, managing director or manager, in the ordinary courseof
business, acts on the advice, directions or instructions of a director, partner or manager of the corporate
debtor;
(g) any limited liability partnership or a partnership firm whose partners or employees in the ordinary
course of business, acts on the advice, directions or instructions of a director, partner or manager of the
corporate debtor;
(h) any person on whose advice, directions or instructions, a director, partner or manager of the corporate
debtor is accustomed to act;
(i) a body corporate which is a holding, subsidiary or an associate company of the corporate debtor, or a
subsidiary of a holding company to which the corporate debtor is a subsidiary;
(j) any person who controls more than twenty percent of voting rights in the corporate debtor on account
of ownership or a voting agreement;
(k) any person in whom the corporate debtor controls more than twenty percent of voting rights on
account of ownership or a voting agreement;
(l) any person who can control the composition of the board of directors or corresponding governing
body of the corporate debtor;
(m) any person who is associated with the corporate debtor on account of –
(i) participation in policy making processes of the corporate debtor; or,
(ii) having more than two directors in common between the corporate debtor and such person; or
(iii) interchange of managerial personnel between the corporate debtor and such person; [Section5(24)]
(g) a limited liability partnership or a partnership firm whose partners or employees in the ordinary course
of business, act on the advice, directions or instructions of the individual;
(h) a person on whose advice, directions or instructions, the individual is accustomed to act;
(i) a company, where the individual or the individual along with its related party, own more than fifty per
cent. of the share capital of the company or controls the appointment of the board of directors of the
company.
Explanation.— For the purposes of this clause,—
(a) "relative", with reference to any person, means anyone who is related to another,
in the following manner, namely:—
(i) members of a Hindu Undivided Family, (ii) husband, (iii) wife, (iv) father, (v) mother, (vi) son, (vii)
daughter,
(viii) son's daughter and son,
(ix) daughter's daughter and son,
(x) grandson's daughter and son,
(xi) granddaughter's daughter and son,
(xii) brother,
(xiii) sister,
(xiv) brother's son and daughter,
(xv) sister's son and daughter,
(xvi) father's father and mother,
(xvii) mother's father and mother,
(xviii)father's brother and sister,
(xvix)mother's brother and sister, and
(b) wherever the relation is that of a son, daughter, sister or brother, their spouses
shall also be included;'
(25) Resolution applicant means a person, who individually or jointly with any other person, submits a
resolution plan to the resolution professional pursuant to the invitation made under clause (h) of sub-
section (2) of section 25
(26) Resolution professional, for the purposes of this Part, means an insolvency professional appointed
to conduct the corporate insolvency resolution process or the pre-packaged insolvency resolution process
and includes an interim resolution professional;
[Section 5(27)]
(27) Voting share means the share of the voting rights of a single financial creditor in the committee of
creditors which is based on the proportion of the financial debt owed to such financial creditor in relation
to the financial debt owed by the corporate debtor.
In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (15) of section 5 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code,
2016, the Central Government hereby notifies a debt raised from the Special Window for Affordable
and Middle-Income Housing Investment Fund I, for the purposes of the said clause.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this notification, the expression “Special Window for Affordable and
Middle-Income Housing Investment Fund I” shall mean the fund sponsored by the Central Government
for providing priority debt financing for stalled housing projects, as an alternate investment fund and
registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, established under sub-section (1) of section
262
3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 , to provide financing for the completion of
stalled housing projects that are in the affordable and middle-income housing sector.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
No injunction shall be granted by any Court, Tribunal or Authority in respect of any action taken by the
NCLT. For individuals and other persons, the adjudicating authority is the DRT.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Appeals arising out of DRT orders lie to the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal and thereafter, to the
Supreme Court.
Objectives: A sound legal framework of bankruptcy law is required for achieving the following
objectives:-
• Improved handling of conflicts between creditors and the debtor: It can provide procedural certainty
about the process of negotiation, in such a way as to reduce problems of common property and reduce
Information Asymmetry for all economic participants.
• Avoid destruction of value: It can also provide flexibility for parties to arrive at the most efficient
solution to maximise value during negotiations. The bankruptcy law will create a platform for negotiation
between creditors and external financiers which can create the possibility of such rearrangements.
• Drawing the line between malfeasance and business failure: Under a weak insolvency regime, the
stereotype of “rich promoters of defaulting entities” generates two strands of thinking:
(a) the idea that all default involves malfeasance and
(b) the idea that promoters should be held personally financially responsible for defaults of the firms
that they control.
• Clearly allocate losses in macro-economic downturns: With a sound bankruptcy framework, these
losses are clearly allocated to some people. Loss allocation could takeplace through taxes, inflation,
currency depreciation, expropriation, or wage or consumptionsuppression. These could fall upon foreign
creditors, small business owners, savers, workers,owners of financial and non-financial assets, importers,
exporters.
(c) accept, in specified form and manner, electronic submissions of financial information from persons
who intend to submit such information;
(d) meet such minimum service quality standards as may be specified by regulations;
(e) get the information received from various persons authenticated by all concerned parties before
storing such information;
(f) provide access to the financial information stored by it to any person who intends to access such
information in such manner as may be specified by regulations;
(g) publish such statistical information as may be specified by regulations;
(h) have inter-operatability with other information utilities.
The provisions relating to the insolvency and liquidation of corporate debtors shall be applicable only
when the amount of the default is Rs.1 Crore or more for normal companies and Min. Rs. 10 Lakh for
MSMEs falling under chapter III-A. [Section 4]
(2) Persons who may initiate corporate insolvency resolution process: [Section 6]
Where any corporate debtor commits a default, following persons:
(A) a financial creditor,
(B) an operational creditor, or
(C) the corporate debtor itself
-may initiate corporate insolvency resolution process in respect of such corporate debtor.
(A) Section 7 - Initiation of corporate insolvency resolution process by financial creditor.
(i) Filing of application before adjudicating authority:
265
A financial creditor may file an application, either by itself or jointly with other financial creditors for
initiating corporate insolvency resolution process against a corporate debtor before the Adjudicating
Authority when a default has occurred.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
A default includes a default in respect of a financial debt owed not only to the applicant financial creditor
but to all other financial creditors, or any other person on behalf of the financial creditor, as may be
notified by the Central Government of the corporate debtor.
Provided that for the financial creditors, referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (6A) of section
21, an application for initiating corporate insolvency resolution process against the corporate debtor shall
be filed jointly by not less than one hundred of such creditors in the same class or not less than ten per
cent. of the total number of such creditors in the same class, whichever is less:
Provided further that for financial creditors who are allottees under a real estate project, an application
for initiating corporate insolvency resolution process against the corporate debtor shall be filed jointly by
not less than 100 of such allottees under the same real estate project or not less than 10% of the total
number of such allottees under the same real estate project, whichever is less:
Provided also that where an application for initiating the corporate insolvency resolution process against
a corporate debtor has been filed by a financial creditor referred to in the first and second provisos and
has not been admitted by the Adjudicating Authority before the commencement of the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2020, such application shall be modified to comply with the
requirements of the first or second proviso within thirty days of the commencement of the said Act, failing
which the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn before its admission.
On the occurrence of default, an operational creditor shall first send a demand notice and a copy of
invoice to the corporate debtor.
"Demand notice" means a notice served by an operational creditor to the corporate debtor demanding
repayment of the operational debt in respect of which the default has occurred.
(iii) An operational creditor propose for an interim resolution professional during the
resolution process:
An operational creditor initiating a corporate insolvency resolution process, may propose a resolution
professional to act as an interim resolution professional.
(2) reject the application and communicate such decision to the operational creditor and the corporate
debtor, if :
(a) the application made is incomplete;
(b) there has been repayment of the unpaid operational debt;
(c) the creditor has not delivered the invoice or notice for payment to the corporate debtor;
(d)notice of dispute has been received by the operational creditor or there is a record of dispute in the
information utility; or
(e)any disciplinary proceeding is pending against any proposed resolution professional:
**Adjudicating Authority, shall before rejecting an incomplete application, give a notice to the applicant
to rectify the defect in his application within 7 days of the date of receipt of such notice from the
adjudicating Authority.
(ii) Furnishing of information: The corporate applicant shall, along with the application furnish –
(a) the information relating to its books of account and such other documents for such period as may be
specified;
(b) the information relating to the resolution professional proposed to be appointed as an interim
resolution professional; and
(c) the SR passed by shareholders of the corporate debtor or the resolution passed by atleast 3/4 of the
total number of partners of the corporate debtor, as the case may be, approving filing of the application
(iii) Admission/rejection of application: The Adjudicating Authority shall, within a period of 14 days of
the receipt of the application, by an order—
(a) admits the application, if it is complete; or
(b) rejects the application, if it is incomplete:
**Adjudicating Authority shall, before rejecting an application, gives a notice to the applicant to rectify
the defects in his application within 7 days from the date of receipt of such notice from the Adjudicating
Authority.
Explanation II.- For the purposes of this section, it is hereby clarified that nothing in this section shall
prevent a corporate debtor referred to in clauses (a) to (d) from initiating corporate insolvency resolution
process against another corporate debtor.
(1) Where an application filed under section 54C is pending, the Adjudicating Authority shall pass
applications under section an order to admit or reject such application, before 54C and under considering
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
any application filed under section 7 or section 7 or section 9 or section 10 during the pendency of such
section 9 or application under section 54C, in respect of the same section 10. corporate debtor.
(2) Where an application under section 54C is filed within fourteen days of filing of any application under
section 7 or section 9 or section 10, which is pending, in respect of the same corporate debtor, then,
notwithstanding anything contained in sections 7, 9 and 10, the Adjudicating Authority shall first dispose
of the application under section 54C.
(3) Where an application under section 54C is filed after fourteen days of the filing of any application
under section 7 or section 9 or section 10, in respect of the same corporate debtor, the Adjudicating
Authority shall first dispose of the application under sections 7, 9 or 10.
(4) The provisions of this section shall not apply where an application under section 7 or section 9 or
section 10 is filed and pending as on the date of the commencement of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021.
(2) The supply of essential goods or services to the corporate debtor as may be specified shall not be
terminated or suspended or interrupted during moratorium period.
(2A) Where the interim resolution professional or resolution professional, as the case may be, considers
the supply of goods or services critical to protect and preserve the value of the corporate debtor and
manage the operations of such corporate debtor as a going concern, then the supply of such goods or
services shall not be terminated, suspended or interrupted during the period of moratorium, except where
such corporate debtor has not paid dues arising from such supply during the moratorium period or in
such circumstances as may be specified.
As per section 16 of the Code, following is the process for the appointment of interim resolution
professional-
(a) no proposal for an interim resolution professional is made, the Adjudicating Authority shall make
areference to the Board for the recommendation of an insolvency professional who may act as an interim
resolution professional;
(b) a proposal for an interim resolution professional is made, the resolution professional as proposed,
shall be appointed as the interim resolution professional, if no disciplinary proceedings are pending
against him.
The Board shall, within 10 days of the receipt of a reference from the Adjudicating Authority, recommend
the name of an insolvency professional to the Adjudicating Authority against whom no disciplinary
proceedings are pending.
Term of appointment
The term of the interim resolution professional shall be Until the date of appointment of RP u/s 22
voting share;
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(b) represent himself in the committee of creditors to the extent of his votingshare;
(c) appoint an insolvency professional (other than the resolution professional) at his own cost to represent
himself in the committee of creditors to the extent of his voting share; or
(d) exercise his right to vote to the extent of his voting share with one or more financial creditors jointly
or severally.
(vi) The Board may specify the manner of determining the voting share in respect of financial debts issued
as securities.
(vii) All decisions of the committee of creditors shall be taken by a vote of not less than 51% of voting
share of the financial creditors.
Provided that where a corporate debtor does not have any financial creditors, the committee of creditors
shall be constituted and comprise of such persons to exercise such functions in such manner as may be
specified by the Board.
(viii) The committee of creditors shall have the right to require the resolution professional to furnish any
financial information in relation to the corporate debtor at any time during the corporate insolvency
resolution process.
(ix) The resolution professional shall make available any financial information so required by
thecommittee of creditors within a period of seven days of such requisition.
(x) The first meeting of the committee of creditors shall be held within seven days of the constitution of
the committee of creditors.(Section 22)
After the collation of all claims received against the corporate debtor and determination of the financial
position of the corporate debtor, the interim resolution professional shall constitute a committee of
creditors.
(b) members of the suspended Board of Directors or the partners of the corporate persons, as the case
may be;
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(c) operational creditors or their representatives if the amount of their aggregate dues is not less than 10%
of the debt.
The directors, partners and one representative of operational creditors, may attend the meetings of
committee of creditors, but shall not have any right to vote in such meetings.
Provided that the absence of any such director, partner or representative of operational creditors, as the
case may be, shall not invalidate proceedings of such meeting.
Section 25A which deals with the Rights and duties of authorized representative of
financial creditors.
(1) Right to participate and Vote on behalf of FC:
The authorized representative(AR) under section 21(6) & 21(6A) or section 24(5) shall have the right to
participate and vote in meetings of the committee of creditors on behalf of the financial creditor(FC) he
represents in accordance with the prior voting instructions of such creditors obtained through physical
or electronic means.
(3) The authorised representative shall not act against the interest of the financial creditor he represents
and shall always act in accordance with their prior intructions:
Provided that if the authorised representative represents several financial creditors, then he shall cast his
vote in respect of each financial creditor in accordance with instructions received from each financial
creditor, to the extent of his voting share:
Provided further that if any financial creditor does not give prior instructions through physical or
electronic means, the authorised representative shall abstain from voting on bealf of such creditor.
(3A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sub-section (3), the authorised
representative under sub-section (6A) of section 21 shall cast his vote on behalf of all the financial
creditors he represents in accordance with the decision taken by a vote of more than 50% of the voting
share of the financial creditors he represents, who have cast their vote:
Provided that for a vote to be cast in respect of an application under section 12A, the authorised
representative shall cast his vote in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (3).
Right to vote to creditor: Each creditor shall vote in accordance with the voting share assigned tohim
based on the financial debts owed to such creditor.
The resolution professional shall determine the voting share to be assigned to each creditor in the manner
specified by the Board.
The meetings of the committee of creditors shall be conducted in such manner as may be specified.
to replace the resolution professional appointed with another resolution professional subject to a consent
from the proposed Resolution professional.
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(iii) Forwarding of name to Adjudicating Authority: The committee of creditors shall forward the name
of the insolvency professional proposed by them to the Adjudicating Authority.
(iv) Further forwarding name to Board: The Adjudicating Authority shall forward the name of the
proposed resolution professional to the Board for its confirmation and a resolution professional shall be
appointed in the same manner as laid down in section 16.
(v) Continuation of office: Where any disciplinary proceedings are pending against the proposed
resolution professional, the resolution professional appointed shall continue till the appointment of
another resolution professional under this section.
Report the actions of the resolution professional to the Board: [Section 28]
The committee of creditors may report the actions of the resolution professional to the Board for taking
necessary actions against him under this Code.
resolution plan.
The resolution professional shall provide to the resolution applicant access to all relevant information in
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"Relevant information" means the information required by the resolution applicant to make the resolution
plan for the corporate debtor, which shall include the financial position of the corporate debtor, all
information related to disputes by or against the corporate debtor and any other matter pertaining to the
corporate debtor as may be specified.
Resolution plan: Section 30 to 31 of the Code deals with resolution plan. Resolution professional shall
prepare an Information Memorandum which shall contain information for preparing resolution plan.
Submission of resolution plan: A resolution applicant may submit a resolution plan along with an affidavit
stating that he is eligible under section 29A to the resolution professional prepared on the basis of the
information memorandum.
Examination of Resolution Plan: The resolution professional shall examine each resolution plan received
by him to confirm that each resolution plan—
(a) provides for the payment of insolvency resolution process costs in a manner specified by the Board
in priority to the repayment of other debts of the corporate debtor;
(b) provides for the payment of the debts of operational creditors in such manner as may be specified by
the Board which shall not be less than the amount to be paid to the operational creditors in the event of
a liquidation of the corporate debtor under section 53;
(c) provides for the management of the affairs of the Corporate debtor after approval of the resolution
plan;
(d) the implementation and supervision of the resolution plan;
(e) does not contravene any of the provisions of the law for the time being in force;
(f) conforms to such other requirements as may be specified by the Board.
Note: Sec 30(2)(b) : The payment of debts of operational creditors in such manner as may be specified
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section 53; or
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(ii) the amount that would have been paid to such creditors, if the amount to be distributed under the
resolution plan had been distributed in accordance with the order of priority in sub-section (1) of section
53, whichever is higher, and provides for the payment of debts of financial creditors, who do not vote in
favour of the resolution plan, in such manner as may be specified by the Board, which shall not be less
than the amount to be paid to such creditors in accordance with sub-section (7) of section 53 in the event
of a liquidation of the corporate debtor.
The resolution applicant shall, pursuant to an approved resolution plan obtain the necessary approval
required under any law for the time being in force within a period of one year from the date of approval
of the resolution plan by the Adjudicating Authority or within such period as provided for in such law,
whichever is later:
Provided that where the resolution plan contains a provision for combination, as referred to in section 5
of the Competition Act, 2002, the resolution applicant shall obtain the approval of the Competition
Commission of India under that Act prior to the approval of such resolution plan by the committee of
creditors.
Where the Adjudicating Authority is satisfied that the resolution plan does not confirm to the
requirements, it may, by an order, reject the resolution plan.
After the order of approval of resolution plan—
(a) the moratorium order passed by the Adjudicating Authority shall cease to have effect; and
(b) the resolution professional shall forward all records relating to the conduct of the corporate insolvency
resolution process and the resolution plan to the Board to be recorded on its database. [Section 31]
Section 29A. A person shall not be eligible to submit a resolution plan, if such person, or any other
person acting jointly or in concert with such person—
(a) is an undischarged insolvent;
(b) is a willful defaulter in accordance with the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India issued under the
Banking Regulation Act, 1949;
(c) Classified as non-performing asset and at least a period of 1 year has lapsed from the date of such
classification till the date of commencement of the CIRP of the CD
Provided that the person shall be eligible to submit a resolution plan if such person makes payment of
all overdue amounts with interest thereon and charges relating to non-performing asset accounts before
submission of resolution plan;
Exception – NA where applicant is a financial entity and is not a RP to the CD
Explanation I– For the purposes of this proviso, the expression “related party” shall not include a
financial entity, regulated by a financial sector regulator, if it is a financial creditor of the corporate
debtor and is a related party of the corporate debtor solely on account of conversion or substitution of
debt into equity shares or instruments convertible into equity shares or completion of such transactions
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(d) has been convicted for any offence punishable with imprisonment for two years or more under the
12th Schedule of this Act or for 7 years or more under any law for the time being in force.
Exception – NA to a person after expiry of 2years after his release.
(e) is disqualified to act as a director under the Companies Act, 2013;
(f) is prohibited by the Securities and Exchange Board of India from trading in securities or accessing
the securities markets;
(g) has been a promoter or in the management or control of a corporate debtor in which a preferential
transaction, undervalued transaction, extortionate credit transaction or fraudulent transaction has taken
place and in respect of which an order has been made by the Adjudicating Authority under this Code;
Exception – NA is such transaction has taken place prior to the acquisition by the of CD by resolution
applicant and such applicant was not involved in such transaction .
(2) No action shall be taken against the property of the corporate debtor in relation to an offence
committed prior to the commencement of the corporate insolvency resolution process of the corporate
debtor, where such property is covered under a resolution plan approved by the Adjudicating Authority
under section 31, which results in the change in control of the corporate debtor to a person, or sale of
liquidation assets under the provisions of Chapter III of Part II of this Code to a person, who was not –
(i) a promoter or in the management or control of the corporate debtor or a related party of such a
person; or
(ii) a person with regard to whom the relevant investigating authority has, on the basis of material in its
possession, reason to believe that he had abetted or conspired for the commission of the offence, and
has submitted or filed a report or a complaint to the relevant statutory authority or Court.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, it is hereby clarified that,-
(i) an action against the property of the corporate debtor in relation to an offence shall include the
attachment, seizure, retention or confiscation of such property under such law as may be applicable to
the corporate debtor;
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(ii) nothing in this sub-section shall be construed to bar an action against the property of any person,
other than the corporate debtor or a person who has acquired such property through corporate
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insolvency resolution process or liquidation process under this Code and fulfils the requirements
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
specified in this section, against whom such an action may be taken under such law as may be
applicable.
(3) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), and notwithstanding the immunity
given in this section, the corporate debtor and any person, who may be required to provide assistance
under such law as may be applicable to such corporate debtor or person, shall extend all assistance and
co-operation to any authority investigating an offence committed prior to the commencement of the
corporate insolvency resolution process.
Time period for completion of fast track corporate insolvency resolution process:
The fast track corporate insolvency resolution process shall be completed within a period of 90days
from the insolvency commencement date.
Extension: The Adjudicating Authority may extend time period for fast track corporate insolvency
resolution process. The aggrieved may make an application to the Adjudicating Authority and it is
satisfied that the fast track corporate insolvency resolution process cannot be completed within a period
of ninety days, it may, by order, extend the duration of such process to a further period which shall not
be exceeding 45 days.
The extension of the fast track corporate insolvency resolution process under this section shall not be
granted more than once.
the maximum period permitted for completion of the corporate insolvency resolution process or the fast
track corporate insolvency resolution process, as the case may be, does not receive a resolution plan; or
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(b) rejects the resolution plan for the non-compliance of the requirements specified therein, it shall—
(i)pass an order requiring the corporate debtor to be liquidated in the manner as laid down in this Chapter;
(ii)issue a public announcement stating that the corporate debtor is in liquidation; and require such order
to be sent to the authority with which the corporate debtor is registered.
Payment of fees: The fees for the conduct of the liquidation proceedings shall be paid to the liquidator
from the proceeds of the liquidation estate.
body corporate, or to sell the same in parcels in such manner as may be specified; (sell to any person
except those ineligible to act as resolution applicant u/s 29A)
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(g) to draw, accept, make and endorse any negotiable instruments including bill of exchange, hundi
orpromissory note in the name and on behalf of the corporate debtor, with the same effect with respect
to the liability as if such instruments were drawn, accepted, made or endorsed by or on behalf of the
corporate debtor in the ordinary course of its business;
(h) to take out, in his official name, letter of administration to any deceased contributory and to do in his
official name any other act necessary for obtaining payment of any money due and payable from a
contributory or his estate which cannot be ordinarily done in the name of the corporate debtor, and in
allsuch cases, the money due and payable shall, for the purpose of enabling the liquidator to take out the
letter of administration or recover the money, be deemed to be due to the liquidator himself;
(i) to obtain any professional assistance from any person or appoint any professional, in discharge of his
duties, obligations and responsibilities;
(j) to invite and settle claims of creditors and claimants and distribute proceeds in accordance with
theprovisions of this Code;
(k) to institute or defend any suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings, civil or criminal, in the name
of on behalf of the corporate debtor;
(l) to investigate the financial affairs of the corporate debtor to determine undervalued or preferential
transactions;
(m) to take all such actions, steps, or to sign, execute and verify any paper, deed, receipt document,
application, petition, affidavit, bond or instrument and for such purpose to use the common seal, if any,
as may be necessary for liquidation, distribution of assets and in discharge of his duties and obligations
and functions as liquidator;
(n) to apply to the Adjudicating Authority for such orders or directions as may be necessary for
theliquidation of the corporate debtor and to report the progress of the liquidation process in a manner
asmay be specified by the Board; and
(o) to perform such other functions as may be specified by the Board.
The liquidator shall have the power to consult any of the stakeholders entitled to a
distribution of proceeds:
Provided that any such consultation shall not be binding on the liquidator.
Provided further that the records of any such consultation shall be made available to all other stakeholders
not so consulted, in a manner specified by the Board.
Comprising of liquidation estate: The liquidation estate shall comprise of all liquidation estate assets
which shall include the following:—
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(a) any assets over which the corporate debtor has ownership rights, including all rights and interests
therein as evidenced in the balance sheet of the corporate debtor or an information utility or records
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
in the registry or any depository recording securities of the corporate debtor or by any other means
as may be specified by the Board, including shares held in any subsidiary of the corporate debtor;
(b) assets that may or may not be in possession of the corporate debtor including but not limited to
encumbered assets;
(c) tangible assets, whether movable or immovable;
(d) intangible assets including but not limited to intellectual property, securities (including shares held in
a subsidiary of the corporate debtor) and financial instruments, insurance policies, contractual rights;
(e) assets subject to the determination of ownership by the court or authority;
(f) any assets or their value recovered through proceedings for avoidance of transactions in accordance
with this Chapter;
(g) any asset of the corporate debtor in respect of which a secured creditor has relinquished security
interest;
(h) any other property belonging to or vested in the corporate debtor at the insolvency
commencementdate; and
(i) all proceeds of liquidation as and when they are realized.
operational creditor shall submit claims to the liquidator to the extent of his financial debt and to the
extent of his operational debt.
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(5) Alteration in claim: A creditor may withdraw or vary his claim under this section within fourteen days
of its submission.
(2) The Board may specify the circumstances in which the said transactions shall be considered as an
extortionate credit transaction as given under the above provision.
Exception: Where any debt extended by any person providing financial services which is in compliance
with any law for the time being in force in relation to such debt shall in no event be considered as an
extortionate credit transaction.
Order of Adjudicating authority: As per Section 51 of the Code, if an Adjudicating Authority after
examining the application is satisfied that the terms of a credit transaction required exorbitant payments
to be made by the corporate debtor, it shall, by an order:-
(a) Restore the position as it existed prior to such transaction;
(b) Set aside the whole or part of the debt created on account of the extortionate credit transaction;
(c) Modify the terms of the transaction;
(d) Require any person who is, or was, a party to the transaction to repay any amount received by such
person; or
(e) Require any security interest that was created as part of the extortionate credit transactionto be
relinquished in favour of the liquidator or the resolution professional, as the case may be.
According to section 43 of the Code, where the liquidator or the resolution professional (RP), is of the
opinion that the corporate debtor has at a relevant time given a preference in such transactions to any
of the following persons:
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(a) A related party (other than by reason only of being an employee), during the period of two years
preceding the insolvency commencement date.
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(b) A person other than a related party during the period of one year preceding the insolvency
commencement date. [Sub-section (4)]
In such case, the liquidator or RP shall apply to the Adjudicating Authority for avoidance of preferential
transactions and for, one or more of the orders referred to in section 44.
Circumstances under which transactions will be Circumstances under which transactions will not be
referred to as preferential transactions referred to as preferential transactions
A corporate debtor shall be deemed to have Following transfers shall not be referred
given a preference in the following circumstances:- to as a preference transaction:-
a) If there is a transfer of property or an interest a) The transfer made in the ordinary course of the
thereof of the corporate debtor for the benefit of a business or financial affairs of the corporate debtor
creditor or a surety or a guarantor for or on or the transferee.
account
of an antecedent financialdebt or operational debt b) Any transfer creating a security interest in property
or other liabilities owed by the corporate debtor. acquired by the corporate debtor to the extent that-
b) If the transfer has the effect of puttingsuch (i) such security interest secures new value and was
creditor or a surety or a guarantor in a beneficial given at the time of or after the signing of a security
position than it would have been in the event of a agreement that contains a description of such
distribution of assets being made in accordance property as security interest and was used by
with Section 53 of the Code. corporate debtor to acquire such property; and
Explanation:- The term “new value” means money or its worth in goods, services, or new credit, or
release by the transferee of property previously transferred to such transferee in a transaction that is
neither void nor voidable by the liquidator or the resolution professional under this Code, including
proceeds of such property, but does not include a financial debt or operational debt substituted for
existing financial debt or operational debt.
debtor, such sums to the liquidator or the resolution professional, as the Adjudicating Authority may
direct;
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(e) direct any guarantor, whose financial debts or operational debts owed to any person werereleased or
discharged (in whole or in part) by the giving of the preference, to be under such new or revived financial
debts or operational debts to that person as the Adjudicating Authority deems appropriate;
(f) direct for providing security or charge on any property for the discharge of any financialdebt or
operational debt under the order, and such security or charge to have the same priority as a security or
charge released or discharged wholly or in part by the giving of the preference; and
(g) direct for providing the extent to which any person whose property is so vested in the corporate
debtor, or on whom financial debts or operational debts are imposed by the order, are to be proved in
the liquidation or the corporate insolvency resolution process for financial debts or operational debts
which arose from, or were released or discharged wholly or in part by the giving of the preference:
Relevant period for avoidable transactions: In an application for avoiding a transaction at undervalue,
the liquidator or resolution professional shall determine :
(a) That the transaction was entered within the period of one year preceding the insolvency
commencement date; or
(b) That the transaction was made with a related party within a period of two years preceding the
insolvency commencement date. [Section 46]
In case where liquidator or RP has not reported to the adjudicating authority of the undervalued
transaction: Section 47 of the Code states that where an undervalued transaction has taken place and
the liquidator or the resolution professional has not reported it to the Adjudicating Authority, a creditor,
member or a partner of a corporate debtor may make an application to the Adjudicating Authority to
declare such transactions void and reverse their effect.
Where the Adjudicating Authority, after examination of the application made under sub-section (1), is
satisfied that—
(a) undervalued transactions had occurred; and
(b) liquidator or the resolution professional, as the case may be, after having sufficient information or
opportunity to avail information of such transactions did not report such transaction to the Adjudicating
Authority,it shall pass an order—
(a) restoring the position as it existed before such transactions and reversing the effects thereof in the
manner as laid down in section 45 and section 48;
(b) requiring the Board to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the liquidator or the resolution
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Transactions defrauding creditors: As per section 49 of the Code, where the corporate debtor has
entered into an undervalued transaction under section 45 and the Adjudicating Authority is satisfied that
such transaction was deliberately entered into by such corporate debtor—
(a) for keeping assets of the corporate debtor beyond the reach of any person who is entitledto make a
claim against the corporate debtor; or
(b) in order to adversely affect the interests of such a person in relation to the claim, the Adjudicating
Authority shall make an order—
(i) restoring the position as it existed before such transaction as if the transaction had not been entered
into; and
(ii) protecting the interests of persons who are victims of such transactions:
Distribution of assets:
The Code significantly changes the priority waterfall for distribution of liquidation proceeds.
(1)Distribution of proceeds from the sale of the liquidation assets: The proceeds from the sale of the
liquidation assets shall be distributed in the following order of priority —
Priority of Claims:
Sec. 53:- Priority for Distribution under IBC
[The sequence of Pyt. as per the water-fall model]
- The Repyt. of creditors after liquidation shall be done in the following steps:
(1) the insolvency resolution process costs and the liquidation costs paid in full;
(2) the following debts which shall rank equally between and among the following :—
(i) workmen's dues for the period of 24 months preceding the liquidation commencement date; and
(ii) debts owed to a secured creditor in the event such secured creditor has relinquished his security;
(3) wages and any unpaid dues owed to employees other than workmen for the period of 12 months
preceding the liquidation commencement date;
(4) financial debts owed to unsecured creditors;
(5) the following dues shall rank equally between and among the following:—
(i) any amount due to the CG / SG
(ii) debts owed to a secured creditor for any amount unpaid with interest;
(6) any remaining debts and dues;
(2) Disregard of order of priority: Any contractual arrangements between recipients with equal ranking,
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(3) Fees to liquidator: The fees payable to the liquidator shall be deducted proportionately from the
proceeds payable to each class of recipients, and the proceeds to the relevant recipient shall be distributed
after such deduction.
Date of dissolution:
The Adjudicating Authority shall on application filed by the liquidator orders that the corporate debtor
shall be dissolved from the date of that order and the corporate debtor shall be dissolved accordingly.
(b) the declaration given above shall be accompanied with the following documents,
namely:—
(i) audited financial statements and record of business operations of the company for
the previous two years or for the period since its incorporation, whichever is later;
(ii) a report of the valuation of the assets of the company, if any prepared by a
registered valuer;
company to be liquidated voluntarily as a result of expiry of the period of its duration, if any, fixed by its
articles, or
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(iii) on the occurrence of any event in respect of which the articles provide that the company shall be
dissolved, as the case may be and appointing an insolvency professional to act as the liquidator:
Provided that if the company owes any debt to any person, than the creditors representing two thirds in
value of the debt of the company shall approve the resolution above within 7 days of such resolution.
(4) Notification to Registrar of company and the Board:
The Company shall notify the Registrar of Companies and the Board about the resolution to liquidate
the company within 7 days of such resolution or the subsequent approval by the creditors, as the case
may be.
(6) Application of provisions of this Code: The provisions of sections 35 to 53 of Chapter III and
Chapter VII shall apply to voluntary liquidation proceedings for corporate persons with such
modifications as may be necessary.
(8) Passing of an order of dissolution: The Adjudicating Authority shall on an application filed by the
liquidator, pass an order that the corporate debtor shall be dissolved from the date of that order and the
corporate debtor shall be dissolved accordingly.
(9) Forward of copy of order: A copy of an order shall within fourteen days from the date of such order,
be forwarded to the authority with which the corporate person is registered.
It is expected that the incorporation of PPIRP for MSMEs in the Code will alleviate the distress faced by MSMEs
due to the impact of the pandemic & the unique nature of their business, duly recognizing their importance in
the economy. It provides an efficient alternative insolvency resolution framework for corporate persons
classified as MSMEs for timely, efficient & cost-effective resolution of distress thereby ensuring positive signal to
debt market, employment preservation, ease of doing business and preservation of enterprise capital. Other
expected impact and benefits of the amendment in Code are lesser burden on Adjudicating Authority, assured
continuity of business operations for corporate debtor (CD), less process costs & maximum assets realization for
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financial creditors (FC) and assurance of continued business relation with CD and rights protection for
operational Creditors (OC).
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
CHAPTER III-A
Pre-Packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PPIRP)
54A - Corporate debtors eligible for PPIRP
(1) An application for initiating PPIRP may be made in respect of a corporate debtor classified as a micro, small
or medium enterprise under sub-section (1) of section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Act, 2006.
(2) Without prejudice to sub-section (1), an application for initiating PPIRP may be made in respect of a
corporate debtor, who commits a default referred to in section 4, subject to the following conditions, that––
(a) it has not undergone PPIRP or completed corporate insolvency resolution process, as the case may be,
during the period of three years preceding the initiation date;
(b) it is not undergoing a corporate insolvency resolution process;
(c) no order requiring it to be liquidated is passed under section 33;
(d) it is eligible to submit a resolution plan under section 29A;
(e) the financial creditors of the corporate debtor, not being its related parties, representing such number and
such manner as may be specified, have proposed the name of the insolvency professional to be appointed as
resolution professional for conducting the PPIRP of the corporate debtor, and the financial creditors of the
corporate debtor, not being its related parties, representing not less than 66%. in value of the financial debt
due to such creditors, have approved such proposal in such form as may be specified:
Provided that where a corporate debtor does not have any financial creditors, not being its related parties, the
proposal and approval under this clause shall be provided by such persons as may be specified;
(f) the majority of the directors or partners of the corporate debtor, as the case may be, have made a
declaration, in such form as may be specified, stating, inter alia, —
i that the corporate debtor shall file an application for initiating PPIRP within a definite time period not
exceeding 90 days;
ii that the PPIRP is not being initiated to defraud any person; and
iii the name of the insolvency professional proposed and approved to be appointed as RP under clause (e);
(g) the members of the corporate debtor have passed a special resolution, or at least 3/4th of the total number
of partners, as the case may be, of the corporate debtor have passed a resolution, approving the filing of an
application for initiating PPIRP.
(3) The corporate debtor shall obtain an approval from its financial creditors, not being its related parties,
representing not less than 66% in value of the financial debt due to such creditors, for the filing of an
application for initiating PPIRP, in such form as may be specified:
Provided that where a corporate debtor does not have any financial creditors, not being its related parties, the
approval under this sub-section shall be provided by such persons as may be specified.
(4) Prior to seeking approval from financial creditors under sub-section (3), the corporate debtor shall provide
such financial creditors with —
(a) the declaration referred to in clause (f) of sub- section (2);
(b) the special resolution or resolution referred to in clause (g) of sub-section (2);
(c) a base resolution plan which conforms to the requirements referred to in section 54K, and such other
conditions as m ay be specified; and
(d) such other information and documents as may be specified.
(2) The duties of the insolvency professional under sub-section (1) shall cease, if, —
(a) the corporate debtor fails to file an application for initiating PPIRP within the time period as stated under
the declaration referred to in clause (f) of subsection (2) of section 54A; or
(b) the application for initiating PPIRP is admitted or rejected by the Adjudicating Authority, as the case may
be.
(3) The fees payable to the insolvency professional in relation to the duties performed under sub-section (1)
shall be determined and borne in such manner as may be specified and such fees shall form part of the
prepackaged insolvency resolution process costs, if the application for initiation of PPIRP is admitted.
(2) The application under sub-section (1) shall be filed in such form, containing such particulars, in such manner
and accompanied with such fee as may be prescribed.
(3) The corporate applicant shall, along with the application, furnish—
(a) the declaration, special resolution or resolution, as the case may be, and the approval of financial creditors
for initiating PPIRP in terms of section 54A;
(b) the name and written consent, in such form as may be specified, of the insolvency professional proposed to
be appointed as resolution professional, as approved under clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 54A, and his
report as referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 54B;
(c) a declaration regarding the existence of any transactions of the corporate debtor that may be within the
scope of provisions in respect of avoidance of transactions under Chapter III or fraudulent or wrongful trading
under Chapter VI, in such form as may be specified;
(d) information relating to books of account of the corporate debtor and such other documents relating to such
period as may be specified.
(4) The Adjudicating Authority shall, within a period of fourteen days of the receipt of the application, by an
order,––
(a) admit the application, if it is complete; or
(b) reject the application, if it is incomplete:
Provided that the Adjudicating Authority shall, before rejecting an application, give notice to the applicant to
rectify the defect in the application within seven days from the date of receipt of such notice from the
Adjudicating Authority.
(5) The PPIRP shall commence from the date of admission of the application under clause (a) of sub-section (4).
54E - Declaration of moratorium and public announcement during prepackaged insolvency resolution process
(1) The Adjudicating Authority shall, on the pre-packaged insolvency commencement date, along with the
order of admission under section 54C —
(a) declare a moratorium for the purposes referred to in sub-section (1) read with sub-section (3) of section 14,
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which shall, mutatis mutandis apply, to the proceedings under this Chapter;
(b) appoint a resolution professional —
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(ii) based on the recommendation made by the Board, if any disciplinary proceeding is pending against the
insolvency professional named in the application.
(c) cause a public announcement of the initiation of the PPIRP to be made by the resolution professional, in
such form and manner as may be specified, immediately after his appointment.
(2) The order of moratorium shall have effect from the date of such order till the date on which the
prepackaged insolvency resolution process period comes to an end.
(2) The resolution professional shall perform the following duties, namely:—
(a) confirm the list of claims submitted by the corporate debtor under section 54G, in such manner as may be
specified;
(b) inform creditors regarding their claims as confirmed under clause (a), in such manner as may be specified;
(c) maintain an updated list of claims, in such manner as may be specified;
(d) monitor management of the affairs of the corporate debtor;
(e) inform the committee of creditors in the event of breach of any of the obligations of the Board of Directors
or partners, as the case may be, of the corporate debtor, under the provisions of this Chapter and the rules and
regulations made thereunder;
(f) constitute the committee of creditors and convene and attend all its meetings;
(g) prepare the information memorandum on the basis of the preliminary information memorandum submitted
under section 54G and any other relevant information, in such form and manner as may be specified;
(h) file applications for avoidance of transactions under Chapter III or fraudulent or wrongful trading under
Chapter VI, if any; and
(i) such other duties as may be specified.
(3) The resolution professional shall exercise the following powers, namely:—
(a) access all books of accounts, records and information available with the corporate debtor;
(b) access the electronic records of the corporate debtor from an information utility having financial
information of the corporate debtor;
(c) access the books of accounts, records and
other relevant documents of the corporate debtor available with Government authorities, statutory auditors,
accountants and such other persons as may be specified;
(d) attend meetings of members, Board of Directors and committee of directors, or partners, as the case may
be, of the corporate debtor;
(e) appoint accountants, legal or other professionals in such manner as may be specified;
(f) collect all information relating to the assets,
finances and operations of the corporate debtor for determining the financial position of the corporate debtor
and the existence of any transactions that may be within the scope of provisions relating to avoidance of
transactions under
Chapter III or fraudulent or wrongful trading under Chapter VI, including information relating to —
(i) business operations for the previous two years from the date of pre-packaged insolvency commencement
date;
(ii) financial and operational payments for the previous two years from the date of prepackaged insolvency
commencement date;
(iii) list of assets and liabilities as on the initiation date; and
(iv) such other matters as may be specified;
(g) take such other actions in such manner as may be specified.
(4) From the date of appointment of the resolution professional, the financial institutions maintaining accounts
of the corporate debtor shall furnish all information relating to the corporate debtor available with them to the
resolution professional, as and when required by him.
(5) The personnel of the corporate debtor, its promoters and any other person associated with the
management of the corporate debtor shall extend all assistance and cooperation to the resolution professional
as may be required by him to perform his duties and exercise his powers, and for such purposes, the provisions
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of sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 19 shall, mutatis mutandis apply, in relation to the proceedings under this
Chapter.
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(6) The fees of the resolution professional and any expenses incurred by him for conducting the prepackaged
insolvency resolution process shall be determined in such manner as may be specified:
Provided that the committee of creditors may impose limits and conditions on such fees and expenses:
Provided further that the fees and expenses for the period prior to the constitution of the committee of
creditors shall be subject to ratification by it.
(7) The fees and expenses referred to in sub-section (6) shall be borne in such manner as may be specified.
(2) Where any person has sustained any loss or damage as a consequence of the omission of any material
information or inclusion of any misleading information in the list of claims or the preliminary information
memorandum submitted by the corporate debtor, every person who—
(a) is a promoter or director or partner of the corporate debtor, as the case may be, at the time of submission
of the list of claims or the preliminary information memorandum by the corporate debtor; or
(b) has authorised the submission of the list of claims or the preliminary information memorandum by the
corporate debtor, shall, without prejudice to section 77A, be liable to pay compensation to every person who
has sustained such loss or damage.
(3) No person shall be liable under sub-section (2), if the list of claims or the preliminary information
memorandum was submitted by the corporate debtor without his knowledge or consent.
(4) Subject to section 54E, any person, who sustained any loss or damage as a consequence of omission of
material information or inclusion of any misleading information in the list of claims or the preliminary
information memorandum shall be entitled to move a court having jurisdiction for seeking compensation for
such loss or damage.
process, by a vote of not less than 66%. of the voting shares, resolves to vest the management of the corporate
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
debtor with the resolution professional, the resolution professional shall make an application for this purpose
to the Adjudicating Authority, in such form and manner as may be specified.
(2) On an application made under sub-section (1), if the Adjudicating Authority is of the opinion that during
the PPIRP—
(a) the affairs of the corporate debtor have been conducted in a fraudulent manner; or
(b) there has been gross mismanagement of the affairs of the corporate debtor,
it shall pass an order vesting the management of the corporate debtor with the resolution professional.
(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Chapter, the provisions of —
(a) sub-sections (2) and (2A) of section 14;
(b) section 17;
(c) clauses (e) to (g) of section 18;
(d) sections 19 and 20;
(e) sub-section (1) of section 25;
(f) clauses (a) to (c) and clause (k) of sub- section (2) of section 25; and
(g) section 28,
shall, mutatis mutandis apply, to the proceedings under this Chapter, from the date of the order under
subsection (2), until the PPIRP period comes to an end.
(2) The committee of creditors may provide the corporate debtor an opportunity to revise the base resolution
plan prior to its approval under sub-section (4) or invitation of prospective resolution applicants under sub-
section (5), as the case may be.
(3) The resolution plans and the base resolution plan, submitted under this section shall conform to the
requirements referred to in sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 30, and the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and
(5) of section 30 shall, mutatis mutandis apply, to the proceedings under this Chapter.
(4) The committee of creditors may approve the base resolution plan for submission to the Adjudicating
Authority if it does not impair any claims owed by the corporate debtor to the operational creditors.
(5) Where —
(a) the committee of creditors does not approve the base resolution plan under sub-section (4); or
(b) the base resolution plan impairs any claims owed by the corporate debtor to the operational creditors, the
resolution professional shall invite prospective
resolution applicants to submit a resolution plan or plans, to compete with the base resolution plan, in such
manner as may be specified.
(6) The resolution applicants submitting resolution plans pursuant to invitation under sub-section (5), shall fulfil
such criteria as may be laid down by the resolution professional with the approval of the committee of
creditors, having regard to the complexity and scale of operations of the business of the corporate debtor and
such other conditions as may be specified.
(8) The resolution professional shall present to the committee of creditors, for its evaluation, resolution plans
which conform to the requirements referred to in sub-section (2) of section 30.
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(9) The committee of creditors shall evaluate the resolution plans presented by the resolution professional and
select a resolution plan from amongst them.
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(10) Where, on the basis of such criteria as may be laid down by it, the committee of creditors decides that the
resolution plan selected under sub-section (9) is significantly better than the base resolution plan, such
resolution plan may be selected for approval under subsection (12):
Provided that the criteria laid down by the committee of creditors under this sub-section shall be subject to
such conditions as may be specified.
(11) Where the resolution plan selected under sub-section (9) is not considered for approval or does not fulfil
the requirements of sub-section (10), it shall compete with the base resolution plan, in such manner and subject
to such conditions as may be specified, and one of them shall be selected for approval under subsection (12).
(12) The resolution plan selected for approval under sub-section (10) or sub-section (11), as the case may be,
may be approved by the committee of creditors for submission to the Adjudicating Authority:
Provided that where the resolution plan selected for approval under sub-section (11) is not approved by the
committee of creditors, the resolution professional shall file an application for termination of the PPIRP in such
form and manner as may be specified.
(13) The approval of the resolution plan under sub-section (4) or sub-section (12), as the case may be, by the
committee of creditors, shall be by a vote of not less than 66%. of the voting shares, after considering its
feasibility and viability, the manner of distribution proposed, taking into account the order of priority amongst
creditors as laid down in sub-section (1) of section 53, including the priority and value of the security interest of
a secured creditor and such other requirements as may be specified.
(14) While considering the feasibility and viability of a resolution plan, where the resolution plan submitted by
the corporate debtor provides for impairment of any claims owed by the corporate debtor, the committee of
creditors may require the promoters of the corporate debtor to dilute their shareholding or voting or control
rights in the corporate debtor:
Provided that where the resolution plan does not provide for such dilution, the committee of creditors shall,
prior to the approval of such resolution plan under sub-section (4) or sub-section (12), as the case may be,
record reasons for its approval.
(15) The resolution professional shall submit the resolution plan as approved by the committee of creditors
under sub-section (4) or sub-section (12), as the case may be, to the Adjudicating Authority.
Explanation I.––For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that, the corporate debtor being a resolution
applicant under clause (25) of section 5, may submit the base resolution plan either individually or jointly with
any other person.
Explanation II.––For the purposes of sub - sections (4) and (14), claims shall be considered to be impaired
where the resolution plan does not provide for the full payment of the confirmed claims as per the updated list
of claims maintained by the resolution professional.
(2) The order of approval under sub-section (1) shall have such effect as provided under sub-sections (1), (3)
and (4) of section 31, which shall, mutatis mutandis apply, to the proceedings under this Chapter.
(3) Where the Adjudicating Authority is satisfied that the resolution plan does not conform to the requirements
referred to in sub-section (1), it may, within thirty days of the receipt of such resolution plan, by an order,
reject the resolution plan and pass an order under section 54N.
(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section, where the Adjudicating Authority has
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passed an order under sub-section (2) of section 54J and the resolution plan approved by the committee of
creditors under sub-section (4) or subsection (12), as the case may be, of section 54K, does not result in the
change in the management or control of the corporate debtor to a person who was not a promoter or in the
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management or control of the corporate debtor, the Adjudicating Authority shall pass an order —
CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
(2) Where the resolution professional, at any time after the pre-packaged insolvency commencement date, but
before the approval of resolution plan under subsection (4) or sub-section (12), as the case may be, of section
54K, intimates the Adjudicating Authority of the decision of the committee of creditors, approved by a vote of
66%. of the voting shares, to terminate the PPIRP, the Adjudicating Authority shall pass an order under sub-
section (1).
(3) Where the Adjudicating Authority passes an order under sub-section (1), the corporate debtor shall bear the
PPIRP costs, if any.
(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section, where the Adjudicating Authority has
passed an order under sub-section (2) of section 54J and the PPIRP is required to be terminated under sub-
section (1), the Adjudicating Authority shall pass an order —
(a) of liquidation in respect of the corporate debtor as referred to in sub-clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (b) of
sub-section (1) of section 33; and
(b) declare that the PPIRP costs, if any, shall be included as part of the liquidation costs for the purposes of
liquidation of the corporate debtor.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Chapter II, where the resolution professional
intimates the Adjudicating Authority of the decision of the committee of creditors under sub-section (1), the
Adjudicating Authority shall, within thirty days of the date of such intimation, pass an order to —
a. terminate the pre-packaged insolvency
resolution process and initiate corporate insolvency resolution process under Chapter II in respect of the
corporate debtor;
b. appoint the resolution professional referred
to in under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 54E as the interim resolution professional, subject to
submission of written consent by such resolution professional to the Adjudicatory Authority in such form as
may be specified; and
c. declare that the pre-packaged insolvency
resolution process costs, if any, shall be included as part of insolvency resolution process costs for the purposes
of the corporate insolvency resolution process of the corporate debtor.
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(3) Where the resolution professional fails to submit written consent under clause (b) of sub-section (2), the
Adjudicating Authority shall appoint an interim resolution professional by making a reference to the Board for
recommendation, in the manner as provided under section 16.
(4) Where the Adjudicating Authority passes an order under sub-section (2) —
(a) such order shall be deemed to be an order of admission of an application under section 7 and shall have the
same effect;
(b) the corporate insolvency resolution process shall commence from the date of such order;
(c) the proceedings initiated for avoidance of
transactions under Chapter III or proceedings initiated under section 66 and section 67A, if any, shall continue
during the corporate insolvency resolution process;
(d) for the purposes of sections 43, 46 and 50, references to “insolvency commencement date” shall mean
“pre-packaged insolvency commencement date”; and
(e) in computing the relevant time or the period for avoidable transactions, the time-period for the duration of
the PPIRP shall also be included, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections 43, 46 and 50.
54P - Application of provisions of Chapters II, III, VI, and VII to this Chapter
(1) Save as provided under this Chapter, sections 24, 25A, 26, 27, 28, 29A, 32A, 43 to 51, and the provisions
of Chapters VI and VII of this VI, and VII to Part shall, mutatis mutandis apply, to the PPIRP, subject to the
following, namely:―
(a) reference to “members of the suspended Board of Directors or the partners” under clause (b) of sub-section
(3) of section 24 shall be construed as reference to “members of the Board of Directors or the partners,unless
an order has been passed by the Adjudicating Authority under section 54J”;
(b) reference to “clause (j) of sub-section (2) of section 25” under section 26 shall be construed as reference to
“clause (h) of sub-section (2) of section 54F”;
(c) reference to “section 16” under section 27 shall be construed as reference to “section 54E”;
(d) reference to “resolution professional” in sub-sections (1) and (4) of section 28 shall be construed as
“corporate debtor”;
(e) reference to “section 31” under sub-section (3) of section 61 shall be construed as reference to “sub-section
(1) of section 54L”;
(f) reference to “section 14” in sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 74 shall be construed as reference to “clause
(a) of sub-section (1) of section 54E”;
(g) reference to “section 31” in sub-section (3) of section 74 shall be construed as" reference to “section 54L(1)”.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of this Chapter and unless the context otherwise requires, where the
provisions of Chapters II, III, VI and VII are applied to the proceedings under this Chapter, references to —
(a) “insolvency commencement date” shall be construed as references to “pre-packaged insolvency
commencement date”;
(b) “resolution professional” or “interim resolution professional”, as the case may be, shall be construed as
references to the resolution professional appointed under this Chapter;
(c) “corporate insolvency resolution process” shall be construed as references to “PPIRP”; and
(d) “insolvency resolution process period” shall be construed as references to “PPIRP period.”.’. 301
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CA FINAL Corporate and Economic Laws Prof. Harsh Kachalia
Hello Friends,
I hope you enjoyed reading this book and it helped you clear your concepts well.
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All the very Best and May the Good Luck Prevail.
May God Bless!
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