Taxmann's Companies Act 2013 | POCKET

Contents PAGE

1 COMPANIES ACT, 2013 Arrangement of Sections u Annotated text of the Companies Act, 2013 as amended upto date u Appendix I : Provisions of other Acts referred to in Companies Act, 2013 u Appendix II : Words & Phrases judicially noticed u Subject Index u

iii-xxvi 1.1-1.626 1.627-1.688 1.689-1.738 1.739-1.785

2 GUIDE TO COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2020 Amendments made by Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 at a Glance u Guide to Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 u

I-5

2.3 2.7

1.99 91

CH. V - ACCEPTANCE OF DEPOSITS BY COMPANIES

S. 74

Repayment of deposits, etc., accepted before commencement of this Act92.

74. (1) Where in respect of any deposit accepted by a company before the commencement of this Act, the amount of such deposit or part thereof or any interest due thereon remains unpaid on such commencement or becomes due at any time thereafter, the company shall— (a) file, within a period of three months from such commencement or from the date on which such payments, are due, with the Registrar a statement93 of all the deposits accepted by the company and sums remaining unpaid on such amount with the interest payable thereon along with the arrangements made for such repayment, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or under the terms and conditions subject to which the deposit was accepted or any scheme framed under any law; and 94

[(b) repay within three years from such commencement or on or before expiry of the period for which the deposits were accepted, whichever is earlier:

Provided that renewal of any such deposits shall be done in accordance with the provisions of Chapter V and the rules made thereunder.]

(2) The Tribunal96 may on an application made by the company, after considering the financial condition of the company, the amount of deposit or part thereof and the interest payable thereon and such other matters, allow further time as considered reasonable to the company to repay the deposit.

95

97 (3) If a company fails to repay the deposit or part thereof or any interest thereon within the time specified in sub-section (1) or such further time as may be allowed by the Tribunal under sub-section (2), the company shall, in addition

91. Corresponds to section 58A of the 1956 Act. 92. Sub-section (1) of section 74 enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

93. See rule 20 and Form No. DPT 4 of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014. See also Circular No. 27/2014, dated 30-6-2014 [Clarification regarding filing of DPT-4]; Circular No. 5/2015, dated 30-5-2015 [Clarification regarding applicability of Acceptance of Deposits Rules, where amounts were received by private companies from their members, directors or their relatives before 1st April, 2014] and Circular No. 9/2015, dated 18-6-2015 [Repayment of deposits accepted by the companies before the commencement of Companies Act, 2013 under section 74].

94. Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, w.e.f. 15-8-2018. Prior to its substitution, clause (b) read as under : “(b) repay within one year from such commencement or from the date on which such payments are due, whichever is earlier.”

95. Enforced with effect from 6-6-2014.

96. See rules 73 and 88 and Form No. NCLT-1 and Annexure B of the NCLT Rules, 2016.

Prescribed fees under National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016 is Rs. 5,000 (Application to allow further time as considered reasonable to the company to repay deposits).

See also Circular No. 1/2014, dated 22-7-2014 [Clarification on section 58A(9) and section 58AA of the Companies Act, 1956].

97. Enforced with effect from 6-6-2014.

S. 76

COMPANIES ACT, 2013

1.100

to the payment of the amount of deposit or part thereof and the interest due, be punishable with fine which shall not be less than one crore rupees but which may extend to ten crore rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to seven years or with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five lakh rupees but which may extend to two crore rupees, or with both.

Damages for fraud.98 75. (1) Where a company fails to repay the deposit or part thereof or any interest thereon referred to in section 74 within the time specified in subsection (1) of that section or such further time as may be allowed by the Tribunal under sub-section (2) of that section, and it is proved that the deposits had been accepted with intent to defraud the depositors or for any fraudulent purpose, every officer of the company who was responsible for the acceptance of such deposit shall, without prejudice to the provisions contained in subsection (3) of that section and liability under section 447, be personally responsible, without any limitation of liability, for all or any of the losses or damages that may have been incurred by the depositors.

99

(2) Any suit, proceedings or other action may be taken by any person, group of persons or any association of persons who had incurred any loss as a result of the failure of the company to repay the deposits or part thereof or any interest thereon.

Acceptance of deposits from public by certain companies.

1 76. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 73, a public company, having such net worth or turnover as may be prescribed2, may accept deposits from persons other than its members subject to compliance with the requirements provided in sub-section (2) of section 73 and subject to such rules as the Central Government may, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, prescribe: Provided that such a company shall be required to obtain the rating (including its networth, liquidity and ability to pay its deposits on due date) from a recognised credit rating agency for informing the public the rating given to the company at the time of invitation of deposits from the public which ensures adequate safety and the rating shall be obtained for every year during the tenure of deposits: Provided further that every company accepting secured deposits from the public shall within thirty days of such acceptance, create a charge on its assets of an amount not less than the amount of deposits accepted in favour of the deposit holders in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed3.

98.

99.

1.

2.

3.

See also rule 88 and Form No. NCLT 9 of the NCLT Rules, 2016.

Enforced with effect from 1-6-2016.

Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

See rule 2(1)(e) of the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014.

See Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014.

1.101

CH. VI - REGISTRATION OF CHARGES

S. 77

(2) The provisions of this Chapter shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to the acceptance of deposits from public under this section.4 [Punishment for contravention of section 73 or section 76.

5

76A. Where a company accepts or invites or allows or causes any other person to accept or invite on its behalf any deposit in contravention of the manner or the conditions prescribed under section 73 or section 76 or rules made thereunder or if a company fails to repay the deposit or part thereof or any interest due thereon within the time specified under section 73 or section 76 or rules made thereunder or such further time as may be allowed by the Tribunal under section 73,— (a) the company shall, in addition to the payment of the amount of deposit or part thereof and the interest due, be punishable with fine which shall not be less than 6[one crore rupees or twice the amount of deposit accepted by the company, whichever is lower] but which may extend to ten crore rupees; and (b) every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to 7[seven years and with fine] which shall not be less than twenty-five lakh rupees but which may extend to two crore rupees 8[***]: Provided that if it is proved that the officer of the company who is in default, has contravened such provisions knowingly or wilfully with the intention to deceive the company or its shareholders or depositors or creditors or tax authorities, he shall be liable for action under section 447.]

CHAPTER VI REGISTRATION OF CHARGES 9

Duty to register charges, etc.

77. (1) It shall be the duty of every company creating11 a charge11 within or outside India, on its property or assets or any of its undertakings, whether tangible or otherwise, and situated in or outside India, to register the particulars of the charge signed by the company and the charge-holder together with the instruments, if any, creating such charge in such form12, on payment of such

10

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

See rule 73 and Form No. NCLT-1 of the NCLT Rules, 2016.

Inserted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015, w.e.f. 29-5-2015.

Substituted for “one crore rupees” by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, w.e.f. 9-2-2018.

Substituted for “seven years or with fine”, ibid.

Words “, or with both” omitted, ibid.

9. Corresponds to sections 125 and 132 of the 1956 Act. 10. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

11. For meaning of the terms “charge” and “created”, see Appendix II. 12. See rules 3 and 13 and Form Nos. CHG 1 & 9 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

S. 77

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1.102

fees and in such manner as may be prescribed , with the Registrar within thirty days of its creation: 15 [Provided that the Registrar may, on an application16 by the company, allow such registration to be made— (a) in case of charges created before the commencement of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019, within a period of three hundred days of such creation; or (b) in case of charges created on or after the commencement of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019, within a period of sixty days of such creation, on payment of such additional fees as may be prescribed 13-14: Provided further that if the registration is not made within the period specified— (a) in clause (a) to the first proviso, the registration of the charge shall be made within six months from the date of commencement of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019, on payment of such additional fees as may be prescribed 13-14 and different fees may be prescribed for different classes of companies; (b) in clause (b) to the first proviso, the Registrar may, on an application, allow such registration to be made within a further period of sixty days after payment of such ad valorem fees as may be prescribed 13-14:] Provided also that any subsequent registration of a charge shall not prejudice any right acquired in respect of any property before the charge is actually registered: 17 [Provided also that this section shall not apply to such charges as may be prescribed in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India.]

(2) Where a charge is registered with the Registrar under sub-section (1), he shall issue a certificate of registration of such charge in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed18 to the company and, as the case may be, to the person in whose favour the charge is created19.

13-14

13-14. See rule 12 and Table annexed to Companies (Registration Offices & Fees) Rules, 2014.

15. Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019, w.r.e.f. 2-11-2018. Prior to their substitution, first and second provisos read as under : “Provided that the Registrar may, on an application by the company, allow such registration to be made within a period of three hundred days of such creation on payment of such additional fees as may be prescribed: Provided further that if registration is not made within a period of three hundred days of such creation, the company shall seek extension of time in accordance with section 87:” 16. See rules 4 and 13 and Form Nos. CHG 1 and CHG 9 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

17. Inserted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, w.e.f. 7-5-2018.

18. See rule 6 and Form Nos. CHG 2 & 3 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

19. For meaning of the term “created”, see Appendix II.

1.103

CH. VI - REGISTRATION OF CHARGES

S. 79

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, no charge created20 by a company shall be taken into account by the liquidator 21[appointed under this Act or the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, as the case may be,] or any other creditor unless it is duly registered under sub-section (1) and a certificate of registration of such charge is given by the Registrar under sub-section (2).

(4) Nothing in sub-section (3) shall prejudice any contract or obligation for the repayment of the money secured by a charge.

22

Application for registration of charge.

78. Where a company fails to 24[register the charge within the period of thirty days referred to in sub-section (1) of section 77], without prejudice to its liability in respect of any offence under this Chapter, the person in whose favour the charge is created may apply to the Registrar for registration of the charge along with the instrument created for the charge, within such time and in such form and manner as may be prescribed25 and the Registrar may, on such application, within a period of fourteen days after giving notice to the company, unless the company itself registers the charge or shows sufficient cause why such charge should not be registered, allow such registration on payment of such fees, as may be prescribed26:

23

Provided that where registration is effected on application of the person in whose favour the charge is created, that person shall be entitled to recover from the company the amount of any fees or additional fees paid by him to the Registrar for the purpose of registration of charge.

27

Section 77 to apply in certain matters.

28

79.29 The provisions of section 77 relating to registration of charges shall, so far as may be, apply to—

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

For meaning of the term “created”, see Appendix II. Inserted by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, w.e.f. 15-11-2016.

Corresponds to section 134 of the 1956 Act. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

Substituted for “register the charge within the period specified in section 77” by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, w.e.f. 7-5-2018.

See rules 3 and 13 and Form Nos. CHG 1 & 9 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

See rule 12 and Table annexed to Companies (Registration Offices & Fees) Rules, 2014.

Corresponds to sections 127 and 135 of the 1956 Act. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

See rules 3, 5 and 13 and Form Nos. CHG 1 & 9 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

S. 82

COMPANIES ACT, 2013

1.104

(a) a company acquiring any property subject to a charge within the meaning of that section; or (b) any modification in the terms or conditions or the extent or operation of any charge registered under that section.

30

Date of notice of charge.

80. Where any charge on any property or assets of a company or any of its undertakings is registered under section 77, any person acquiring such property, assets, undertakings or part thereof or any share or interest therein shall be deemed to have notice of the charge from the date of such registration.

32 Register of charges to be kept by Registrar.

33 81. (1) The Registrar shall, in respect of every company, keep a register containing particulars of the charges registered under this Chapter in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.34 (2) A register kept in pursuance of this section shall be open to inspection by any person on payment of such fees as may be prescribed35 for each inspection.

36 Company to report satisfaction of charge.

37 82. 38(1) A company shall give intimation to the Registrar in the prescribed form39, of the payment or satisfaction in full of any charge registered 31

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

Corresponds to section 126 of the 1956 Act. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

Corresponds to section 130 of the 1956 Act. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

See rule 7 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

See rule 12 and Table annexed to Companies (Registration Offices & Fees) Rules, 2014.

Corresponds to section 138 of the 1956 Act. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

In case of an unlisted public company which is licensed to operate by RBI or SEBI or IRDA from the International Financial Services Centre located in an approved multi services SEZ set-up under the SEZ Act, in sub-section (1) of section 82, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:— “Provided that in case of a Specified IFSC public company, the Registrar may, on an application by the company, allow such registration to be made within a period of three hundred days of such creation on payment of such additional fees as may be prescribed.”.— Notification No. GSR 8(E), dated 4-1-2017.

In case of a private company which is licensed to operate by RBI or SEBI or IRDA from the International Financial Services Centre located in an approved multi services SEZ set-up under the SEZ Act, in sub-section (1) of section 82, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:— “Provided that in case of a Specified IFSC private company, the Registrar may, on an application by the company, allow such registration to be made within a period of three hundred days of such creation on payment of such additional fees as may be prescribed.”— Notification No. GSR 9(E), dated 4-1-2017.

39. See rules 8 and 13 and Form Nos. CHG 4 & 5 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

1.105

CH. VI - REGISTRATION OF CHARGES

S. 83

under this Chapter within a period of thirty days from the date of such payment or satisfaction 40[***] : 41 [Provided that the Registrar may, on an application by the company or the charge holder, allow such intimation of payment or satisfaction to be made within a period of three hundred days of such payment or satisfaction on payment of such additional fees as may be prescribed42.]

(2) The Registrar shall, on receipt of intimation under sub-section (1), cause a notice to be sent to the holder of the charge calling upon him to show cause within such time not exceeding fourteen days, as may be specified in such notice, as to why payment or satisfaction in full should not be recorded as intimated to the Registrar, and if no cause is shown, by such holder of the charge, the Registrar shall order that a memorandum of satisfaction shall be entered in the register of charges kept by him under section 81 and shall inform the company that he has done so:

Provided that the notice referred to in this sub-section shall not be required to be sent, in case the intimation to the Registrar in this regard is in the specified form43 and signed by the holder of charge.

(3) If any cause is shown, the Registrar shall record a note to that effect in the register of charges and shall inform the company.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect the powers of the Registrar to make an entry in the register of charges under section 83 or otherwise than on receipt of an intimation from the company.

44 Power of Registrar to make entries of satisfaction and release in absence of intimation from company.

45 83. (1) The Registrar may, on evidence being given to his satisfaction with respect to any registered charge,— (a) that the debt for which the charge was given has been paid or satisfied in whole or in part; or (b) that part of the property or undertaking charged has been released from the charge or has ceased to form part of the company’s property or undertaking, enter in the register of charges a memorandum of satisfaction in whole or in part, or of the fact that part of the property or undertaking has been released from the charge or has ceased to form part of the company’s property or 40. Words “and the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 77 shall, as far as may be, apply to an intimation given under this section” omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, w.e.f.

5-7-2018.

41. Inserted, ibid.

42. See rule 12 and Table Annexed to Companies (Registration Offices & Fees) Rules, 2014.

43. See rules 8 and 13 and Form Nos. CHG 4 & 5 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

44. Corresponds to sections 139 and 140 of the 1956 Act. 45. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

S. 85

COMPANIES ACT, 2013

1.106

undertaking, as the case may be, notwithstanding the fact that no intimation has been received by him from the company.

(2) The Registrar shall inform the affected parties within thirty days of making the entry in the register of charges kept under sub-section (1) of section 81.

46

Intimation of appointment of receiver or manager.

84. (1) If any person obtains an order for the appointment of a receiver of, or of a person to manage, the property, subject to a charge, of a company or if any person appoints such receiver or person under any power contained in any instrument, he shall, within a period of thirty days from the date of the passing of the order or of the making of the appointment, give notice48 of such appointment to the company and the Registrar along with a copy of the order or instrument and the Registrar shall, on payment of the prescribed49 fees, register particulars of the receiver, person or instrument in the register of charges.

47

(2) Any person appointed under sub-section (1) shall, on ceasing to hold such appointment, give to the company and the Registrar a notice to that effect and the Registrar shall register such notice.

50

Company’s register of charges.

85. (1) Every company shall keep at its registered office a register of charges in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed52, which shall include therein all charges and floating charges affecting any property or assets of the company or any of its undertakings, indicating in each case such particulars as may be prescribed: Provided that a copy of the instrument creating the charge shall also be kept at the registered office of the company along with the register of charges.

(2) The register of charges and instrument of charges, kept under sub-section (1) shall be open for inspection53 during business hours— (a) by any member or creditor without any payment of fees; or (b) by any other person on payment of such fees as may be prescribed54, subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may, by its articles, impose.

51

46.

47.

48.

49.

50.

51.

52.

53.

54.

Corresponds to section 137 of the 1956 Act. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

See rule 9 and Form No. CHG 6 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

See rule 12 and Table annexed to Companies (Registration Offices & Fees) Rules, 2014.

Corresponds to sections 136, 143 and 144 of the 1956 Act. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

See rule 10 and Form No. CHG 7 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

See rule 11 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

See rule 12 and Table annexed to Companies (Registration Offices & Fees) Rules, 2014.

1.107

CH. VI - REGISTRATION OF CHARGES

S. 87

55

Punishment for contravention.

86. 57[(1) If any company is in default in complying with any of the provisions of this Chapter, the company shall be liable to a penalty of five lakh rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of fifty thousand rupees.]

58 [(2) If any person wilfully furnishes any false or incorrect information or knowingly suppresses any material information, required to be registered in accordance with the provisions of section 77, he shall be liable for action under section 447.]

59 60 [ Rectification by Central Government in Register of charges.

56

87. The Central Government61 on being satisfied that— 55. Corresponds to section 142 of the 1956 Act. 56. Enforced with effect from 12-9-2013.

57. Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020, w.e.f. 21-12-2020. Prior to its substitution, sub-section (1), as amended by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019, w.r.e.f.

2-11-2018, read as under : “(1) If any company contravenes any provision of this Chapter, the company shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to ten lakh rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term 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.”

58. Inserted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019, w.r.e.f. 2-11-2018.

59. Substituted, ibid. Prior to its substitution, section 87 was earlier enforced with effect from 1-4-2014, read as under : “87. Rectification by Central Government in register of charges.—(1) The Central Government on being satisfied that— (i)(a) the omission to file with the Registrar the particulars of any charge created by a company or any charge subject to which any property has been acquired by a company or any modification of such charge; or (b) the omission to register any charge within the time required under this Chapter or the omission to give intimation to the Registrar of the payment or the satisfaction of a charge, within the time required under this Chapter; or (c) the omission or mis-statement of any particular with respect to any such charge or modification or with respect to any memorandum of satisfaction or other entry made in pursuance of section 82 or section 83, was accidental or due to inadvertence or some other sufficient cause or it is not of a nature to prejudice the position of creditors or shareholders of the company; or (ii) on any other grounds, it is just and equitable to grant relief, it may on the application of the company or any person interested and on such terms and conditions as it may seem to the Central Government just and expedient, direct that the time for the filing of the particulars or for the registration of the charge or for the giving of intimation of payment or satisfaction shall be extended or, as the case may require, that the omission or mis-statement shall be rectified.

(2) Where the Central Government extends the time for the registration of a charge, the order shall not prejudice any rights acquired in respect of the property concerned before the charge is actually registered.”

60. Corresponds to section 141 of the 1956 Act. 61. Powers are delegated to Regional Directors at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Shillong.

S. 88

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1.108

(a) the omission to give intimation to the Registrar of the payment or satisfaction of a charge, within the time required under this Chapter; or (b) the omission or misstatement of any particulars, in any filing previously made to the registrar with respect to any charge or modification thereof or with respect to any memorandum of satisfaction or other entry made in pursuance of section 82 or section 83, was accidental or due to inadvertence or some other sufficient cause or it is not of a nature to prejudice the position of creditors or shareholders of the company, it may, on the application62 of the company or any person interested and on such terms and conditions as it deems just and expedient, direct that the time for the giving of intimation of payment or satisfaction shall be extended or, as the case may require, that the omission or misstatement shall be rectified.]

CHAPTER VII MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION 63

Register of members, etc.64 88. (1) Every company shall keep and maintain the following registers in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed66, namely:— (a) register of members66 indicating separately for each class of equity and preference shares held by each member residing in or outside India; (b) register of debenture-holders66; and (c) register of any other security holders66.

65

(2) Every register maintained under sub-section (1) shall include an index67 of the names included therein67.

(3) The register and index of beneficial owners maintained by a depository under section 11 of the Depositories Act, 199668 (22 of 1996), shall be deemed to be the corresponding register and index for the purposes of this Act. (4) A company may, if so authorised by its articles, keep in any country outside India, in such manner as may be prescribed69, a part of the register referred to in sub-section (1), called “foreign register” containing the names and particulars of the members, debenture-holders, other security holders or beneficial owners residing outside India.

62. See rule 12 and Form No. CHG 8 of the Companies (Registration of Charges) Rules, 2014.

63. Corresponds to sections 150, 151, 152, 152A, 157 and 158 of the 1956 Act. 64. See also Table F of Schedule I. 65. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

66. See rules 3, 4, 5, 8 & 28 and Form Nos. MGT 1 to MGT 2 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014.

67. See rule 6 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014.

68. For text of section 11 of the Depositories Act, 1996, see Appendix I. 69. See rules 7, 8 & 28 and Form No. MGT 3 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014.

1.109

CH. VII - MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

S. 89

[(5) If a company does not maintain a register of members or debentureholders or other security holders or fails to maintain them in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), the company shall be liable to a penalty of three lakh rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of fifty thousand rupees.]

70 Declaration in respect of beneficial interest in any share71.

89. (1) Where the name of a person is entered in the register of members of a company as the holder of shares in that company but who does not hold the beneficial interest in such shares, such person shall make a declaration within such time and in such form as may be prescribed72 to the company specifying the name and other particulars of the person who holds the beneficial interest in such shares.

(2) Every person who holds or acquires a beneficial interest in share of a company shall make a declaration to the company specifying the nature of his interest, particulars of the person in whose name the shares stand registered in the books of the company and such other particulars as may be prescribed72.

(3) Where any change occurs in the beneficial interest in such shares, the person referred to in sub-section (1) and the beneficial owner specified in sub-section (2) shall, within a period of thirty days from the date of such change, make a declaration to the company in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed72.

(4) The Central Government may make rules72 to provide for the manner of holding and disclosing beneficial interest and beneficial ownership under this section.

72a [(5) If any person fails to make a declaration as required under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), he shall be liable to a penalty of fifty 69a

69a. Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020, w.e.f. 21-12-2020. Prior to its substitution, sub-section (5) read as under : “(5) If a company does not maintain a register of members or debenture-holders or other security holders or fails to maintain them in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to three lakh rupees and where the failure is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to one thousand rupees for every day, after the first during which the failure continues.”

70. Corresponds to section 187C of the 1956 Act. In case of Government Companies, section 89 shall not apply - Notification No. GSR 463(E), dated 5-6-2015.

71. Enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

72. See rule 9, Form Nos. MGT 4 to 6 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014 and Form No. GNL 2 of Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014. See also SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

72a. Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020, w.e.f. 21-12-2020. Prior to its substitution, sub-section (5) read as under : “(5) If any person fails, to make a declaration as required under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), without any reasonable cause, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and where the failure is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to one thousand rupees for every day after the first during which the failure continues.”

S. 89

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1.110

thousand rupees and in case of continuing failure, with a further penalty of two hundred rupees for each day after the first during which such failure continues, subject to a maximum of five lakh rupees.]

73 (6) Where any declaration under this section is made to a company, the company shall make a note of such declaration in the register concerned and shall file, within thirty days from the date of receipt of declaration by it, a return in the prescribed form74 with the Registrar in respect of such declaration with such fees or additional fees as may be prescribed75 76[***].

77 [(7) If a company, required to file a return under sub-section (6), fails to do so before the expiry of the time specified therein, the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand rupees for each day during which such failure continues, subject to a maximum of five lakh rupees in the case of a company and two lakh rupees in case of an officer who is in default.]

(8) No right in relation to any share in respect of which a declaration is required to be made under this section but not made by the beneficial owner, shall be enforceable by him or by any person claiming through him.

(9) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prejudice the obligation of a company to pay dividend to its members under this Act and the said obligation shall, on such payment, stand discharged.

78 [(10) For the purposes of this section and section 90, beneficial interest in a share includes, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement or

73. In case of an unlisted public company which is licensed to operate by RBI or SEBI or IRDA from the International Financial Services Centre located in an approved multi services SEZ set-up under the SEZ Act, in sub-section (6) of section 89 for the words “thirty days” read as “sixty days”.—Notification No. GSR 8(E), dated 4-1-2017.

74.

75.

76.

77.

78.

In case of a private company which is licensed to operate by RBI or SEBI or IRDA from the International Financial Services Centre located in an approved multi services SEZ set-up under the SEZ Act, in sub-section (6) of section 89, for the words “thirty days” read as “sixty days”. —Notification No. GSR 9(E), dated 4-1-2017.

See rule 9 and Form Nos. MGT 4 to 6 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014.

See rule 12 and Table annexed to Companies (Registration Offices & Fees) Rules, 2014.

Words “, within the time specified under section 403” omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, w.e.f. 7-5-2018.

Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020, w.e.f. 21-12-2020. Prior to its substitution, sub-section (7), as amended by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, w.e.f. 7-5-2018, read as under : “(7) If a company, required to file a return under sub-section (6), fails to do so before the expiry of the time specified therein, the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than five hundred rupees but which may extend to one thousand rupees and where the failure is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to one thousand rupees for every day after the first during which the failure continues.”

Inserted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, w.e.f. 13-6-2018.

1.111

CH. VII - MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

S. 90

otherwise, the right or entitlement of a person alone or together with any other person to— (i) exercise or cause to be exercised any or all of the rights attached to such share; or (ii) receive or participate in any dividend or other distribution in respect of such share.]

78a [(11) The Central Government may, by notification, exempt any class or classes of persons from complying with any of the requirements of this section, except sub-section (10), if it is considered necessary to grant such exemption in the public interest and any such exemption may be granted either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as may be specified in the notification.]

[ Register of significant beneficial owners in a company81.

79 80

90. (1) Every individual, who acting alone or together, or through one or more persons or trust, including a trust and persons resident outside India, holds beneficial interests, of not less than twenty-five per cent or such other percentage as may be prescribed, in shares of a company or the right to exercise, or the actual exercising of significant influence or control as defined in clause (27) of section 2, over the company (herein referred to as “significant beneficial owner”), shall make a declaration to the company, specifying the nature of his interest and other particulars, in such manner and within such period of acquisition of the beneficial interest or rights and any change thereof, as may be prescribed82: Provided that the Central Government may prescribe a class or classes of persons who shall not be required to make declaration under this sub-section.

(2) Every company shall maintain a register of the interest declared by individuals under sub-section (1) and changes therein which shall include the name of individual, his date of birth, address, details of ownership in the company and such other details as may be prescribed83.

78a. Inserted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020, w.e.f. 22-1-2021.

79. Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, w.e.f. 13-6-2018. Prior to its substitution, section 90 read as under : “90. Investigation of beneficial ownership of shares in certain cases.—Where it appears to the Central Government that there are reasons so to do, it may appoint one or more competent persons to investigate and report as to beneficial ownership with regard to any share or class of shares and the provisions of section 216 shall, as far as may be, apply to such investigation as if it were an investigation ordered under that section.”

Earlier section 90, which corresponded to section 187D of the 1956 Act, was enforced with effect from 1-4-2014.

80. In case of Government Companies, section 90 shall not apply - Notification No. GSR 463(E), dated 5-6-2015.

81. See Companies (Significant Beneficial Owners) Rules, 2018.

82. See rule 3(1)/(2) and Form No. BEN 1 of Companies (Significant Beneficial Owners) Rules, 2018.

83. See rule 5(1) and Form No. BEN 3, ibid.

Companies Act 2013 | POCKET AUTHOR PUBLISHER DATE OF PUBLICATION EDITION ISBN NO NO. OF PAGES BINDING TYPE

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TAXMANN’S EDITORIAL BOARD TAXMANN JANUARY 2024 11TH EDITION 9789357789295 852 PAPERBACK

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Description This book is the most authentic & comprehensive book, in a small & handy format, on the Companies Act 2013. It covers the amended, updated & annotated text of the Companies Act 2013 [as amended upto date], along with provisions of other Acts referred to in Company Act 2013 and Words & Phrases judicially noticed.

This book is helpful for Legal Professionals, Company Secretaries, Corporate Executives, Academicians and Students of Law. The Present Publication is the 11th Edition and updated upto 25th December 2023. This book is edited by Taxmann’s Editorial Board, with the following noteworthy features: u

[Taxmann’s Series of Bestseller Compact Books] on Company Laws

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[Follows the Six-Sigma Approach] to achieve the benchmark of ‘zero error’

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[Guide/Short Commentary] on the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020

The contents of the book are as follows: u

u

Companies Act, 2013 

Arrangement of Sections



Annotated text of the Companies Act, 2013, as amended up to date



Appendix I: Provisions of other Acts referred to in Companies Act, 2013



Appendix II: Words & Phrases judicially noticed



Subject Index

Guide to Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 

Amendments made by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 at a Glance



Guide/Short Commentary on the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020

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