Companies Act, 2013 has amended time and again to keep up with the dynamics of capital markets. This article discusses some of the major amendments and developments in the law.
2019 Amendment
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (the MCA) in the month of January & February 2019 issued the following amendments notification under the Companies Act 2013 (the Act):
“a. Changes in Companies (Significant Beneficial Owners) Rules 2018 to identify individuals/entities having significant control over the affairs of a company
b. Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 mandating all the companies incorporated prior to 31 December 2017 to upload all their particulars of various compliances including details of registered office in Form INC 22A Active.
c. Specified Companies (Furnishing of information about payment to micro and small enterprise suppliers) Order, 2019, mandating all the companies who receives goods or services from MSME and the payment for which is not made within 45 days from the date of acceptance or the date of deemed acceptance of goods or services from MSME to report such transactions in MSME Form I.
d. Changes in Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014 mandating all companies to file a return of deposits in Form DPT 3 with the MCA, furnishing information about file the transactions that has not been considered as deposit or both under the Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules 2014 (Deposit Rules).”
The Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020
On 20th September, the Lok Sabha passed a bill that seeks to decriminalise certain offences under the Companies Act, 2013, in case of defaults but not involving frauds.
Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman states that there are currently around 124 penal provisions compare to 134 under the Companies Act, 2013. Stressing that there will be no relaxation for serious offences, including fraud and those that cause “injury to public interest or deceit”, the minister said the number of “non-compoundable” offences under the Act remains the same at 35.
The bill removes the penalty, imprisonment for certain offenses, and reduces the amount of fine payable in certain cases. However, Under the Act, one-person companies or small companies are only liable to pay up to 50% of the penalty for certain offences.
The Bill empowers the Centre in consultation with the SEBI, to exclude companies issuing specified classes of securities from the definition of a “listed company”. The Bill also exempts companies with a CSR liability of up to Rs 50 lakh a year from setting up CSR Committees.
The Act requires companies to file certain resolutions with the Registrar of Companies, which include resolutions of the Board of Directors of the company to borrow money, or grant loans. However, banking companies are exempt from filing resolutions pass to grant loans or to provide guarantees or security for a loan. This exemption has extended to registered nonbanking financial companies and housing nance companies.
The Bill seeks to establish benches of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal in New Delhi and empower the central government to allow certain classes of public companies to list classes of securities in foreign jurisdictions.
Companies (Meetings of Board and its Powers) Second Amendments Rules, 2020
These rules were introduce by MCA Notification No. G.S.R. 395(E) dated 23th June, 2020 as a way to introduce amendment in Rule 4 (2) of Companies (Meetings of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014.
Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Third Amendments Rules, 2020.
These rules were introduced by MCA Notification No. G.S.R. 396(E). dated 23rd June 2020 as a way to introduce amendment in Rule 6 of Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors), Rules, 2014.
“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 Amendments Rules, 2019, shall within a period of “10 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 of one year, or five year, or for his life time and from time to time take steps as specified in sub-rule(2) till he continues to hold office of an independent director in any Company.”[1]
MCA General Circular No. 22/2020 Dated: 15.06.2020
The above circular was introduce for Extension in date of EGM through VC or OAVM from 30th June 2020 to 30th September, 2020.
As per this circular it has been decided to allow companies to conduct their EGMs through VC or OAVM or transact items through postal ballot in accordance with the framework provided in aforesaid Circulars up to 30th September 2020.
Extension in the period for name reservation and resubmission of forms
The above circular was introduced on 22nd June, 2020. Following are the highlights:
i. Names reserved for 20 days for new company incorporation. SPICe+ Part B needs to filed within 20 days of name reservation.
ii. Names reserved for 60 days for change of name of company. INC-24 needs to filed within 60 days of name reservation.
iii. Extension of RSUB validity for companies.
iv. Names reserved for 90 days for new LLP incorporation/change of name. FiLLiP/Form 5 needs to file within 90 days of name reservation.
v. RSUB validity extension for LLPs
vi. Extension for marking IEPF-5 SRNs to ‘Pending for Rejection u/r 7(3)’ and ‘Pending for Rejection u/r 7(7)’
Case Analysis
Shashi Prakash Khemka V. NEPC Micon & Others.
In Shashi Prakash Khemka V. NEPC Micon & Others, the Supreme Court of India, in deciding whether a question relating to the transfer of shares should be adjudicated by the Civil Courts or the Company Law Board, held that the jurisdiction of the Civil Courts is entirely exempt from the cases in which jurisdiction has been conferred on the National Company Law Tribunal.
In that case, the issue in question was claim to be the title of the shares. Thus, the Civil Courts should have jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. Although, setting aside the Madras High Court’s judgement. The Court observed that, because Section 430 of the Companies Act 2013 is broadly word. Relegating the parties to a civil suit would not be an acceptable remedy.
For the reason that there is traditionally a conflict between the Civil Courts. The courts empowered under the Indian Companies Act. In terms of jurisdiction when it comes to adjudication of company law matters, this decision assumes significance.
SAS Hospitality Pvt Ltd v Surya Constructions Pvt Ltd.
The issue of jurisdiction as to whether a Civil Court or the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Act came up for consideration before the Delhi High Court in SAS Hospitality Pvt Ltd v Surya Constructions Pvt Ltd[2].
In its order, the Court found that the NCLT had exclusive competence. Lawsuit, the defendant, SAS Hospitality, filed a lawsuit seeking to declare that the allocation of shares of Surya Constructions. To five investors is null and void. In the action, the defendants challenged the Civil Court’s authority. To, adjudicate the matter and claim instead that the NCLT was the proper venue.
Although the Court held that the NCLT was the appropriate venue for adjudicating the case. It made important observations with regard to the jurisdictional aspects.
Comments
Post a Comment
Share your views