Category Archives: Companies Act 2013

KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL


UPDATE: on 30th August 2013: Companies Bill 2012 became the Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013).

In any jurisdiction, Quality of Corporate Governance and compliance of ethics depends upon quality of people taking charge of the affairs. The companies Bill 2012 have some inbuilt elements of corporate governance in it. First time Concept of Key Managerial Personnel is being introduced in India. Which seems different with “officer who is in default” as that concept is still in this Bill.

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Rajya Sabha adjourned


This is customary that Parliament take a break in budget session. This generates public anger in this time when we have active judiciary and inactive legislature.

On 22nd March 2013, I mailed to a group of company secretaries:

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 22nd of April 2013. My glass is full of air and bubbles.”

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INTERNAL AUDIT AND COST AUDIT


(UPDATE: on 30th August 2013: Companies Bill became the Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013).

In this series of my blog post related to Companies Bill, 2012; I am writing this post about provision relating to internal and cost audits. The manner of appointment of auditors may affect independence of cost audit and good corporate governance. The bill addresses this issue very well.

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AUDITOR AND AUDITOR’S REPORT: DUTIES, POWER, PENALTIES.


(UPDATE: on 30th August 2013: Companies Bill, 2012became the Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013). )

In my last blog post auditor under companies Act, 2013: from appointment to removal, I discussed auditor his appointment, remuneration resignation and removal along with other incidental matters. In this post I will discuss power, duties and penalties related to auditors and audit report.

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AUDITOR UNDER COMPANIES ACT 2013: FROM APPOINTMENT TO REMOVAL


(UPDATE: on 30th August 2013: Companies Bill 2012 became the Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013).

Corporate Governance is a fundamental structure of all recent companies’ laws globally. True and fair Audits are core concern for corporate world and its regulators. While I was writing my earlier blog post “Footsteps of Corporate Governance in Companies Bill 2012 Companies Act, 2013”, I noticed that the Companies Bill, 2012 Act, 2013 has special concern for quality of audits. In my post “National Financial Reporting Authority” you may feel the depth of concern of our law makers about audits, which have already been forced accounting and auditing regulator, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, for introspection.

In this series of my blog post related to Companies Bill, 2012 Act, 2013; I am writing about provision relating to auditors. The manner of appointment of auditors may affect independence of audit. The bill Act addresses this issue very well.

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NATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING AUTHORITY


(UPDATE: on 30th August 2013: Companies Bill became the Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013). Post updated accordingly)

One of the foremost step for improving corporate governance since birth of concept of corporate governance is improving quality of accounting and auditing of companies. Audit Committee is one of these measures, which has been taken to improve standard of financial reporting. But concerns related to quality of financial reporting are not new. We can trace these concerns in earlier legislation, all earlier versions of the Companies Act in general and the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949. Without going deep in these laws, we simply say; what was otherwise need to enact such Act to regulate a profession of accounting and auditing, standardizing whole process of accounting and auditing.

The National Financial Reporting Authority is a quasi – judicial body to regulate matters related to accounting and auditing. With increasing demand of non – financial reporting, I may safely predict, a National Business Reporting Authority to regulate standards of all kind of reporting, financial as well as non – financial, from companies in near future.

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FOOTSTEPS OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN COMPANIES ACT 2013


(UPDATE: on 30th August 2013: Companies Bill became the Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013). Post updated accordingly)

In my blog post titled “Corporate Governance: Regulatory Frameworks under Consideration” I mentioned that some of the provisions related to corporate governance and voluntary guideline on corporate governance issued by Ministry of Corporate Governance has been incorporated into new Companies Bill, 2012 [now, the Companies Act, 2013]. In this post, I will examine these provisions and their effect on corporate governance.

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MY COMMENTS ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK PROPOSED BY SEBI


(UPDATE: on 30th August 2013: Companies Bill became the Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013).

I have mailed my comments on corporate governance framework proposed by SEBI in “Consultative Paper on Review of Corporate Governance Norms in India” and SEBI has acknowledged the receipt. You can read summary of this framework at my earlier blog here if not already read it.  Now, I am producing a copy my comments as my initiative towards healthy debate, here:

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ROLE OF COMPANY SECRETARIES IN PRACTICE UNDER COMPANIES Act, 2013


(UPDATE: on 30th August 2013: Companies Bill became the Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013). This post Updated Accordingly).

The Companies Law is one of the most important and comprehensive legislation after the Constitution of the Nation. This directly indirectly affects all citizens. This bill has 470 Sections and 7 Schedules.  This bill provides basis and flexible framework. The Bill has leaved so many matters for subordinate legislation; rules, regulation, circulars etc.

This is very clear this time that there are remarkable scope for professionals, practicing professionals particularly Company Secretaries in practice. We will know real position when all rules and regulations notified after passing and notification of present bill as an Act.

Presently we may discuss, role of Company Secretaries under Companies Bill, 2012 as it is the Companies Act, 2013.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS UNDER CONSIDERATION


After introduction and passing of Companies Bill 2012 in Lok Sabha, many changes in corporate governance scenario is bound to happen. Many provisions of Clause 49 of listing agreement, which deals with corporate governance in listed companies, are being brought into main law to fill governance gap between listed companies and their other counterparts.  Following provisions have been added into present Companies Bill:

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Experience with electronic governance under MCA21


E-Governance is application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for delivering government services, exchange of information communication transactions, integration various stand-one systems and services between Government-to-Citizens (G2C), Government-to-Business(G2B), Government-to-Government( G2G) as well as back office processes and interactions within the entire government frame-work. [i] E-Governance is beneficial to provide a corruption free administrative service to citizens and other stakeholders. The essence of E-governance is to serve intended person easily and faster. There should be an auto-response system to support the essence of E-governance, whereby the Government realizes the efficacy of its governance. Best form of E-governance cuts down on unwanted interference of too many layers while delivering governmental services.

There are many electronic governance projects run by government of India. The target users of all these projects come from different segment of public and have different education standards. When these e-governance projects target grassroots level, its success depend not only designers and developers of such electronic governance projects but much upon cooperation and understanding of its end users. Such project always faces critical evaluation by its users and scholars.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India, has initiated the MCA21 project, which enables easy and secure access to MCA services in an assisted manner for corporate entities, professionals, and general public. The MCA21 project is designed to fully automate all processes related to enforcement and compliance of the legal requirements under the Companies Act, 1956 Government within a day’s time.[ii] Majority of stake holders of this project are professionals and business houses.

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Pass Companies Bill, 2011


Here are details of my petition to pass Companies Bill, 2011:

Petition title:                                                                                         

Pass (Indian) Companies Bill, 2011

Addressed to:

  1. Dr. M. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Corporate Affairs, Government of India
  2. Shri Yashwant Sinha, Chairperson, Committee on Finance, Parliament of India

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