Tag Archives: Independent Director

CORONA AMENDMENTS UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013

Posted on March 27, 2020 | Leave a comment

We firstly ignore negative news going to effects us. Secondly, we undermine the impact. Third, we start fighting. Humanity since 2017 knew and ignored about 73 corona viruses waiting to affect humanity. It is changing our life and law. I wrote a post on initial restrictions going to impact corporate compliances on 13^th March 2020 which I considered now outdated. Here are measures the Ministry of Corporate Affairs announced:

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Posted in Chapter II - CA2013, Chapter IV - CA2013, Chapter XII - CA2013, Companies Act 2013

Tagged Board meeting, Board of Directors, Commencement of Business, Corona, COVID-19, DEPOSIT REPAYMENT RESERVE, Independent Director

COMPLIANCE BY INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Posted on November 1, 2019 | 3 comments

In the last post PROFICIENT INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, we discussed the introduction of “proficiency self – assessment test” by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Fifth Amendment Rules, 2019 gives teeth to the Companies (Creation and Maintenance of database of Independent Directors) Rules, 2019. We, in this post, will discuss the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Fifth Amendment Rules, 2019. More power is given by the Companies (Accounts) Amendment Rules, 2019.

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Posted in Chapter IX - CA2013, Chapter XI - CA2013, Companies Act 2013

Tagged Boards’ Report, IICA, Independent Director, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, proficiency self – assessment test, the Companies (Accounts) Amendment Rules 2019, the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Fifth Amendment Rules 2019, the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules 2014, The Companies (Creation and Maintenance of database of Independent Directors) Rules 2019

PROFICIENT INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Posted on October 25, 2019 | 1 comment

What else may be the name of the youngest profession on the block of Corporate India? The new test is here to hit test-taking taste bud of Indian professionals. Rule 4(a) of the Companies (Creation and Maintenance of database of Independent Directors) Rules, 2019 introduces silently the “proficiency self – assessment test”. Ministry of Corporate Affairs by notification G.S.R. 805(E) dated 22^nd October 2019 introduced these rules.

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Posted in Chapter XI - CA2013, Companies Act 2013

Tagged IICA, Independent Director, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, proficiency self – assessment test, the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules 2014, The Companies (Creation and Maintenance of database of Independent Directors) Rules 2019

MANAGERIAL REMUNERATION

Posted on September 21, 2018 | Leave a comment

[NOTE: The law stated in this post is effective from 12^th September 2018. For the law applicable from 1^st April 2014 till 11^th September 2018, please visit here and here.

In this post, we will discuss managerial remuneration. The managerial remuneration in case of inadequate profit shall be discussed in a future post, soon.

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Posted in Chapter XIII - CA2013, Companies Act 2013

Tagged Inadequate Profit, Independent Director, Key managerial personnel, Managerial Remuneration, Managing Director, Schedule V, Sitting Fee, Whole – time Director

No Sense Notice!!

Posted on August 3, 2018 | 1 comment

This is a very interesting query received recently.

One existing independent director is going to be retired at the conclusion of the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the company. The company (read management) do not want to renew the tenure of independent director. The name of another independent director has already been proposed by the management in the notice of the Annual General Meeting. Now, there is a proposal to call a Board Meeting just after (or next day) the conclusion of Annual General Meeting. As per the law and the articles of the company, there is a requirement of 7 days notice or 48 hours shorter notice for calling the Board Meeting. The outgoing independent director should receive notice of the Board Meeting. Will it really serve any purpose in law?

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Posted in Chapter XII - CA2013, Companies Act 2013

Tagged Board meeting, Independent Director, Notice of the Board Meeting

Designation and Category of Directors

Posted on December 8, 2017 | 2 comments

When an applicant files a form for incorporation of a company, we need to select the designation and category of first directors in incorporation Form 32 (popularly called Spice) or wherever company appoints a director. There are four different categories of directors. We will discuss confusion regarding these categories of directors.

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Posted in Chapter II - CA2013, Chapter XI - CA2013, Companies Act 2013

Tagged Additional Director, Alternate Director, chairman, chairperson, Director, Executive Director, Independent Director, Managing Dir, Managing Director, Nominee Director, Non - executive director, Professional Director, Promoter Director, Small shareholders’ Director, Whole – time Director

Amendments related to Board matters

Posted on July 28, 2017 | Leave a comment

Ministry of Corporate Affairs recently amended the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014 by notification of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Amendment Rules, 2017 on 5^th July 2017. A related amendment in the Companies (meetings of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014 was also made by notification of the Companies (meetings of Board and its Powers) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 for which published notification copy is yet not available.

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Posted in Chapter XI - CA2013, Chapter XII - CA2013, Companies Act 2013

Tagged Board of Directors, Committee of Board, Independent Director, Meeting through Audio Visual Means, Noting of dissent, Powers of Board, the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Amendment Rules 2017, the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules 2014, the Companies (meetings of Board and its Powers) Rules 2014, the Companies (meetings of Board and its Powers) Second Amendment Rules 2017

MCA introduces Limited Purpose Independent Director in private companies

Posted on April 1, 2015 | 7 comments

An amendment rules notified by MCA introduces concept of limited purpose independent director in private companies. Government is amending existing Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014. These rules are being criticised by various eminent jurist for trying to undermine authority of Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013. Sub – Section (1) of Section 135 mandate for at least one independent director in every company whether it is private or public company. Existing Rule 5 of CSR rules tries to undermine this provision of Section 135 by saying “an unlisted public company or a private company covered under sub-section (1) of section 135 which is not required to appoint an independent director pursuant to sub-section (4) of section 149 of the Act, shall have its CSR Committee without such director”. A rule being subordinate legislation has no constitutional authority to change a provision of the Act.

Amended Clause (i) of Sub – Rule (1) of Rule 5 reads, “an unlisted public company or a private company covered under sub-section (1) of section 135 shall have an independent director for being member of its CSR Committee and such independent director shall have no other duty, obligation and responsibility under the Act.” Consequently, Clause (i) of Sub – Rule (1) of Rule 5 also been deleted.

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Posted in Chapter XI - CA2013, Companies Act 2013, CSR, Governance and Responsibility, Prank

Tagged CSR Corpus, CSR Fund, Independent Director, India, MCA, Ministry of corporate affairs, Private Company, Registrar of Companies, The Companies (corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules 2014, The Companies Act 2013

INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

Posted on July 8, 2014 | 5 comments

According to Section 149 of the Act, every listed company shall have at least one-third of total number of directors as Independent directors. The central government may prescribe minimum number of independent directors in other class or classes of public companies. The Act deals with provisions related to independent directors in details as discussed earlier here.

According to Rule 4 companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules 2014, the following class or classes of companies shall have at least two directors as independent directors –

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Posted in Chapter XI - CA2013, Companies Act 2013, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility

Tagged ¬Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules 2014, Companies (Incorporation) Rules 2014, Companies Act 2013, Corporate Law, Independent Director, India, Ministry of corporate affairs

Quotes from Companies Bill debate in Rajya Sabha

Posted on August 14, 2013 | 2 comments

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

For every new law, legislative intent, which show it in debates taken place in Parliament, become important. These debates offer a guide while drafting subordinate legislation. There are many questions about future rules and regulations. I, here, compiled some important quotes from this debates from Rajya Sabha.[i][ii][iii]

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Posted in Companies Act 2013, CorpGov, CSR, Governance and Responsibility, Truth of Our Time

Tagged Auditor, Chartered Accountants, class-action suits, Companies Act 2013, Companies Bill 2012, CorpLaw, Corporate Law, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, Director, Ganguly Committee, Independent Director, India, Legal Reforms, Ministry of corporate affairs, Rajya Sabha, Reforms

Board Structure in Central Public Sector Enterprises

Posted on August 9, 2013 | Leave a comment

Central Public Enterprises in India are not simple business enterprises, but fall under definition of “State” under Article 12 of the Constitution of India. They are subject to Writ Jurisdiction. The Right to Information Act, 2005 is applicable to them.

The Law governing Central Public Sector Enterprises are complex mix of Guidelines/instructions issued by Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), the Companies Act, 1956 regulations of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Central Vigilance Commission, and administrative Ministry.

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Posted in Chapter XI - CA2013, Companies Act 2013, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility

Tagged Central Public Sector Enterprises, CorpGov, CorpLaw, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, CPSE. DPE, Director, DPE Guideline, Functional Director, Government Director, Independent Director, Nominee Director

Interests of Director and Related Party Transactions

Posted on June 7, 2013 | 15 comments

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

DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST BY DIRECTOR (SECTION 184, SUB SECTION 1):

Every director shall disclose his concern or interest in any company or companies or bodies corporate, firms, or other association of individuals which shall include the shareholdings, in such manner as may be prescribed. Such disclosure shall be made on three particular point of time:

(i) At the first meeting of the Board in which he participates as a director;

(ii) At the first meeting of the Board in every financial year; and

(iii) Whenever there is any change in the disclosures already made, then at the first Board meeting held after such change.

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Posted in Chapter XII - CA2013, Companies Act 2013, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility

Tagged Arms Length Transaction, Companies Bill 2012, CorpGov, CorpLaw, Corporate, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, Director, Disclosure of Interest, Independent Director, Interest, Legal Reforms, Office or Place of Profit, Reforms, Related Party, Related Party Transaction, Relative, RPT, Voidable Contract

POWER OF BOARD UNDER COMPANIES ACT 2013

Posted on May 31, 2013 | 5 comments

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

In February 2013, I wrote “FOOTSTEPS OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN COMPANIES BILL 2012” and thereafter try to cover all relevant topics related to Corporate Governance. Even though, day-to-day management of company is function of KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL (sometime designated as out of Board Directors); Board of Directors is indeed most Significant body, which virtually rule a company. Not only, APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATION OF DIRECTOR as well as their DUTIES, VACATION, RESIGNATION, REMOVAL are subject to close scrutiny by investors, professionals and regulators. Board of Directors has a set of Executive Directors who are APPOINTMENT and MANAGERIAL REMUNERATION has some other significant aspect of Corporate Governance. The Appointment of INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS is one of the most significant contributions of this Bill to Corporate Governance practices in India. This all-powerful company Board exercises its powers in BOARD MEETING but it has some statutory and other BOARD COMMITTEES. Now we will discuss Power of Board of Directors under present Bill.
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Posted in Chapter XII - CA2013, Companies Act 2013, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility

Tagged Accounts, Board Committee, Board of Directors, Board Powers, Boards’ Report, CG, Companies Bill 2012, Contribution to bona fide Charitable and other funds, Contribution to National Defence Fund, CorpGov, CorpLaw, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, Director, Independent Director, India, Legal Reforms, Ministry of corporate affairs, Political Contribution, Power of Board of Directors, Profit and Loss Account, Reforms, Resolutions in Board Meeting, Restrictions on Power of Board, Special Resolution

BOARD MEETING UNDER COMPANIES ACT 2013

Posted on May 24, 2013 | 4 comments

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

The Board of Directors is most powerful body in a company. The Corporate governance is until now is governance of the Board.

The Companies Bill 2012 has dedicated chapter i.e. Chapter XII dealing with Board meetings and its power. In this blog I will discuss Board Meetings and in a future post power of Board of Directors.

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Posted in Chapter XII - CA2013, Companies Act 2013, Company Secretary, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility, Secretarial Standards

Tagged Board of Directors, Board Resolution, Companies Bill 2012, CorpGov, CorpLaw, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, Director, Independent Director, Key managerial personnel, Manager, Managerial Remuneration, Managing Director, Minutes of Meeting, Notice, Quorum, Reforms, Related Party Transaction, Resolution by Circulation, Whole – time Director

BOARD COMMITTEES IN COMPANIES ACT 2013

Posted on May 17, 2013 | 7 comments

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

Delegation of Power is buzz word in this Companies Bill 2012. This delegation is not only from legislature to Executive but also from Board of Directors to its committees. Committees are not new to Indian Corporate Jurisprudence. Audit Committee was introduced in the present Companies Act, 1956 twelve years ago in year 2000. Schedule XII also has Remuneration committee.

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Posted in Chapter XII - CA2013, Companies Act 2013, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility

Tagged Accounts and Audit, Audit Committee, Board Committee, Board of Directors, Companies Bill 2012, CorpGov, CorpLaw, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, Cost Audit, CSR, CSR Committee, Director, Independent Director, Internal Audit, Investor grievances, Key managerial personnel, Legal Reforms, Managerial Remuneration, Managing Director, Ministry of corporate affairs, Nomination and Remuneration Committee, Reforms, Related Party Transaction, Stakeholders Relationship Committee, Statutory Audit, Whistle blower, Whole – time Director

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS IN COMPANIES ACT 2013

Posted on April 26, 2013 | 13 comments

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

When I was reading Section 149 of the Companies Bill, 2012 for an earlier post “Appointment and Qualification of Director”, I have not discussed provisions related to independent director. As mentioned in that post every listed company shall have at least one-third of total number of directors as Independent directors. The central government may prescribe minimum number of independent directors in other class or classes of public companies. Independent director is a genre of directors and all law related to duties, vacation, resignation, removal will also be applicable to them also. do not forget; they are not key managerial personnel or officer in default.

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Posted in Chapter XI - CA2013, Companies Act 2013, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility

Tagged Board Committee, Board of Directors, Code for Independent Directors, Companies Bill 2012, CorpGov, CorpLaw, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, Director, Independent Director, Independent Directors, India, Law, Legal Reforms, Liability of Independent Directors, Ministry of corporate affairs, Profession, Reforms, Related Party Transaction, Whistle blower

DIRECTOR: DUTIES, VACATION, RESIGNATION, REMOVAL

Posted on April 19, 2013 | 28 comments

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

In my last post, I stopped myself from further reading midway due to length of the post “Appointment and Qualification of Director”. Now, this is time to resume reading. Let us start with Additional Director, Alternate Director and Nominee Directors.

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Posted in Chapter XI - CA2013, Companies Act 2013, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility

Tagged Additional Director, Alternate Director, Board of Directors, Companies Bill 2012, CorpGov, CorpLaw, Corporate Law, Director, Director in Casual Vacancy, Duties of Directors, Independent Director, India, Legal Reforms, Ministry of corporate affairs, Nominee Director, Reforms, Removal of Director, Resignation of Director, Vacation of Office of Director, Whole – time Director

FOOTSTEPS OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN COMPANIES ACT 2013

Posted on February 8, 2013 | 4 comments

(UPDATE: on 30^th 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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Posted in Companies Act 2013, Company Secretary, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility

Tagged Audit Committee, Auditor, Board Committee, Boards’ Report, Chartered Accountant, Class Action, Companies Bill 2012, Company Secretary, CorpGov, CorpLaw, Corporate Governance, Director, Independent Director, India, National Financial Reporting Authority, NFRA, Nomination and Remuneration Committee, Profession, Related Party Transaction, Secretarial Audit, Stakeholders Relationship Committee

MY COMMENTS ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK PROPOSED BY SEBI

Posted on February 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

(UPDATE: on 30^th 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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Posted in Companies Act 2013, CorpGov, Governance and Responsibility, SEBI

Tagged Companies Bill 2012, Consultative Paper On Review Of Corporate Governance Norms In India, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, Independent Auditor, Independent Director, Indian, Ministry of corporate affairs, Profession, SEBI