Tag Archives: Independent Director

CORONA AMENDMENTS UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013


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I wrote a post on initial restrictions going to impact corporate compliances on 13th March 2020 which I considered now outdated. Here are measures the Ministry of Corporate Affairs announced:

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COMPLIANCE BY INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS


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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PROFICIENT INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS


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 22nd October 2019 introduced these rules.

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MANAGERIAL REMUNERATION


[NOTE: The law stated in this post is effective from 12th September 2018. For the law applicable from 1st April 2014 till 11th 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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No Sense Notice!!


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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Designation and Category of Directors


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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Amendments related to Board matters


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 5th 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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MCA introduces Limited Purpose Independent Director in private companies


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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INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR


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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Quotes from Companies Bill debate in Rajya Sabha


UPDATE: on 30th 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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Board Structure in Central Public Sector Enterprises


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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Interests of Director and Related Party Transactions


UPDATE: on 30th 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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BOARD MEETING UNDER COMPANIES ACT 2013


UPDATE: on 30th 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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BOARD COMMITTEES IN COMPANIES ACT 2013


UPDATE: on 30th 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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INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS IN COMPANIES ACT 2013


 (UPDATE: on 30th 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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DIRECTOR: DUTIES, VACATION, RESIGNATION, REMOVAL


UPDATE: on 30th 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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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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