The Companies Amendment Bill 2020 - Impact on Penalties / Fine / Imprisonment



Quick Summary
The Companies Amendment Bill 2020 introduces significant changes to penalties for non-compliance across various sections. Several sections, including those concerning the formation of companies with charitable objects, prospectus issuance, and securities trading, now carry substantial fines for companies and potential imprisonment or hefty fines for defaulting officers. Some previous penalties have been omitted or modified, such as the variation of shareholders' rights and rectification of the register of members, while others, like alterations to share capital, have seen adjustments in daily penalties.

1. Section - 8(11) - Formation of Companies with Charitable Objects, etc.

AFTER AMENDMENT

If a company makes any default in complying with any of the requirements laid down in this section, the company shall, without prejudice to any other action under the provisions of this section, be punishable with fine which shall not be less than ten lakh rupees but which may extend to one crore rupees and the directors and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand rupees but which may extend to twenty-five lakh rupees, or with both "twenty five lakh rupees":

Provided that when it is proved that the affairs of the company were conducted fraudulently, every officer in default shall be liable for action under section 447.

Companies Amendment Bill 2020: Fines and Penalties

2. Section - 26(9)(a) - Matters to be Stated in Prospectus

AFTER AMENDMENT

If a prospectus is issued in contravention of the provisions of this section, the company shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to three lakh rupees and every person
who is knowingly a party to the issue of such prospectus shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to
three lakh rupees, or with both "three lakh rupees''

3. Section - 40(5) - Securities to be Dealt with in Stock Exchanges

AFTER AMENDMENT

If a default is made in complying with the provisions of this section, the company shall be punishable with a fine which shall not be less than five lakh rupees but which may extend to fifty lakh rupees and every officer of the
company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to three lakh rupees, or with both "three lakh rupees"

4. Section - 48(5) - Variation of Shareholders' Rights

BEFORE AMENDMENT

Where any default is made in complying with the provisions of this section, the company shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand rupees but which may extend to five 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 five lakh rupees, or with both.

AFTER AMENDMENT

Omitted 

 

5. Section - 56(6) - Transfer and Transmission of Securities

BEFORE AMENDMENT

Where any default is made in complying with the provisions of sub-sections (1) to (5), the company shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees.

AFTER AMENDMENT

"(6) Where any default is made in complying with the provisions of sub-sections (1) to (5), the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of fifty thousand rupees.".

6. Section 59 (5) - Rectification of Register of Members.

BEFORE AMENDMENT

If any default is made in complying with the order of the Tribunal under this section, the company shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to three lakh rupees, or with both.

AFTER AMENDMENT

Omitted

7. Section - 64(2) - Notice to be Given to Registrar for Alteration of Share Capital

BEFORE AMENDMENT

Where any company fails to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1), such company and every officer who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand rupees for each day during which such default continues, or five lakh rupees whichever is less.

AFTER AMENDMENT

Where any company fails to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1), such company and every officer who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand rupees five hundred rupees for each day during which such default continues, or five lakh rupees whichever is less subject to a maximum of five lakh rupees in case of a company and one lakh rupees in case of an officer who is in default.

 

8. Section - 66(11) - Reduction of Share Capital

BEFORE AMENDMENT

If a company fails to comply with the provisions of sub-section (4), it shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than five lakh rupees but which may extend to twenty-five lakh rupees.

AFTER AMENDMENT

Omitted

9. Section-68(11) - Power of Company to Purchase its Own Securities

AFTER AMENDMENT

If a company makes any default in complying with the provisions of this section or any regulation made by the Securities and Exchange Board, for the purposes of clause (f) of sub-section (2), the company shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to three lakh rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to three lakh rupees, or with both "three lakh rupees"

10. Section - 71(11) - Debentures

BEFORE AMENDMENT

If any default is made in complying with the order of the Tribunal under this section, every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which shall not be less than two lakh rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees, or with both.

AFTER AMENDMENT

Omitted

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FAQ :

Companies making default in complying with requirements for formation with charitable objects face a fine of not less than ten lakh rupees, extending up to one crore rupees. Defaulting directors and officers may receive imprisonment up to three years or fines between twenty-five thousand and twenty-five lakh rupees, or both.

If a prospectus is issued in contravention, the company faces a fine of not less than fifty thousand rupees, up to three lakh rupees. Individuals knowingly party to the issue may be imprisoned for up to three years or fined between fifty thousand and three lakh rupees, or both.

A default in complying with rules for securities to be dealt with in stock exchanges now incurs a fine for the company of not less than five lakh rupees, up to fifty lakh rupees. Defaulting officers face imprisonment up to one year or fines between fifty thousand and three lakh rupees, or both.

The penalties for default in complying with the provisions regarding the variation of shareholders' rights have been omitted under the Companies Amendment Bill 2020.

Yes, for defaults in complying with provisions for transfer and transmission of securities, both the company and defaulting officers are now liable to a penalty of fifty thousand rupees.

For failure to comply with notice requirements for alteration of share capital, the penalty is one thousand five hundred rupees per day of default, capped at five lakh rupees for the company and one lakh rupees for an officer in default.


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About the Author

Practicing Compnay Secretary

CAREER PROFILE He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Companies Secretaries of India having intense expertise in Corporate Law for the last 8 years. He is a young and progressive Practicing Company Secretary with zeal to dig deep into the nuances of Corporate Laws. Being a researcher at heart, he has done ... Read more

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