Depreciation policies

No. Branches cannot follow separate depreciation policy because choosing of method to be employed for depreciation is a policy decesion but the rate and the other aspects regarding computation and charging of depreciation are set out by the concerned authorities which has to be uniformly applied to all the units of the entity.

Method and rates of depreciation to be followed for branch fixed assets is to be decided by HO of the company. These can be different from the method and rates followed for HO assets if HO Accounts so decides (the decision making power is with HO and not with branches). This can be done if HO Accounts can justify a different method and different rates and these are in compliance with AS - 6 and Schedule XIV of the Companies Act.

i guess, a entity (may have multiplr btanches under same entity) should have same depreciation policies. 

As per para 12 of AS 6 combination of different methods (different accounting policies) can be adopted by the enterprise as per para 12 of AS 6 . which is reproduced below