Section 164 of the companies act, 2013

Co Act 2013 17353 views 15 replies

Dear All,
 

As the new Companies Act, 2013 has made it mandatory to file both, annual accounts and annual return (Earlier it was "Or" meaning thereby if any of them is filed, Directors shall not be disqualified) with the Registrar of Companies, I have the following queries:
 

1) Shall the period of 3 consecutive years be calculated in respect of financial years commencing on or after this date i.e. 01st April, 2014 only or the directors of those companies who have not filed their financial statements or annual returns for 3 consecutive financial years prior to this date, shall also incur disqualification?
 

2) Shall the director of such a company which has not filed their financial statements or annual returns be disqualified to hold directorship in any other company with immediate effect?
 

3) Is there any moratorium period during which the default committed by the company can be made good and the director of such company is saved from the disqualification?
 

4) What are the implications if the office of director become vacant under section 167 of the Companies Act, 2013?

Thanks and Regards,

Honey Sharma

Replies (15)

1) No cushion period has been provided in the Section to existing companies.  Hence even past period of default will be considered for the purpose of Sec.164(2).  However, such disqualification will arise only at the time of reappointment and not before that.

 

2) No.  Sec.164(2) says that he will not be eligible to be appointed in other company.  It does not say that he will cease to be a director in other companies also.

 

3) No.

 

4) You have to file return with ROC on his ceasing to be a director and make entry in register of directors.  You can take steps for filling vacancy in the Board.

 

Dear Sir,

Many Thanks for making effort to resolve the query.

However, as you have mentioned in :

(i) Point no.1 that disqualification shall arise only at the time of re-appointment and not before that and

(ii) Point no.2 that the director shall continue to hold office in other companies in which he holds office as director and he shall not be appointed as director in any new company,

Section 167 requires the immediate vacation of office of such a director who have incurred disqualification as such under Section 164.

The relevant extract is reproduced below:

167. (1) The office of a director shall become vacant in case—

(a) he incurs any of the disqualifications specified in section 164;

Please explain as to whether he would vacate office from all the companies in which he holds office as director including the company for default of which he has incurred the disqualification (non-filing of accounts or annual returns).

Thanks and Regards,

Honey Sharma

 

 

 

Sec.164(2) puts restriction on reappointment as a director of defaulting  company.  It does not provide that he will immediately cease to be a director.  Hence in my view disqualification will arise only at the time of reappointment and not before that.  Accordingly, Sec.167(1)(a) will also get attracted at the time of reapppointment only.

 

Dear Sir,

 

WIll the disqualification applies to all types of companies i.e. Public Limited Companies & Private Limited Companies ?

Yes, disqualification u/sec.164 applies to both public company and private. However, a private company may specify additional diqualification in its AOA.

 

Dear Sir,

I too have a bit similar query to this. Kindly give your valueble inputs on my below mentioned query:

 

Facts:

 

  • Company ABC (India) has issued 8% compulsory convertible debentures (CCDs) to its parent company XYZ (Israel) in Jul-12.

 

  • As per the agreement, Company ABC (India) accrued the interest at regular interval of time but failed to pay the same to the Company XYZ (Israel) periodically.

 

  • The same CCDs was later on converted on fully paid equity shares in Mar-2014.

 

  • Total interest accrued on CCDs from the date of issuance till their conversion into fully paid equity shares was paid in a singly instalment to VeriFone Israel in Jan-2015.

 

 

Issues:

 

  • As per provision of section 164 (2) of Companies Act, 2013,

 

  •  A Director shall be disqualified for reappointment/ appointment if the following default continues for a year or more  

 

  1. failed to repay the deposits accepted, or interest thereon

 

  1. failed to redeem any debentures on the due date, or interest thereon

 

  • So the basis of plain reading of this section 164 (2), since the payment of interest on CCDs was delayed beyond due date and the default continued for more than 1 year, so it appears that all the directors of VeriFone India cannot be reappointed or appointed in any other company.

 

  • Also there is another section 167 of companies act, 2013, which says that if any director incurs disqualification under section 164, then shall required to vacate the office.

 

I guess the question that I really need an answer for is that whether the default period should be considered to be commenced from 2012-13 or from 1st Apr 2014 since when new Companies Act 2013 came into existence since there were no such disqualification in Companies Act, 1956

 

Thanks & Regards.

Mr Honey Sharma...please check the provision once again..it was mandatory before to file annual return and annual accounts.."and" is replaced by "or".Thanks

Dear Learned, 

Kindly clarify on the difference between the tern RESIGNATION and VACATION of office.

I understand that form DIR-11 has to be filed by a director who is RESIGNING from a company under section 168(1) pursuant to Rule 16 of the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.

Does a vacation of office under Section 167 tantamount to resignation and imply filing of DIR-11 or is it enough if the concerned comapny can file the DIR-12 alone and the director be advised not to file DIR-11.

The issue in filing DIR-11 is that the director being a DEFAULTING DIRECTOR, is not able to affix his signature in the form.

Thanking you in advance.

ALLIED SECTIONS - 164,167,168 of the CA 2013 & Rule 16 of the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014

Originally posted by : P C Agrawal
Sec.164(2) puts restriction on reappointment as a director of defaulting  company.  It does not provide that he will immediately cease to be a director.  Hence in my view disqualification will arise only at the time of reappointment and not before that.  Accordingly, Sec.167(1)(a) will also get attracted at the time of reapppointment only.

 

But Sir, the Section 167 quotes as -

 "If a person, functions as a director even when he knows that the office of director held by him has become vacant on account of any of the disqualifications specified in subsection (1), he 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 five lakh rupees, or with both."

So, doesn't it mean it comes to effect as soon as the Act has come into force.?

Originally posted by : Dipak S Kapadia
Mr Honey Sharma...please check the provision once again..it was mandatory before to file annual return and annual accounts.."and" is replaced by "or".Thanks

whether the disqualification also applies to LLP, if any LLP has not filed form 8 & Form 11 for last 3 years with Roc. mean to say if LLP has defaulted whether this amounts to disqualification of director in private limited.pl.advise

 

Dear Aravindh,

Please note that the beginning text of Form DIR-11 states the following:

"Notice is hereby given that, ____________________________, the director of M/s. ___________________________ has/have resigned from the office of director of the company with effect from ___________________"

Further, in other points as well the details specifically mentioning resignation have been asked for and mention of vacation is nowhere.

Therefore, to my opinion, if there is vacation of office filing of DIR-11 is not required.

Mr. Deepak and Mr. Vinesh Shah,

I admit my mistake. Request you to suggest the way out accordingly.

Thanks and Regards,

Ms. Honey Sharma

Respected Learned Personas,

Kindly resolve my query wrt., section 164(2); if a Pvt. Co.has not done its annual filing since 2012-13, then the directors have to vacate their office.. pl let me know from which date shall they be liable to vacate their office and whats the remedy so that annal filing of such company can be done.

Being a pvt ltd small Co the directors are not liable to reire by rotation nor they are to be reappointed.

If the old directors have to appoint the new directors; will they be appointed as additional directors.. and then can the old directors be reappointed in the same Co.. 

Pls resolve

 

Hi sir,

what if the company doesn't have retirement clause for managing directors and directors


CCI Pro

Leave a Reply

Your are not logged in . Please login to post replies

Click here to Login / Register