Provision of compromise and mismanagement dealing with companies act 1956 was section a. However, in order to invoke the provisions of sections 397398, the petitioners must demonstrate their standing under section 399. Minority rights on oppression and mismanagement under companies act, 1956 and companies bill, 2011 free download as pdf file. Prevention of oppression and mismanagement under the. Oppression and mismanagement does the law need a revamp. Top 10 rulings delivered by high courts during 201416 on. This protection to the oppressed minority is also statutorily provided under sections 241 and 242 of the companies act, 20. The chapter xvi of the company act clearly specifies who can raise a complaint and under which circumstances a complaint may be raised of oppression and mismanagement. Harbottle majority rule according to lord keith oppression means, lack of morality and fair dealings in the affairs of the company, which may be prejudicial to some members of the company. A company is an association of individuals working with a common aim to achieve the purpose of the formation of the company and to earn maximum profit. This provision was earlier section 3971 of the companies act, 1956. The nclt under the ca, 20 is vested with a wide range of reliefs in respect of issues dealing with oppression and mismanagement. There are difference of interests and opinions among individuals which results in forming of. As india is a democratic country, the companies being a legal citizen also bestows in itself the power of democracy.
Power of company law board to prevent change in board of directors likely to affect. How to ascertain oppression under section 397 of companies act, 1956. These terms are not defined under the companies act 20 and are left. Ascertaining oppression under section 397 of companies act. Class action is one of the youngest additions to indian jurisprudence particularly, in indian corporate jurisprudence. The members pass resolutions on various subjects either by simple majority or by special majority. Prevention of oppression and mismanagement under the companies act, 1956, application to tribunal for relief in cases of. Rejects arbitration route for disputes in petitioner cos affairs, upholds sec 397398 course delhi h dismisses writ petition challenging l order, whereby petitioners application us 8 of arbitration and onciliation act, 1996 was dismissed. The provisions relating to oppression and mismanagement are in chapter xvi of the companies. Powers of government to prevent oppression or mismanagement. Companies bill 2012 became the companies act, 20 act 18 of 20.
Secondly, section 406 of the companies act, 1956 read with section 543 of the act set forth in schedule xi enables company law board to book delinquent directors, managers and. Section 399, which deals with the right to apply under sections 397 and 398, says. The 1956 act did not cover past aspects of oppression but acts. The concept of oppression and mismanagement can be found in section 241 of the companies act, 20 20 act. Maintainability of petition seeking relief in cases of. I am of the opinion that the company law is very very complicated world wide in view of its complicated structure, scheme and various stake holders. Arbitration of oppression and mismanagement disputes. The clb, under the act, is vested with powers to grant a wide range of reliefs against oppression and mismanagement.
Cyrus mistry late last year as the chairman of tata group and the subsequent oppression and mismanagement petition filed by the mistry group against the tatas before nclt has brought into foray, the intense debate and interpretative approach towards provisions dealing with oppression and mismanagement under the statute, i. Prevention of oppression and mismanagement under companies. Both the groups being equally strong one is unable to oppress the. Section 399 of companies act, 1956 deals with the issue of qualification to file an application under section 397398 of companies act, 1956 seeking appropriate relief when there exists oppression and mismanagement in the company. There should be a provision in chapter vii of the companies act, 1956 for levy of a penalty on those who flout the law with impunity, in addition to whatever settlement may be effected. Addition of respondents to application under section 397 or 398 powers of government to prevent oppression or mismanagement. However, prevention of oppression and mismanagement is an exception to this rule. Minority protection prevention of oppression and mismanagement under companies act, 1956. Minority rights on oppression and mismanagement under companies act, 1956 and companies bill, 2011. Use this tool to calculate elgibility for filing application for oppression and mismanagment under the companies bill 20. The section which covers oppression and mismanagement is 241 of companies act 20 and chapter xvi which corresponds to a clubbed section of 397 and 398 of the erstwhile companies act, 1956.
Relief and prevention of mismanagement law teacher. In coming to this conclusion, the clb has also noted that to provide relief in circumstances of oppression mismanagement it has wider powers under section 402 of the companies act. Arbitrability of oppression and mismanagement in india. Section 241 of the act, which corresponds to section 397 of companies act, 1956 old act provides the circumstances in which any member of a company or the central government can apply to the national company law tribunal nclttribunal for relief in cases of oppression and mismanagement. A company may be well adhering to the corporate practice through minutes, registers, filing documents with the registrar of companies roc and still it might have indulged in serious acts of oppression and mismanagement. Mismanagement and oppression are covered under section 241, chapter xvi of the companies act, 20 which corresponds to section 397 and 398 of the earlier companies act, 1956. While the companies act, 1956 deals with this topic in chapter vi. In all cases under section 397398 of the companies act, 1956, the parties concerned should provide all the necessary. No relief under either of the section can be granted if the act complained of is a solitary action of the majority. Effective from 1st june, 2016 1 any member of a company who complains that a the affairs of the company have been or are being conducted in a manner prejudicial to public interest or in a manner prejudicial or oppressive to him or. The whole scheme of the companies act, 1956 is to ensure proper conduct of the affairs of the company in public interest and preservation of image of country in public interest. The members pass resolutions on various subjects either by.
A company is defined as a voluntary association of persons formed for the purpose of doing business, having a distinct name and limited liability. Application to tribunal under the 1956 act, the clb was empowered to grant relief against oppression and mismanagement. Oppression and mismanagement drafting of petitions, stages. Arbitrability of oppression and mismanagement petitions in.
Companies act provides for statutory reliefs in cases of oppression and. Sections 177, 255, 256 and 263 not to apply in relation to companies not carrying business for profit, etc. The tribunal justified the act under section 402 of the companies act, 1956 which states that. Law on oppression or mismanagement us 397, 398 companies. Oppression and mismanagement under companies act, 20. Consent of candidate for directorship to be filed with the company and consent to act as director to be filed with the registrar. Provisions section 244 is a section determining who can become a complainant to raise cause of action under section 241, section 241 is a section giving rise cause of action to the complainant qualified us. Oppression and mismanagement drafting of petitions. Pdf on feb 29, 2020, amit kumar and others published scope of sections 397 and 398 of companies act 1956. The principle of rule by majority has been applicable to the management of the affairs of the companies. In the latest companies act, 20 chapter xvi deals with the topic of prevention of oppression and mismanagement.
The companies act, 20 lays down the provision to make an application against the oppression under section 241. Remedies for oppression and mismanagement under section 397 and 398 of the companies act, 1956 provide for some relief to shareholders. This statutory protection for prevention of oppression and mismanagement is an alternative remedy for winding up of the affairs of the company. In the companies act, 1956 this provision is discussed in two parts. Mjk private limited has two group of shareholders, one foreign shareholders holding 55% and one indian. The study of various judgments of high court and supreme court under section 397398 of companies act, 1956 speak volumes about the complications in dealing with the cases of oppression and mismanagement under section 397398 of companies act, 1956. Minority rights on oppression and mismanagement under. I have earlier written some articles dealing the issue of oppression and mismanagement under section 397398 of companies act, 1956. Class action aims to prevent oppression and mismanagement in companies.
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