Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ep Module 1 Dec19 Ns
Ep Module 1 Dec19 Ns
EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
(New Syllabus)
DECEMBER 2019
MODULE 1
ICSI House, 22, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110 003
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These answers have been written by competent persons
and the Institute hope that the GUIDELINE ANSWERS will
assist the students in preparing for the Institute's
examinations. It is, however, to be noted that the answers
are to be treated as model answers and not as exhaustive
and the Institute is not in any way responsible for the
correctness or otherwise of the answers compiled and
published herein.
C O N T E N T S
Page
MODULE 1
Question 1
(a) Discuss the ‘‘Doctrine of Stare Decisis’’, under the sources of law.
(b) Rajasthan Legislature passed a law restricting the use of sound amplifiers. The
law was challenged on the ground that it deals with a matter which falls in entry
81 of List-I under the Constitution of India which reads :
‘‘Post and telegraphs, telephones, wireless broadcasting and other like forms of
communication’’ and therefore, the State Legislature was not competent to pass
it. Examine the proposition in the light of ‘‘Pith and Substance Rule’’ referring
the case law on this point.
(c) Describe ‘‘Arbitration Agreement’’ specified under Section 7 of the Arbitration
and Conciliation Act, 1996.
(d) Describe the ‘‘Rule of Reasonable Construction’’ under the Interpretation of
Statutes. (5 marks each)
Answer 1(a)
The doctrine of stare decisis means adherence to the past decision and do not
unsettle things which are established. It is a useful doctrine intended to bring about
certainty and uniformity in the law. Under the stare decisis doctrine, a principle of law
which has become settled by a series of decisions generally is binding on the courts and
should be followed in similar cases. In simple words, the principle means that like cases
should be decided alike. This doctrine is based on public policy. Although doctrine
should be strictly adhered to by the Courts, it is not universally applicable. The doctrine
should not be regarded as a rigid and inevitable doctrine which must be applied at the
cost of justice.
Answer 1(b)
The Rule of Pith and Substance means that where a law in reality and substance
falls within an item on which the legislature which enacted that law is competent to
legislate, then such law shall not become invalid merely because it incidentally touches
a matter outside the competence of legislature.
Acting on Entry 6 of List II of the Constitution of India which reads — Public Health
and Sanitation, Rajasthan Legislature passed a law restricting the use of sound
amplifiers. The law was challenged on the Schedule VII, entry 31 of List I of the
Constitution of India deals with "Post and telegraphs, telephones, wireless broadcasting
and other like forms of communication, and, therefore, the State Legislature was not
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competent to pass it. The Supreme Court rejected this argument on the ground that the
object of the law was to prohibit unnecessary noise affecting the health of public and not
to make a law on broadcasting, etc. Therefore, the pith and substance of the law was –
public health and not – broadcasting (G. Chawla v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1959 SC
544).
Answer 1(c)
According to Section 2(1) (b) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, arbitration
agreement means an agreement referred to in Section 7 of the Act. Under Section 7, the
Arbitration agreement has been defined to mean an agreement by the parties to submit
to arbitration all or certain disputes which have arisen or which may arise between them
in respect of a defined legal relationship, whether contractual or not.
— An arbitration agreement may be in the form of an arbitration clause in a contract
or in the form of a separate agreement.
— An arbitration agreement shall be in writing.
— An arbitration agreement is in writing if it is contained in-
— a document signed by the parties;
— an exchange of letters, telex, telegrams or other means of telecommunication
including communication through electronic means which provide a record
of the agreement; or
— an exchange of statements of claim and defence in which the existence of
the agreement is alleged by one party and not denied by the other.
— The reference in a contract to a document containing an arbitration clause
constitutes an arbitration agreement if the contract is in writing and the reference
is such as to make that arbitration clause part of the contract.
Answer 1(d)
According to Rule of Reasonable Construction the words of a statute must be
construed ut res magis valeat quam pereat, so as to give a sensible meaning to them.
A provision of law cannot be so interpreted as to divorce it entirely from common sense;
every word or expression used in an Act should receive a natural and fair meaning.
It is the duty of a Court in constructing a statute to give effect to the intention of the
legislature. If, therefore, giving of literal meaning to a word used by the draftsman
particularly in penal statute would defeat the object of the legislature, which is to suppress
a mischief, the Court can depart from the dictionary meaning which will advance the
remedy and suppress the mischief.
It is only when the language of a statute, in its ordinary meaning and grammatical
construction, leads to a manifest contradiction of the apparent purpose of the enactment,
or to some inconvenience or absurdity, hardship or injustice, presumably not intended,
a construction may be put upon it which modifies the meaning of the words and even the
structure of the sentence (Tirath Singh v. Bachittar Singh, A.I.R. 1955 S.C. 830).
Courts can depart from dictionary meaning of a word and give it a meaning which will
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advance the remedy and suppress the mischief provided the Court does not have
to conjecture or surmise. A construction will be adopted in accordance with the policy
and object of the statute (Kanwar Singh v. Delhi Administration, AIR 1965 S.C. 871).
Attempt all parts of either Q. No. 2 or Q. No. 2A
Question 2
(a) Explain the role of ‘Preamble’ as internal aid in interpretation of statute. Though
the preamble cannot be used to defect the enacting clause of a statute, it has
been treated to be a key for the interpretation of the statute. Examine.
(b) Enumerate any four categories of cases in which a police officer may arrest a
person without an order from magistrate and without a warrant under section 41
of Cr.P.C., 1973.
(c) Allegation against the accused was that he furnished a certificate to get
employment as ETT Teacher which was found to be bogus and forged in as
much as school was not recognized for period given in the certificate. However,
the certificate did not anywhere say that school was recognized. Whether the
accused is guilty of any offence ? Explain with the help of decided judicial
precedent.
(d) Explain the rights of a party to appear before the National Company Law Tribunal.
(4 marks each)
OR (Alternate question to Q. No. 2)
Question 2A
(i) Briefly explain the ‘Purposive Rule of Interpretation’ under the General Clauses
Act, 1987. (4 marks)
(ii) Enumerate in short the exceptional circumstances of the application of natural
justice under Administrative Law. (4 marks)
(iii) Discuss the provisions relating to persons under legal disability under the
Limitation Act, 1963. (4 marks)
(iv) Describe kinds of offences under which capital punishment may be awarded by
Court under Indian Penal Code. (4 marks)
Answer 2(a)
The true place of a preamble in a statute was at one time, the subject of conflicting
decisions. In Mills v. Wilkins, (1794) 6 Mad. 62, Lord Hold said: “the preamble of a
statute is not part thereof, but contains generally the motives or inducement thereof”. On
the other hand, it was said that “the preamble is to be considered, for it is the key to open
the meaning of the makers of the Act, and the mischief it was intended to remedy”.
The modern rule lies between these two extremes and is that where the enacting
part is explicit and unambiguous the preamble cannot be resorted to, control, qualify or
restrict it, but where the enacting part is ambiguous, the preamble can be referred to
explain and elucidate it [Raj Mal v. Harnam Singh, (1928) 9 Lah. 260].
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In Powell v. Kempton Park Race Course Co., (1899) AC 143, 157, Lord Halsbury
said: “Two propositions are quite clear — One that a preamble may afford useful light as
to what a statute intends to reach and another that, if an enactment is itself clear and
unambiguous, no preamble can qualify or cut down the enactment”. Allahabad High
Court has held in Kashi Prasad v. State, AIR 1967 All. 173, that even though the preamble
cannot be used to defeat the enacting clauses of a statute, it has been treated to be a
key for the interpretation of the statute.
Supreme Court in Kamalpura Kochunni v. State of Madras, AIR 1960 SC 1080, pointed
out that the preamble may be legitimately consulted in case any ambiguity arises in the
construction of an Act and it may be useful to fix the meaning of words used so as to
keep the effect of the statute within its real scope.
Answer 2(b)
Section 41 of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 provides that any police officer may
without an order from a Magistrate and without a warrant, arrest any person:
(a) Who commits, in the presence of a police office, a cognizable offence
(b) against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information
has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed a
cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be less
than seven years or which may extend to seven years whether with or without
fine, if the following conditions are satisfied, namely :-
(i) the police has reason to believe on the basis of such complaint, information,
or suspicion that such person has committed the said offence;
(ii) the police officer is satisfied that such arrest is necessary -
(a) to prevent such person from committing any further offence; or
(b) for proper investigation of the offence; or
(c) to prevent such person from causing the evidence of the offence to
disappear or tampering with such evidence in any manner; or
(d) to prevent such person from making any inducement, threat or promise
to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade
him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to the police officer;or
(e) as unless such person is arrested, his presence in the Court whenever
required cannot be ensured and the police officer shall record while
making such arrest, his reason in writing;
(ba) against whom credible information has been received that he has committed a
cognisable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to more than seven years whether with or without fine or with death sentence
and the police officer has reason to believe on the basis of that information that
such person has committed the said offence;
(c) who has been proclaimed as an offender either under this Code or by order of the
State Government; or
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(d) in whose possession anything is found which may reasonably be suspected to
be stolen property and who may reasonably be suspected of having committed
an offence with reference to such thing; or
(e) who obstructs a police officer while in the execution of his duty, or who has
escaped, or attempts to escape, from lawful custody; or
(f) who is reasonably suspected of being a deserter from any of the Armed Forces
of the Union; or
(g) who has been concerned in, or against whom reasonable complaint has been
made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion
exists, of his having been concerned in, any act committed at any place out of
India which if committed in India, would have been punishable as an offence, and
for which he is, under any law relating to extradition, or otherwise, liable to be
apprehended or detained in custody in India; or
(h) who, being a released convict, commits a breach of any rule, made under (section
356(5); or
(i) for whose arrest any requisition, whether written or oral, has been received from
another police officer, provided that the requisition specifies the person to be
arrested and the offence or other cause for which the arrest is to be made and it
appears therefrom that the person might lawfully be arrested without a warrant
by the officer who issued the requisition.
Answer 2(c)
The Supreme Court in the case of Ramchandran v. State, AIR 2010 SC 1922, has
held that to constitute an offence of forgery document must be made with dishonest or
fraudulent intention. A person is said to do a thing fraudulently if he does that thing with
intent to defraud but not otherwise. The Supreme Court in the case of Parminder Kaur v.
State of UP, has held that mere alteration of document does not make it a
forged document. Alteration must be made for some gain or for some objective.
Similarly, in the case of Balbir Kaur v. State of Punjab, 2011 CrLJ 1546 (P&H), the
allegation against the accused was that she furnished a certificate to get employment as
ETT teacher which was found to be bogus and forged in as much as school was not
recognized for period given in certificate. However the certificate did not anywhere say
that school was recognized. It was held that merely indicating teaching experience of
the accused, per-se, cannot be said to indicate wrong facts. So the direction which was
issued for prosecution is liable to be quashed.
Answer 2(d)
Rights of a party to appear before the National Company Law Tribunal are as under:
(1) Every party may appear before a Tribunal in person or through an authorised
representative, duly authorised in writing in this behalf.
(2) The authorised representative shall make an appearance through the filing of
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Vakalatnama or Memorandum of Appearance in specified Form representing
the respective parties to the proceedings.
(3) The Central Government, the Regional Director or the Registrar of Companies or
Official Liquidator may authorise an officer or an Advocate to represent in the
proceedings before the Tribunal.
(4) The officer authorised by the Central Government or the Regional Director or the
Registrar of Companies or the Official Liquidator shall be an officer not below the
rank of Junior Time Scale or company prosecutor.
Answer 2A(i)
In Halsbury‘s Laws of England, it is stated : “Parliament intends that an enactment
shall remedy a particular mischief and it is therefore presumed that Parliament intends
that the court, when considering, in relation to the facts of the instant case, which of the
opposing constructions of the enactment corresponds to its legal meaning, should find a
construction which applies the remedy provided by it in such a way as to suppress that
mischief.”
The doctrine originates in Heydon‘s case where the Barons of the Exchequer resolved
that for the sure and true interpretation of all statutes in general (be they penal or beneficial,
restrictive or enlarging of the common law), four things are to be discerned and considered:
• what was the common law before the making of the Act;
• what was the mischief and defect for which the common law did not provide;
• what remedy Parliament has resolved and appointed to cure the disease of the
commonwealth; and
• the true reason of the remedy and the office of all the judges is always to make
such construction as shall –
– suppress the mischief and advance the remedy; and – suppress subtle
inventions and evasions for the continuance of the mischief pro private-
commode (for private benefit); and
– add force and life to the cure and remedy according to the true intent of the
makers of the Act pro bono publico (for the public good).
Answer 2A(ii)
Though the normal rule is that a person who is affected by administrative action is
entitled to claim natural justice, that requirement may be excluded under certain
exceptional circumstances as mentioned below:
1. Statutory Exclusion : The principle of natural justice may be excluded by the
statutory provision. Where the statute expressly provides for the observance of
the principles of natural justice, the provision is treated as mandatory and the
authority is bound by it. Where the statute is silent as to the observance of the
principle of natural justice, such silence is taken to imply the observance thereto.
2. Emergency : In exceptional cases of urgency or emergency where prompt and
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preventive action is required the principles of natural justice need not be observed.
However, the determination of the situation requiring the exclusion of the rules of
natural justice by the administrative authorities is not final and the court may
review such determination.
3. Interim disciplinary action : The rules of natural justice are not attracted in the
case of interim disciplinary action.
4. Academic evaluation : Where a student is removed from an educational institution
on the grounds of unsatisfactory academic performance, the requirement of
pre-decisional hearing is excluded.
5. Impracticability : Where the authority deals with a large number of person it is
not practicable to give all of them opportunity of being heard and therefore in
such condition the court does not insist on the observance of the rules of natural
justice.
Answer 2A(iii)
Section 6 of the Limitation Act, 1963 provides that where a person entitled to institute
a suit or make an application for the execution of a decree is, at the time from which the
prescribed period is to be reckoned, a minor or insane, or an idiot, he may institute the
suit or make the application within the same period after the disability has ceased, as
would otherwise have been allowed from the time specified there for in the Schedule of
the Act.
Where such person is, at the time from which the prescribed period is to be reckoned,
affected by two such disabilities, or where, before his disability has ceased, he is affected
by another disability, he may institute the suit or make the application within the same
period after both disabilities have ceased, as would otherwise have been allowed from
the time so specified.
Where the disability continues up to the death of that person, his legal representative
may institute the suit or make the application within the same period after the death, as
would otherwise have been allowed from the time so specified.
Where a person under disability dies after the disability ceases but within the period
allowed to him under this section, his legal representative may institute the suit or make
the application within the same period after the death, as would otherwise have been
available to that person had he not died.
Section 6 of the Act is an enabling section to enable persons under disability to
exercise their legal rights within a certain time. Section 7 which deals with disability of
one of several persons supplements Section 6, Section 8 deals with special exception
controls sections 6 and 7 , which serves as an exception to Sections 6 and 7. The
combined effect of Sections 6 and 8 is that where the prescribed period of limitation
expires before the cessation of disability, for instance, before the attainment of majority,
the minor will no doubt be entitled to a fresh period of limitation from the attainment of
his majority subject to the condition that in no case the period extended by Section 6
shall by virtue of Section 8 exceeds three years from cessation of disability, i.e. attainment
of majority.
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Answer 2A(iv)
A death sentence is the harshest of punishments provided in the Indian Penal Code
(IPC), which involves the judicial killing or taking the life of the accused as a form of
punishment. The Supreme Court has ruled that death sentence ought to be imposed
only in the "rarest of rare cases". The IPC provides for capital punishment for the following
offences:
(a) Murder
(b) Dacoity with Murder.
(c) Waging War against the Government of India.
(d) Abetting mutiny actually committed.
(e) Giving or fabricating false evidence upon which an innocent person suffers death
(f) Abetment of a suicide by a minor or insane person;
(g) Attempted murder by a life convict.
The capital punishment is awarded only in two categories of offences, namely treason
and murder. In either of the cases, when the court decides that death penalty is the
appropriate sentence to be imposed in the light of the gravity of matter and consequences
of the offence committed and the absence of mitigating factors, then the court under the
provisions of section 354(3) of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has to give special reasons
as to why the court came to this conclusion.
Question 3
(a) What do you understand by ‘set off’ and ‘counter-claim’ under the Civil Procedure
Code, 1908 ? What is the effect of set-off ?
(b) Describe in brief the cases in which a Search Warrant can be issued under
Section 93 in the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.
(c) What is the extent of liability of instruments to stamp duty where several
instruments are executed in a single transaction ? Explain with any one illustration.
(d) Judicial review is the authority of Courts to declare void the acts of the legislature
and executive, if they are found in violation of provisions of the Constitution.
Comment. (4 marks each)
Answer 3(a)
Set-off
Order VIII, Rule 6 of Civil Procedure Code, 1908 deals with set-off which is a reciprocal
acquittal of debts between the plaintiff and defendant. It has the effect of extinguishing
the plaintiff's claim to the extent of the amount claimed by the defendant as a counter
claim.
Under Order VIII , Rule 6 of Civil Procedure Code, 1908 where in a suit for the
recovery of money the defendant claims to set off against the plaintiff?s demand any
ascertained sum of money legally recoverable by him from the plaintiff not exceeding the
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pecuniary jurisdiction of the Court and where both parties fill the same character as in
the plaintiff is suit, the defendant may, at the first hearing of the suit, but not afterwards
unless permitted by the Court, present a written statement containing the particulars of
the debt sought to be set-off.
Counter-claim
A defendant in a suit may, in addition to his right of pleading a set-off under Rule 6,
set up by way of counterclaim against the claim of the plaintiff, any right or claim in
respect of a cause of action accruing to the defendant against the plaintiff either before or
after the filling of the suit but before the defendant has delivered his defence or before the
time limited for delivering his defence has expired, whether such counterclaim is in the
nature of claim for damages or not. Such counter-claim must be within the pecuniary
jurisdiction of the Court. (Order VIII, Rule 6A).
Effect of Set-off
The written statement shall have the same effect as a plaint in a cross-suit so as to
enable the Court to pronounce a final judgement in respect both of the original claim and
of the set-off, but this shall not affect the lien, upon the amount decreed, of any pleader
in respect of the costs payable to him under the decree.
Answer 3(b)
According to Section 93 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, a search warrant can
be issued only in the following cases:
(i) Where the Court has reason to believe that a person summoned to produce any
document or other thing, will not produce it
(ii) Where such document or other thing is not known to the Court to be in the
possession of any person
(iii) Where a general inspection or search is necessary. However, a search warrant
may be general or restricted in its scope as to any place or part thereof.
Answer 3(c)
Section 4 of Indian Stamp Act, 1899 provides that, where in the case of any sale,
mortgage or settlement, several instruments are employed for completing the transaction–
(i) Only the principal amount shall be chargeable with the duty prescribed for the
conveyance, mortgage or settlement
(ii) Each of the other instrument shall be chargeable with a duty of one rupee (instead
of the duty if any prescribed for the other instruments)
Illustrations
(i) A executed a conveyance of immovable property. On the same deed his nephew
(undivided in status) endorsed his consent to the sale, as such consent was
considered to be necessary. It was held that the conveyance was the principal
instrument. The consent was chargeable with only one rupee (ILR 13 Bom 281).
(ii) Subsequent to a sale of immovable property, two declarations were executed
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reciting that the sale was subject to an equitable mortgage created by the vendor.
These declarations were held to be chargeable, together with the sale deed, as
having completed the conveyance (Somaiya Organics Ltd. v. Chief Controlling
Revenue Authority, AIR 1972 All 252).
(iii) Brother A executed in favour of brother B a gift of all his property. By another
deed, brother B made provision for the living expenses of brotherA and
hypothecating in favour of brother A a part of the property included in the above
mentioned gift deed, in order to secure the payment of the living expenses. It
was held that the two documents were part of the same transaction. They
amounted to a settlement and Section 4 applied (Maharaj Someshar Dutt, ILR
37 All 264).
(iv) B conveyed the whole of his property to three persons who undertook to provide
for him and to perform his obsequies. By another document, the three donees
agreed to provide for B. This was mentioned in the deed executed by A also. It
was held that the two documents had to be construed as part of the same act;
the first was liable to duty as a conveyance while the second was liable to a duty
of Rupee 1 only (Dadoba v. Krishna, ILR 7 Bom. 34).
(v) A company executed, first a deed of trust and mortgage stating that the company
was to issue notes for raising loans secured by the sale deed. It was held as
under:
(1) The deed was principal or primary security (and not a collateral security). It
was chargeable as mortgage under Article 14.
(2) The notes issued subsequently were debentures and not principal instruments
(Madras Refinery Ltd. v. Chief Controlling Revenue Authority, Madras, AIR
1977 SC 500).
Answer 3(d)
The biggest check over administrative action is the power of judicial review. Judicial
review is the authority of Courts to declare void the acts of the legislature and executive,
if they are found in violation of provisions of the Constitution. Judicial Review is the power
of the highest Court of a jurisdiction to invalidate on Constitutional grounds, the acts of
other Government agency within that jurisdiction.
The power of judicial review controls not only the legislative but also the executive or
administrative act. The Court scrutinizes the executive act for determining the issue as
to whether it is within the scope of authority or power conferred on the authority exercising
the power. Where the act of executive or administration is found ultra-virus the Constitution
or the relevant Act, it is declared as such and, therefore, void. The Courts attitude appears
to be stiffer in respect of discretionary powers of the executive or administrative authorities.
The Court is not against the vesting of discretionary power in the executive, but it expects
that there would be proper guidelines for the exercise of power. The Court interferes when
the uncontrolled and unguided discretion is vested in the executive or administrative
authorities or the repository of the power abuses its discretion.
Question 4
(a) Discuss briefly ‘‘Malicious Prosecution’’ and its essential elements under the
law relating to Torts.
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(b) Explain the special provisions as to Evidence relating to Electronic Record under
the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
(c) State at least four instruments which are exempted from the provisions of Section
17(1) of the Registration Act, 1908.
(d) Explain any four categories of ‘information’ which have been exempted from
disclosure under the Right to Information Act, 2005. (4 marks each)
Answer 4(a)
Malicious prosecution consists in instigating judicial proceedings (usually
criminal) against another, maliciously and without reasonable and probable cause,
which terminate in favour of that other and which results in damage to his reputation,
personal freedom or property.
The following are the essential elements of this tort:
(i) There must have been a prosecution of the plaintiff by the defendant.
(ii) There must have been want of reasonable and probable cause for that prosecution.
(iii) The defendant must have acted maliciously (i.e. with an improper motive and not
to further the end of justice).
(iv) The plaintiff must have suffered damages as a result of the prosecution.
(v) The prosecution must have terminated in favour of the plaintiff.
Answer 4(b)
Section 65A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 provides that the contents of
electronic records may be proved in accordance with the provisions of Section 65B.
As per Section 65B(1) of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, any information contained
in an electronic record which is printed on a paper, stored, recorded or copied in optical
or magnetic media produced by a computer (hereinafter referred to as the
computer output) shall be deemed to be also a document, if the conditions mentioned in
this Section are satisfied in relation to the information and computer in question and
shall be admissible in any proceedings, without further proof or production of the original,
as evidence of any contents of the original or of any fact stated therein of which direct
evidence would be admissible. The conditions in respect of a computer output related
above, have been stipulated under Section 65B (2) of the Evidence Act.
Answer 4(c)
The registration of the non-testamentary documents mentioned under Section
17(1)(b) and (c) of the Registration Act, 1908 is subject to the exceptions provided in
of Section 17(2). These are as follows:
1. any composition deed, i.e., every deed the essence of which is composition; or
2. any instrument relating to shares in Joint Stock Company; or
3. any debentures issued by any such Company; or
4. any endorsement upon or transfer of any debenture; or
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5. any document other than the documents specified under Section 17(IA) of the
Act creating merely a right to obtain another document which will, when executed
create, declare, assign, limit or extinguish any such right, title or interest; or
6. any decree or order of a court; or
7. any grant of immovable property by the Government; or
8. any instrument of partition made by Revenue-officer; or
9. any order granting a loan or instrument of collateral security granted under the
Land Improvement Act, 1871, or the Land Improvement Loans Act, 1883; or
10. any order granting loan made under the Agriculturists Loans Act, 1884 or instrument
for securing the repayment of a loan made under that Act; or
11. any order made under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890 vesting any property
in a treasurer of a charitable endowment or divesting any such Treasurer of any
property; or
12. any endorsement on a mortgage deed acknowledging the payment of the whole
or any part of the mortgage money, and any other receipt for payment of
money, due under a mortgage when the receipt does not purport to extinguish
the mortgage; or
13. any certificate of sale granted to the purchaser of any property sold by public
auction by Civil or Revenue Officer.
Answer 4(d)
Categories of information which have been exempted from disclosure under the Right
to Information Act, 2005. These are:
1. Where disclosure prejudicially affects the sovereignty and integrity of India, the
security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with
foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence;
2. Information which has been expressly forbidden by any court or tribunal or the
disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;
3. Where disclosure would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State
Legislature;
4. Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property,
where disclosure would harm competitive position of a third party, or available to
a person in his fiduciary relationship, unless larger public interest so warrants;
5. Information received in confidence from a foreign government;
6. Information the disclosure of which endangers life or physical safety of any
person or identifies confidential source of information or assistance;
7. Information that would impede the process of investigation or apprehension
or prosecution of offenders;
8. Cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers,
Secretaries and other officers.
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Question 5
(a) Discuss the provisions relating to information to the police and their power to
investigate in cognizable and non-cognizable cases under the Criminal Procedure
Code 1973.
(b) The Indian Penal Code, 1860 provides for general exceptions for a person accused
of committing any offence under the code to plead in his defence. Explain any
eight exceptions. (8 marks each)
Answer 5(a)
Information in cognizable cases and investigation of such cases.
According to Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code 1973, every information
relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, if given orally to an officer in charge
of a police station, shall be reduced to writing by him or under his direction and be read
over to the informant. Every such information shall be signed by the person giving it and
the substance thereof shall be entered in a book kept by such officer in such form as
may be prescribed by the State Government in this behalf.
The above information given to a police officer and reduced to writing is known as
First Information Report (FIR). The investigation of the case proceeds on this information
only. Thus, the principal object of this Section is to set the criminal law in motion and to
obtain information about the alleged criminal activities so as to punish the guilty.
For the purpose of enabling the police to start investigation, it is open to the Magistrate
to direct the police to register an FIR. There is nothing illegal in doing so. After all
registration of an FIR involves only the process of entering the substance of the information
relating to the commission of the cognizable offence in a book kept by the officer-in-
charge of the police station as indicated in Section 154 of the Code.
Any person aggrieved by a refusal on the part of an officer incharge of a police
station to record the information may send the substance of such information in writing
and by post to the Superintendent of Police concerned who if satisfied that such
information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence shall either investigate
the case himself or direct an investigationto be made by any police officer subordinate
to him.
Information as to non-cognizable cases and investigation of such cases
As per Section 155 of the Criminal Procedure Code 1973, when information is given
to an officer in charge of a police station of the commission within the limits of such
station of a non-cognizable offence, he shall enter or cause to be entered the substance
of the information in a book to be kept by such officer in such form as the State Government
may prescribe in this behalf and refer the informant to the Magistrate. The police officer
is not authorised to investigate a non-cognizable case without the order of
Magistrate having power to try such cases, and on receiving the order, the police officer
may exercise the same powers in respect of investigation as he may exercise in a
cognizable case.
Where a case relates to two or more offences of which at least one is cognizable,
the case shall be deemed to be a cognizable case, notwithstanding that the other offences
are non-cognizable.
EP–JI&GL–December 2019 14
In case of a cognizable offence the police officer may conduct investigations without
the order of a Magistrate. Investigation includes all proceedings under the Code for the
collection of evidence by the police officer or by any person who is authorised by the
Magistrate in this behalf.
Answer 5(b)
The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) provides for general exceptions for a person
accused of committing any offence under the Code to plead in his defense. General
defences or exceptions are contained in sections 76 to 106 of the IPC. In general exceptions
to criminal liability there will be absence of mens rea (guilty mind) on the part of the
wrong-doer. If there is any general defense of the accused in a criminal case, the burden
of proving lies on him under section 105 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. The exceptions
are:
1. Mistake of Fact bound by law
2. Act of Judge when acting judicially
3. Act done pursuant to the judgment or order of Court
4. Mistake of Fact-justified by law
5. Accident in doing a lawful act
6. Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other
harm
7. Act of a child under seven years of age
8. Act of a child above seven and under twelve of immature understanding
9. Act of a person of unsound mind
10. Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of intoxication caused against
his will
11. Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed by one who is
intoxicated
12. Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt,
done by consent
13. Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person's
benefit
14. On consent of guardian if any act is done in good faith to it
15. Consent
16. Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm caused
17. Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent
18. Communication made in good faith
19. Act to which a person is compelled by threats
20. Act causing slight harm.
15 EP–JI&GL–December 2019
Attempt all parts of either Q. No. 6 or Q. No. 6A
Question 6
(a) Describe the documents or transactions to which the Information Technology
Act, 2000 shall not apply.
(b) Under the circumstances and arbitral award may be set aside by the Court
under the provisions of Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Explain any four.
(c) Name of the officers of the Company who can be held liable in case the Company
has issued share warrant without proper stamp duty. What shall be the penalty
as prescribed under Sec. 62(2) of the Stamp Act.
(d) Where any central legislation or any regulation enacted after the commencement
of the General Clauses Act, 1897 repeals any Act, what shall not be affected by
such repeal ? (4 marks each)
OR (Alternate question to Q. No. 6)
Question 6A
(i) Anil and Amit are two partners of a firm. Anil, while ordinarily dealing with another
firm, bribed that firm’s clerk to divulge secret relating to the other firm where
that clerk was working. In this case, who shall be liable—whether both the
Partners i.e. Anil and Amit or only Anil ? Explain. (4 marks)
(ii) Under what circumstances the decision exercised by administrative authorities
are treated as abuse of discretion ? Explain any four. (4 marks)
(iii) Describe the constitution of Special Court established under Section 435 of the
Companies Act, 2013. (4 marks)
(iv) Write a short note on writ of ‘Quo Warranto’. (4 marks)
Answer 6(a)
Following documents or transactions to which the Information Technology Act, 2002
shall not apply:
1. A negotiable instrument (other than a Cheque) as defined in section 13 of the
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
2. A power-of-attorney as defined in section 1A of the Powers-of-Attorney Act, 1882.
3. A trust as defined in section 3 of the Indian Trust Act, 1882.
4. A will as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925,
including any other testamentary disposition by whatever name called.
5. Any contract for the sale or conveyance of immovable property or any interest in
such property.
Answer 6(b)
According to Section 34(2) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, an arbitral
EP–JI&GL–December 2019 16
award may be set aside by the Court only if the party making the application furnishes
proof that-
1. a party was under some incapacity, or
2. the arbitration agreement is not valid under the law to which the parties have
subjected it or, failing any indication thereon, under the law for the time being in
force; or
3. the party making the application was not given proper notice of the appointment
of an arbitrator or of the arbitral proceedings or was otherwise unable to present
his case; or
4. the arbitral award deals with a dispute not contemplated by or not falling within
the terms of the submission to arbitration, or it contains decisions on matters
beyond the scope of the submission to arbitration: Provided that, if the decisions
on matters submitted to arbitration can be separated from those not so submitted,
only that part of the arbitral award which contains decisions on matters not
submitted to arbitration may be set aside; or
5. the composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitral procedure was not in
accordance with the agreement of the parties, unless such agreement was in
conflict with a provision of this Part from which the parties cannot derogate, or,
failing such agreement, was not in accordance with this Part; or
Further, the Court finds that the subject-matter of the dispute is not capable of
settlement by arbitration under the law for the time being in force, or the Court finds that
the arbitral award is in conflict with the public policy of India.
Answer 6(c)
As per Section 62(2) of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, if a share-warrant is issued
without being duly stamped, the company issuing the same, and also every person who,
at the time when it is issued, is the managing director or secretary or other principal
officer of the company, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred
rupees.
Answer 6(d)
Where any Central legislation or any regulation enacted after the commencement
of this Act repeals any General Clauses Act 1897 made or yet to be made, unless
another purpose exists, the repeal shall not:
— Revive anything not enforced or prevailed during the period at which repeal is
effected or;
— Affect the prior management of any legislation that is repealed or anything
performed or undergone or;
— Affect any claim, privilege, responsibility or debt obtained, ensued or sustained
under any legislation so repealed or;
— Affect any punishment, forfeiture or penalty sustained with regard to any offence
committed as opposed to any legislation or
17 EP–JI&GL–December 2019
— Affect any inquiry, litigation or remedy with regard to such claim, privilege, debt
or responsibility and any such inquiry, litigation or remedy may be initiated,
continued or initiated and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be
imposed as if the repealing Act or Regulation had not been passed.
Answer 6A(i)
Tort committed by a partner in the ordinary course of the business of the firm, all the
other partners are liable therefore to the same extent as the guilty partner. The liability of
the partners is joint and several.
In the case of Hamlyn vs.Houston & Co. (1903) 1 K.B. 81, one of the two partners
bribed the plaintiff's clerk and induced him to divulge secrets relating to his employer's
business. It was held that both the partners were liable for the tort committed by only
one of them.
Answer 6A(ii)
The decision exercised by administrative authorities are treated as abuse of discretion
in the following circumstances:
1. Mala fides : If the discretionary power is exercised by the authority with
bad faith or dishonest intention, the action is quashed by the court. Malafide
exercise of discretionary power is always bad and taken as abuse of discretion.
2. Irrelevant considerations : If a statute confers power for one purpose, its use
for a different purpose is not regarded as a valid exercise of power and is
likely to be quashed by the courts. If the administrative authority takes
into account factors, circumstances or events wholly irrelevant or extraneous
to the purpose mentioned in the statute, then the administrative action is vitiated.
3. Leaving out relevant considerations : The administrative authority exercising
the discretionary power is required to take into account all the relevant facts. If
it leaves out relevant consideration, its action will be invalid.
4. Arbitrary orders : The order made should be based on facts and cogent reasoning
and not on the whims and fancies of the adjudicatory authority.
5. Improper purpose : The discretionary power is required to be used for the purpose
for which it has been given. If it is given for one purpose and used for another
purpose it will amount to abuse of power.
6. Colourable exercise of power : Where the discretionary power is exercised by
the authority on which it has been conferred ostensibly for the purpose for which
it has been given but in reality for some other purpose, it is taken as colourable
exercise of the discretionary power and it is declared invalid.
7. Non-compliance with procedural requirements and principles of natural justice:
If the procedural requirement laid down in the statute is mandatory and it is not
complied, the exercise of power will be bad. Whether the procedural requirement
is mandatory or directory is decided by the court. Principles of natural justice
are also required to be observed.
8. Exceeding jurisdiction : The authority is required to exercise the power within
EP–JI&GL–December 2019 18
the limits or the statute. Consequently, if the authority exceeds this limit, its
action will be held to be ultra vires and, therefore, void.
Answer 6A(iii)
The Central Government may, for the purpose of providing speedy trial of offences
under Section 435 of the Companies Act, 2013 by notification, establish or designate as
many Special Courts as may be necessary.
A Special Court shall consist of—
(a) a single judge holding office as Session Judge or Additional Session Judge, in
case of offences punishable under this Act with imprisonment of two years or
more; and
(b) a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, in the case
of other offences,who shal be appointed by the Central Government with the
concurrence of the Chief Justice of the High Court within whose jurisdiction the
judge to be appointed is working.
Answer 6A (iv)
The writ of Quo Warranto enables enquiry into the legality of the claim which a
person asserts, to an office or franchise and to oust him from such position if he is a
usurper. The holder of the office has to show to the court under what authority he holds
the office. It is issued when:
(i) the office is public and of a substantive nature,
(ii) created by statute or by the Constitution itself, and
(iii) the respondent has asserted his claim to the office. It can be issued even
though he has not assumed the charge of the office.
The fundamental basis of the proceeding of Quo Warranto is that the public has an
interest to see that an unlawful claimant does not usurp a public office. It is a discretionary
remedy which the court may grant or refuse.
***
19 EP–CL–December 2019
COMPANY LAW
(3) Where the conduct conflicts with public policy, courts lifted the corporate veil
for protecting the public policy. (Case Law: Connors Bros. v. Connors)
(4) A company will be regarded as having enemy character, if the persons having
de facto control of its affairs are resident in an enemy country or, wherever they
may be, are acting under instructions from or on behalf of the enemy. (Case
Law: Daimler Co. Ltd. v. Continental Tyre & Rubber Co.)
(5) Where it was found that the sole purpose for which the company was formed
was to evade taxes the Court will ignore the concept of separate entity and
make the individuals concerned liable to pay the taxes which they would have
paid but for the formation of the company.(Case Law : Sir Dinshaw Maneckjee
Petit, Vodafone case)
(7) Another instance of corporate veil arrived at by the Court arose in Kapila Hingorani
v. State of Bihar.
(8) Where it is found that a company has abused its corporate personality for an
unjust and inequitable purpose, the court would not hesitate to lift the corporate
veil. Further, the corporate veil could be lifted when acts of a corporation are
allegedly opposed to justice, convenience and interests of revenue or workmen
or are against public interest.
Answer 1(b)
Section 230 to 240 covered under Chapter XV of the Companies Act, 2013 provides
for the Compromise, Arrangements and Amalgamation of Companies. The said provisions
are uniformly applicable to all companies except Section 233 which prescribes simplified
procedure for merger or amalgamation of -
• two or more small companies, or
• between a holding company and its wholly-owned subsidiary company, or
• such other class or classes of companies as may be prescribed.
Accordingly, sub-section (1) of Section 233 of Companies Act, 2013 states that
notwithstanding the provisions of section 230 and section 232 of Companies Act, 2013,
a scheme of merger or amalgamation may be entered into between two or more small
companies or between a holding company and its wholly-owned subsidiary company or
21 EP–CL–December 2019
such other class or classes of companies as may be prescribed, subject to the following,
namely:-
(a) a notice of the proposed scheme inviting objections or suggestions, if any, from
the Registrar and Official Liquidators where registered office of the respective
companies are situated or persons affected by the scheme within thirty days is
issued by the transferor company or companies and the transferee company;
(b) the objections and suggestions received are considered by the companies in
their respective general meetings and the scheme is approved by the respective
members or class of members at a general meeting holding at least ninety per
cent of the total number of shares;
(c) each of the companies involved in the merger files a declaration of solvency, in
the prescribed form, with the Registrar of the place where the registered office
of the company is situated; and
(d) the scheme is approved by majority representing nine-tenths in value of the
creditors or class of creditors of respective companies indicated in a meeting
convened by the company by giving a notice of twenty-one days along with the
scheme to its creditors for the purpose or otherwise approved in writing.
Answer 1(c)
According to Section 77 of the Companies Act, 2013, all types of charges created
by a company are to be registered with the Registrar of Companies (ROC), Where they
are non-compliant and are not filed with the Registrar of Companies for registration, the
charge shall be void as against the liquidator and any other creditor of the company. In
the case of ONGC Ltd v. Official Liquidators of Ambica Mills Co Ltd (2006), the ONGC
had not been able to point out whether the so called charge, on the basis of which it was
claiming preference as a secured creditor, was registered or not. It was held that in the
light of this failure, ONCG could not be treated as a secured creditor in view of specific
provisions of section 125 of Companies Act,1956 and the statutory requirement under
the said section. This does not, however, mean that the charge is altogether void and
the debt is not recoverable. So long as the company does not go into liquidation, the
charge is good and may be enforced.
Void against the liquidator means that the liquidator, on winding up of the company,
can ignore the charge for the purpose of ascertaining the priority of payment and can
treat the concerned creditor as an unsecured creditor. The property will be treated as free
of charge i.e. the creditor cannot sell the property to recover its dues.
Void against any other creditors of the company means that if any subsequent
charge is created on the same property and the earlier charge is not registered, the
earlier charge would have no consequence and the latter charge if registered would enjoy
priority over the earlier charge. In other words, the latter charge holder can have the
property sold in order to recover its money.
Thus, non-filing of particulars of a charge as required under Section 77 of the
Companies Act, 2013 does not invalidate the charge against the company as a going
concern. It is void only against the liquidator and the creditors at the time of liquidation.
The company itself cannot have a cause of action arising out of non-registration.
EP–CL–December 2019 22
Answer 1(d)
Section 28 of the Companies Act, 2013 permits certain members of a company, in
consultation with Board of directors, to offer the whole or a part of their holdings of
shares to the public. The document by which the offer of sale to the public is made shall,
for all purposes, be deemed to be a prospectus issued by the company.
Since public offer is not same as offer for sale. Though many provisions relating to
issue of prospectus does apply to such an offer, yet many provisions including requirement
of minimum subscription does not apply to the same.
All laws and rules made hereunder as to the contents of the prospectus and as to
liability in respect of misstatements in and omission from prospectus or otherwise relating
to prospectus shall apply as if this offer document is a prospectus issued by the company.
The section provides that the members, whether individuals or bodies corporate or
both, whose shares are proposed to be offered to the public, shall collectively authorize
the company, whose share were offered for sale to the public, to take all actions in
respect of offer of sale for and on their behalf and they shall reimburse the company all
expenses incurred by it on this matter.
Rule 8 of The Companies (Prospectus and Allotment of Securities) Rules, 2014 in
this context provide that the provisions of Part I of Chapter III namely “Prospectus and
Allotment of Securities” and rules made there under shall be applicable to an offer of
sale referred to in section 28 of Companies Act, 2013 except for the following, namely:-
(a) the provisions relating to minimum subscription;
(b) the provisions for minimum application value;
(c) the provisions requiring any statement to be made by the Board of directors in
respect of the utilization of money; and
(d) any other provision or information which cannot be compiled or gathered by the
offer or, with detailed justifications for not being able to comply with such
provisions.
Further the rules provide that such offer document or prospectus issued under the
section shall disclose the name of the entity bearing the cost of making the offer for sale
along with reasons.
Attempt all parts of either Q. No. 2 or Q. No. 2A
Question 2
(a) While adopting accounts for the year, the Board of directors of Prima Ltd. decided
to consider the interim dividend @ 12% as final dividend and did not consider
transfer of profit to reserves. Explain whether decisions of the Board were justified
referring to relevant provisions. (3 marks)
(b) What are the ‘related party disclosures’ required to be made by listed entities as
per SEBI Regulations ? (3 marks)
(c) Green Commercial Ltd., an unlisted company, has made a preferential offer of
23 EP–CL–December 2019
shares for consideration other than cash. A question has been raised by the
accounts department as to the valuation of consideration at allotment and the
manner of treatment of noncash consideration in books of account. As a practising
company secretary advise the company with reference to the provisions of the
Companies Act, 2013. (3 marks)
(d) What types of companies can be formed in Singapore as per the Singapore
Companies Act ? (3 marks)
(e) What are disqualifications for debenture trustees ? (3 marks)
OR (Alternate question to Q. No. 2)
Question 2A
(i) Who is a ‘Significant Beneficial Owner’ under the Companies Act, 2013 ? Is
Significant Beneficial Owner required to file BEN-1 to the reporting company ?
(ii) Can a contributory file a petition for winding up of the company ? Discuss.
(iii) IOL, a manufacturing company, issued partly convertible debentures with ` 6
crore few years back. The convertible option is only for 50% of the issue and
debentures are redeemable in the current financial year. What is the quantum of
Debenture Redemption Reserve (DDR) required to be created by the company
now and how much should be deposited or invested by the company ?
(iv) ‘‘The Companies Act, 2013 attempts to maintain a balance between the rights
of majority and minority shareholders.’’ Discuss.
(v) Reels India Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wheels India Ltd. The auditor of
Wheels India Ltd. has intimated the Board of directors that the company will not
be required to prepare consolidated financial statements if provisions of section
129, Companies Act, 2013 are complied with. As a company secretary give
your comments in this regard. (3 marks
each)
Answer 2(a)
Section 123 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides for the provisions relating to
declaration of dividends.
Since interim dividend is also a dividend, companies should provide for depreciation
under section 123 of the Companies Act, 2013 before declaration of interim dividend.
However, the first proviso to the section 123(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 provides
that a company may, before declaration of any dividend in any financial year, transfer
such percentage of its profits for that financial year as it consider appropriate to the
reserves of the company irrespective of the size of declared dividend i.e. company is
not mandatorily required to transfer the profit to reserves, and it is only an option made
available to the company to transfer such percentage of profit to reserves.
In the instant case, the Board has decided to pay interim dividend @12% of the paid
up capital. Assuming the company has complied with the depreciation requirement and
other applicable provisions, the interim or final dividend can be declared without transferring
such percentage of its profits as it may consider appropriate to the reserve of the company.
EP–CL–December 2019 24
Thus, from the facts and provisions, it may be concluded that Prima Ltd is under no
violation of law by not transferring i.e. the company is free to transfer any amount of its
profit to the reserves, without any compulsion or restriction before declaration of any
dividend.
Section 123(3) of the Companies Act, 2013 provides that the Board of Directors of a
company may declare interim dividend during any financial year or at any time during the
period from closure of financial year till holding of the annual general meeting out of the
surplus in the profit and loss account or out of profits of the financial year for which such
interim dividend is sought to be declared or out of profits generated in the financial year
till the quarter preceding the date of declaration of the interim dividend. The amount of
dividend including interim dividend should be deposited in a separate bank account within
five days from declaration of such dividend for compliance of section 123(4) of the
Companies Act, 2013.
Answer 2(b)
As per SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015, the Annual Report shall make certain Related
Party Disclosures. Further as per Regulation 27(2) of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015
details of all material transactions with related parties shall be disclosed along with the
quarterly compliance report on corporate governance in the format as specified by the
Board from time to time to the recognised stock exchange(s) within fifteen days from
close of the quarter.
(1) The listed entity shall make disclosures in compliance with the Accounting
Standard on “Related Party Disclosures”.
(2) The disclosure requirements shall be as follows:-
Disclosures of amounts at the year end and the maximum amount of loans/ advances/
investments outstanding during the year, in the books of accounts of:
(i) Holding Company: -
(a) Loans and advances in the nature of loans to subsidiaries by name and
amount.
(b) Loans and advances in the nature of loans to associates by name and
amount.
(c) Loans and advances in the nature of loans to firms/companies in which
directors are interested by name and amount.
(ii) Subsidiary : - Same disclosures as applicable to the parent company in the
accounts of subsidiary company.
(iii) Holding Company : - Investments by the loanee in the shares of parent company
and subsidiary company, when the company has made a loan or advance in the
nature of loan.
For the purpose of above disclosures directors’ interest shall have the same meaning
as given in Section 184 of Companies Act, 2013.
Disclosures of transactions of the listed entity with any person or entity belonging to
the promoter/promoter group which holds 10% or more shareholding in the listed entity,
25 EP–CL–December 2019
in the format prescribed in the relevant accounting standards for annual results. (Notified
on 9th May, 2018, applicable in respect of Annual reports filed for the year ended March
31, 2019 and thereafter.)
Answer 2(c)
Pursuant to Section 62 read with rule 13(2) of Companies (Share Capital and
Debentures) Rules 2014, where shares or other securities are to be allotted for
consideration other than cash, the valuation of such consideration shall be done by a
registered valuer who shall submit a valuation report to the company for justification of
valuation.
Where the preferential offer of shares is made for a non-cash consideration, such
non-cash consideration shall be treated in the following manner in the books of account
of the company-
(a) where the non-cash consideration takes the form of a depreciable or amortizable
asset, it shall be carried to the balance sheet of the company in accordance
with the accounting standards; or
(b) where above clause is not applicable, it shall be expensed as provided in the
accounting standards.
The Practising Company Secretary can advised the Green Commercial Ltd.
accordingly.
Answer 2(d)
As per Singapore Companies Act, 1967 any person may, whether alone or together
with another person, by subscribing his name or their names to a constitution and
complying with the requirements as to registration, form an incorporated company.
A company may be –
(a) a company limited by shares;
(b) a company limited by guarantee; or
(c) an unlimited company.
In terms of Section 90 of the Companies Act, 2013 every individual, who acting alone
or together, or through one or more persons or trust, including a trust and persons resident
outside India holds beneficial interests, of not less than 25% or such other percentage
as may be prescribed, in shares of a company or the right to exercise or the actual
exercise of significant influence or control as per as Section 2(27) of Companies Act,
2013, over the reporting company is a significant beneficial owner.
Such an individual being the Significant beneficial Owner holding such beneficial
interest is required to make a declaration to the reporting company specifying the nature
of his interest & other particulars as required.
The Department of Company Affairs (now, Ministry of Corporate Affairs) clarified that
an article for expulsion of a member is opposed to the fundamental principles of the
Company Jurisprudence and is ultra vires the company, the reason being that such a
provision will be against the provisions of the Companies Act relating to the rights of a
member in a company, the powers of the Central Government as an appellate authority
under Section 111 of the Act and the powers of the Court under Sections 107, 395 and
397 of the Companies Act, 1956.
These sections correspond to sections 38, 58, 48, 235 & 241 of the Companies Act,
2013 respectively having the same impact as earlier provisions.
Further, according to Section 6 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Act shall override
the Memorandum and Articles of Association and any provisions contained in these
documents repugnant to the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 shall be void.
Therefore, any assumption of the powers by the Board of Directors to expel a member
by alteration of Articles of Association shall be illegal and void.
The Supreme Court in the case of Bajaj Auto Ltd. v. N.K. Firodia [1971] 41 Com
Cases 1 has laid down the law as to the conditions on the basis of which directors could
refuse a person to be admitted as a member of the company. The principles laid down
by the Supreme Court in this case, even though pertain to the refusal by a company to
the admission of a person as a member of the company, are applicable even with
greater force to a case of expulsion of an existing member. As, under Article 141 of the
Constitution, the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts within the
territory of India, any provision pertaining to the expulsion of a member by the management
of a company which is against the law as laid down by the Supreme Court will be illegal
31 EP–CL–December 2019
and ultra vires. In the light of the aforesaid position, it is clarified that assumption by the
Board of directors of a company of any power to expel a member by amending its
articles of association is illegal and void.
If Ram Singh a files a suit against the company or the directors he will certainly win
the case, as expulsion of a member is illegal and void as per the Companies Act 2013.
PART II
Question 4
(a) Rajesh Gawda is a director of XYZ Pvt. Ltd. having a paid up share capital of `
11 crore. The company has granted a loan of ` 2 crore to Rajesh Gawda. The
company has a borrowing of ` 15 crore from HDFC Bank. The company secretary
informs the company that the loan to the director is in violation of the provisions
of the Companies Act, 2013. Justify the claim of the company secretary.
(5 marks)
(b) Last Annual General Meeting (AGM) of one of the top 100 listed companies was
held on 25th May, 2018 pertaining to the FY 20017-18. The Board of directors of
the company is planning to hold this year’s AGM at a possible later date due to
technical issues in finalisation of accounts. Give your suggestions about the
date before which the AGM should be held in reference to relevant provisions of
the Companies Act, 2013. (5 marks)
(c) Moon Oil Exploration Ltd. (MOEL) was incorporated on 1st June 2007 and the
company made a considerable amount of profit in the past years :
Financial Year Net Profit `
2016 –17 25 Crore
2017–18 10 Crore
2018–19 12 Crore
(i) In the current financial year 2019-20, the company wants to contribute to a
political party. How much can it contribute ?
(ii) If MOEL had contributed to political parties earlier to the year 2017, how
much could it have contributed at the maximum during those years ?
(iii) The Chairman of MOEL directed its account manager to pay a political
party’s office an amount of `50 Lakh by cheque as part payment to the
party,can he do so ?
(iv) The Board of directors authorised a payment to the National Defence Fund
too but wanted to not show it in profit and loss account. Is it possible to do
so ?
(v) A sum of `2 lakh was spent by MOEL on an advertisement in a tract
published by a political party ? How it is to be treated in the accounts of the
company? (1×5=5 marks)
(d) JKJ Ltd. has 10 directors on its Board. A Board meeting was convened on 19-
10-2019 in which two of the directors participated in-person and one director
EP–CL–December 2019 32
through video conferencing. Two directors were interested in the agenda and
hence, did not participate in the meeting. The auditor claimed that the quorum
was not present for the meeting to be valid. Do you agree with the auditor ?
Justify your answer in reference to provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.
(5 marks)
Answer 4(a)
According to section 185(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, no company shall, directly
or indirectly, advance any loan, including any loan represented by a book debt to, or give
any guarantee or provide any security in connection with any loan taken by,—
(a) any director of company, or of a company which is its holding company or any
partner or relative of any such director; or
Further, vide Exemption Notification dated 05th June, 2015, Section 185 of Companies
Act, 2013 shall not apply to Private Company meeting the following conditions:
(a) In whose share capital no other body corporate has invested any money;
(b) If the borrowings of such company from banks or financial institutions or anybody
corporate is less than twice of its paid up share capital or fifty Crore rupees,
whichever is lower; and
(c) Such a company has not defaulted in repayment of such borrowings subsisting
at the time of making transactions under this section.
Now, considering that the Paid up Capital of the Company is 11 Crores and borrowing
from HDFC Bank is Rs. 15 Crore, it can be seen that the amount of borrowings by the
company from Banks (Rs. 15 Crores) is less than twice the amount of paid up capital
(i.e. 2 X 11 Cr. = 22 Crores). So as per exemptions conditions available to private
company borrowing from the bank is less than 2 times of Paid up Capital of the Company.
To avail exemption, the company need to fulfill all conditions as provided in the
Exemption Notification. Hence, if all the above conditions are fulfilled, the loan to Rajesh
Gowda is exempted under section 185 and the company is not in violations of the
provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and the claim of CS is not justified.
Answer 4(b)
Section 96 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides that every company, other than a
one person company is required to hold an annual general meeting every year.
Secretarial Standards on General Meetings (SS-2) provides that the Board shall,
every year, convene or authorize convening of a meeting of its members called the
Annual General Meeting to transact items of ordinary business specifically required to
be transacted at an annual general meeting as well as special business, if any. If the
Board fails to convene its Annual General Meeting in any year, any Member of the
company may approach the prescribed authority, which may then direct the calling of
the Annual General Meeting of the company.
33 EP–CL–December 2019
Following are the key provisions regarding the holding of an Annual General Meeting:
1. Annual general meeting should be held once in each calendar year.
2. First annual general meeting of the company should be held within 9 months
from the closing of the first financial year. Hence it shall not be necessary for the
company to hold any annual general meeting in the year of its incorporation.
3. Subsequent annual general meeting of the company should be held within 6
months from the date of closing of the relevant financial year.
4. The gap between two annual general meetings shall not exceed 15 months.
Additionally for listed entities SEBI vide recent notification provided that the top 100
listed entities by market capitalization, determined as on March 31st of every financial
year, shall hold their annual general meetings within a period of five months from the
date of closing of the financial year. The top 100 listed entities shall provide one-way
live webcast of the proceedings of the annual general meetings.
Explanation : The top 100 entities shall be determined on the basis of market
capitalization, as at the end of the immediate previous financial year. (Notified on 9th
May, 2018 effective from April 1, 2019)
Hence for the financial year 2018-19, the meeting should/ought to have been held
within earlier of the two dates given below i.e.:
Before 31.8.2019 - within 5 months from the close of financial year 2018-19, OR
Before 24.8.2019 - lapse of 15 months from date of last AGM
Hence, AGM ought to have been held before 24th August, 2019.
However, according to third proviso to section 96(1) of Companies Act, 2013, on an
application from the company, the Registrar may, for any special reason, extend the
time within which any annual general meeting, other than the first annual general meeting,
shall be held, by a period of not exceeding three months. The company may apply to the
Registrar for extension for holding AGM, justifying it as a special reason based on the
facts of the case.
Accordingly, the company will be advised to hold its meeting on or before 24.08.2019 or
such extended period, as may be permitted by the Registrar on an application by the company.
Answer 4(c)
(i) According to Section 182 of the Companies Act, 2013, a company, other than a
government company and a Company which has been in existence for less
than three financial years, may contribute any amount directly or indirectly to
any political party.
The Finance Act, 2017 amended section 182 of the Companies Act, 2013,
accordingly the limit on the maximum amount that can be contributed by a
company to a political party has been removed. Hence a company now can
contribute any percentage without any limit.
(ii) Further, prior to the amendment to Section 182 by the Finance Act, 2017, the
EP–CL–December 2019 34
limit of contribution to political parties was 7.5% of the average net profits during
the three immediately preceding financial years.
Hence, earlier to 2017, it can have contributed only 7.5% of average net profits
at the maximum.
(iii) As per Section 182(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 the contribution must be
authorised by board in its meeting by resolution and such resolution shall be
deemed to be the justification in law for making of such contribution.
As per Section 182(3A) of the Companies Act, 2013, further, contribution under
this section shall not be made except by an account payee cheque drawn on a
bank or an account payee bank draft or use of electronic clearing system through
a bank account.
(iv) As per Section 183 of the Companies Act, 2013 the Board is authorised to
contribute such amount as it thinks fit to the National Defence Fund or any other
fund approved by the Government for the purpose of National Defence.
Further, the company is required to disclose in its profit and loss account the
total amount or amounts contributed by it during the financial year.
Accordingly, it is not possible to avoid the disclosure in the Profit and loss
account about the amount of the contribution made to the National Defence
Fund.
The copies of the notices, together with a certificate by the company as to the due
publication therefore, shall be attached to the application.
Therefore, Tirubuvani Sugars Limited will file an application seeking approval to the
appointment of Jackson as Managing Director to the Central Government in e-Form No.
MR-2.
Answer 5(b)
As per Section 110 of Companies Act, 2013 and Rule 22(10) of the Companies
(Management and Administration) Rules, 2014, every company which is required to or
which proposes to get any resolution passed through postal ballot should maintain a
separate register for each postal ballot to record the assent or dissent received through
postal ballot.
Entries in the register should be made immediately after the opening of postal ballots.
Separate folios should be maintained for each resolution passed through postal ballot.
The register should be kept at the registered office of the company after the Scrutinizer
has submitted his report.
The register, postal ballot forms and all other related records are not available for
inspection.
All postal ballot forms should be authenticated by the Scrutinizer. Entries in the
register should be authenticated by the Scrutinizer.
The register, postal ballot forms and all other related records should be kept in the
safe custody of the Scrutinizer till the Chairman signs the Minutes Book in which the
result of the voting by postal ballot is recorded.
The secretary of the company, managing director or whole-time director or the director
so authorised and the Scrutinizer should make adequate arrangements for safe custody
of the register and proof of dispatch of Notices and all envelopes received by post or by
hand, until the Scrutinizer submits his report to the Chairman.
The Scrutinizer should return the postal ballot forms and any related documents or
records to the designated person of the company for safekeeping until the resolution
has been implemented.
The Scrutinizer's report and office copies of the notices should be preserved in good
order until the resolution has been implemented or for a period of 10 years, whichever is
later.
EP–CL–December 2019 38
Answer 5(c)
(i) Section 105(4) of Companies Act, 2013 specifies the time limit for deposit of
proxy forms. The instrument appointing the proxy must be deposited with the
company, 48 hours before the meeting. Any provision contained in the articles,
requiring a longer period than 48 hours shall have effect as if a period of 48
hours had been specified.
Para 6.6.1 of SS-2 provides that proxies shall be deposited with the company
either in person or through post not later than forty-eight hours before the
commencement of the Meeting in relation to which they are deposited and a
Proxy shall be accepted even on a holiday if the last date by which it could be
accepted is a holiday.
Articles of the company cannot prescribe a longer than 48 hours for lodging the
proxy forms. And so the refusal of the chairman is void. X can compel the
chairman to accept the Proxy.
(ii) If after appointment of proxy, the member himself attends the meeting, it amounts
to automatic revocation of proxy. But once the proxy has voted, it cannot be
revoked.
Since Mr. A i.e. a member himself attended a meeting and voted on resolution,
it will amount to revocation of proxy. Thus, any vote put by Mr. X i.e. proxy shall
be invalid.
Chairman cannot invalidate both the votes. Vote of the shareholder has to be
considered and of the proxy should be invalidated. Decision of the Chairman is
void.
Answer 5(d)
Section 139(2) of the Companies Act, 2013 provides that as on date of appointment
of Auditors, no audit firm having a common partner or partners to the other audit firm
whose tenure has expired in a company immediately preceding the financial year shall
be appointed as auditor of the same company for a period of five years.
Here M Ltd is a listed entity and thus rotational provisions are applicable. B is a
partner in ABC & associates whose tenure as statutory auditor in M Ltd has expired. He
joined XY &Co. as partner 4 months after XY & Co. was appointed as statutory auditor of
M Ltd.
It may be noted that there should not be a common partner in firms as on date of
appointment. In the given case, B has joined XY &Co. after 4 months of its appointment
as statutory auditor of M Ltd. Thus, XY &Co. can continue as statutory auditor of M Ltd
for the remaining term after B joined them as Partner.
Answer 5(e)
Section 186(5) of Companies Act, 2013 provides that no investment shall be made
or loan or guarantee or security given by the company unless the resolution sanctioning
it is passed at a meeting of the Board with the consent of all the directors present at the
meeting and the prior approval of the public financial institution concerned where any
term loan is subsisting, is obtained.
39 EP–CL–December 2019
However, the prior approval of Public Financial Institution (FI) shall not be required
where the aggregate of loans and investments so far made, the amounts for which
guarantee or security so far provided to or in all other bodies corporate, along with the
investments, loans, guarantee or security proposed to be made or given does not exceed
the limit of 60% of its paid-up share capital, free reserves and securities premium
account or 100% of its free reserves and securities premium account, whichever is
more and there is no default in repayment of loan installments or payment of interest
thereon as per the terms and conditions of such loan to the public financial institution.
In the given case the Company is passing the special resolution under Section
186(2) of Companies Act, 2013, indicating thereby that the proposed loan together with
the loans already given is already in excess of the limits given under Section 186 (2) of
Companies Act, 2013.
Hence the contention of the director is correct as the company aggregate of loans
and investments so far made, exceed the limit under Section 186(2) of Companies Act,
2013.
However, if the aggregate loans/ investments are well within the limits approval and
the company is passing the Special Resolution either in terms of its Article of Association
or voluntarily only due to some other commercial requirement other than Section 186(2)
of Companies Act, 2013, then the prior approval from Financial Institution will not be
required.
Answer 5A(i)
Second Proviso to section 149 of Companies Act, 2013 provides that such class or
classes of companies as may be prescribed in Rule 3 of Companies (Appointment and
Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, provides that the following class of companies
shall appoint at least one woman director-
In the given case, as Destinations Ltd is a listed company hence, the company is
required to appoint a woman director in its board irrespective of paid up capital, turnover
and loss amounts.
The appointment of Ms. Lalita as woman director is to be made at the earliest but
not later than immediate next board meeting i.e. 15th January, 2019 or 3 months from
date of cause of vacancy i.e. 01st October, 2018; whichever is later, that means the
appointment shall be made by 15th January, 2019.
EP–CL–December 2019 40
Answer 5A(ii)
As per section 135 of the Companies Act 2013, the CSR provision is applicable to
companies which fulfills any of the following criteria during the immediately preceding
financial year:
• Companies having net worth of rupees five hundred Crore or more, or
• Companies having turnover of rupees one thousand Crore or more or
• Companies having a net profit of rupees five Crore or more
Explanation to section 135 provides that for the purposes of this section "net profit"
shall not include such sums as may be prescribed, and shall be calculated in accordance
with the provisions of section 198.
The Section 198 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with CSR Rules have clarified the
manner in which a company's net profit will be computed to determine if it fits into the
'spending' norm. In order to determine the 'net profit', dividend income received from
another Indian company (which are duly covered under and complying with the provisions
of Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013) or profits made by the company from its
overseas branches have been excluded. Moreover, the 2% CSR is computed as 2% of
the average net profits made by the company during the preceding three financial years.
Here, assuming that WB Ltd is duly covered under Section 135 of Companies Act,
2013 and is also complying with the said provisions, the dividend received by Warner Ltd
from WB Ltd shall be deducted from the Net Profit of Warner Ltd so as to compute “net
profit” & “average net profit” for the purpose of Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013.
Hence, based on above assumption, Warner Ltd’s net profit shall be considered as
rupees 7 Crore minus 1 Crore (dividend from another Indian company) = rupees 6 Crore
in the preceding financial year, thus making it liable to comply with Section 135. It will
therefore be required to spend on CSR Activities
The CSR amount to be spent/created is 2% of Rupees 6 crores + 5 crores + 6 crores
= 17/3 = rupees 5.67 Crore (average profit of the preceding three years) i.e. 2% of
Rs. 5.67 Crore being Rs. 11.33 Lakhs.
Answer 5A(iii)
Section 100(2)(a) of the Companies Act, 2013 provides that the Board shall, at the
requisition made by in the case of a company having a share capital, such number of
members who hold, on the date of the receipt of the requisition, not less than one-tenth
of such of the paid-up share capital of the company as on that date carries the right of
voting call an extraordinary general meeting of the company within twenty-one days from
the date of receipt of a valid requisition.
The requisition made under section 100(2) shall set out the matters for the
consideration of which the meeting is to be called and shall be signed by the requisitionists
and sent to the registered office of the company.
If the Board does not, within twenty-one days from the date of receipt of a valid
requisition in regard to any matter, proceed to call a meeting for the consideration of that
matter on a day not later than forty-five days from the date of receipt of such requisition,
41 EP–CL–December 2019
the meeting may be called and held by the requisiteness themselves within a period of
three months from the date of the requisition.
The meeting by the requisitionists shall be called and held in the same manner in
which the meeting is called and held by the Board
Accordingly, the requisitionists members holding more than 10% of the paid-up share
capital, may proceed to convene and hold the meeting themselves within 3 months from
5th October 2019, being the date of requisition.
Rule 17 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014 provides
the following for Calling of Extraordinary general meeting by requistionists:
(1) The members may requisition convening of an extraordinary general meeting in
accordance with sub-section (4) of section 100, by providing such requisition in
writing or through electronic mode at least clear twenty-one days prior to the
proposed date of such extraordinary general meeting.
(2) The notice shall specify the place, date, day and hour of the meeting and shall
contain the business to be transacted at the meeting.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-rule, it is here by clarified that
requistionists should convene meeting at Registered office or in the same city
or town where Registered office is situated and such meeting should be convened
on any day except national holiday.
(3) If the resolution is to be proposed as a special resolution, the notice shall be
given as required by sub-section (2) of section 114.
(4) The notice shall be signed by all the requistionists or by a requistionists duly
authorised in writing by all other requistionists on their behalf or by sending an
electronic request attaching therewith a scanned copy of such duly signed
requisition.
(5) No explanatory statement as required under section 102 need be annexed to
the notice of an extraordinary general meeting convened by the requistionists
and the requistionists may disclose the reasons for the resolution(s) which they
propose to move at the meeting.
(6) The notice of the meeting shall be given to those members whose names appear
in the Register of members of the company within three days on which the
requistionists deposit with the Company a valid requisition for calling an
extraordinary general meeting.
(7) Where the meeting is not convened, the requistionists shall have a right to
receive list of members together with their registered address and number of
shares held and the company concerned is bound to give a list of members
together with their registered address made as on twenty first day from the date
of receipt of valid requisition together with such changes, if any, before the
expiry of the forty-five days from the date of receipt of a valid requisition.
(8) The notice of the meeting shall be given by speed post or registered post or
through electronic mode. Any accidental omission to give notice to, or the non-
EP–CL–December 2019 42
receipt of such notice by, any member shall not invalidate the proceedings of
the meeting.
Answer 5A(iv)
As per Section 46 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 6 of Companies
(Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014, every company with a share capital should,
from the date of its registration, maintain a register of renewed and duplicate certificates.
The word ‘renewed’ includes consolidation and sub-division of shares and issue of
certificate in lieu thereof.
Particulars of every share certificate issued shall be recorded in a Register of Renewed
and Duplicate Share Certificates. Such register shall be maintained in Form No. SH-2
indicating against the name(s) of the person(s) to whom the certificate is issued, the
number and date of issue of the share certificate in lieu of which the new certificate is
issued, and the necessary changes indicated in the Register of Members by suitable
cross-references in the “Remarks” column. Such register shall be kept at the registered
office of the company or at such other place where the Register of Members is kept.
The register shall be preserved permanently and shall be kept in the custody of the
Company Secretary of the company or any other person authorized by the Board for the
purpose. All entries made in the Register of Renewed and Duplicate Share Certificates
shall be authenticated by the company secretary or such other person as may be
authorized by the Board for purposes of sealing and signing the share certificate. The
register is not open for inspection.
Answer 5A(v)
(1) Section 177(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 6 of the Companies
(Meetings of the Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014, provides that the Board of
directors of following companies are required to constitute an Audit Committee
of the Board-
(i) Every listed Public companies;
(ii) All public companies with a paid up capital of 10 Crore rupees or more;
(iii) All public companies having turnover of 100 Crore rupees or more;
(iv) All public companies, having in aggregate, outstanding loans or borrowings
or debentures or deposits exceeding 50 Crore rupees or more.
Accordingly RPK Ltd. is liable to constitute the audit committee as its long term
loan is more than the prescribed limit of Rs. 50 Crore.
(2) Yes, the company is liable to constitute an audit committee as it will then
become a listed company.
(3) Para 2.2 of the Secretarial Standard-1 provides that Committee shall meet as
often as necessary subject to the minimum number and frequency prescribed
by any law or any authority or as stipulated by the board.
Para 3.5 of the Secretarial Standard -1, unless otherwise stipulated in the Act or
the Articles or under any other law, the Quorum for meeting of any Committee
43 EP–CL–December 2019
constituted by the Board shall be as specified by the Board. If no such Quorum
is specified, the presence of all the members of any such Committee is
necessary to form the Quorum.
Accordingly, RPK Ltd. In case of unlisted public companies, minimum number
of meetings and quorum may be decide by the Board of Directors.
PART III
Question 6
(a) CS Rohan, a company secretary in practice availed loan against his personal
investments from a bank. He issued two cheques towards repayment of the
said loan as per terms of sanction of loan. Both the cheques were returned by
the bank with remarks ‘returned due to insufficient funds’. Comment on the
facts given with reference to provisions of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.
(b) A middle aged practicing company secretary (PCS) is considering to start a
mega professional firm. Name the professional bodies with which the PCS can
have partnership as per the Company Secretaries Regulations, 1982.
(5 marks each)
Answer 6(a)
A Company Secretary is expected to maintain highest standards of integrity even in
his personal affairs and any deviation from these standards even in his non-professional
work would expose him to disciplinary action.
A member of the Institute is subject to disciplinary action under section 21 of the
Company Secretaries Act, 1980 if he is found guilty of any professional or other
misconduct.
As per Clause 2 of Part IV of the First schedule to the Company Secretaries Act,
1980, a member of the Institute whether in practice or not shall be deemed to be guilty of
other misconduct if in the opinion of the council brings disrepute to the profession or the
Institute as a result of his action whether or not related to the professional work.
Further, Part III of the Second Schedule to the Company Secretaries Act, 1980
provides that, a member of the Institute whether in practice or not shall be deemed to be
guilty of other misconduct if he is held guilty by any civil or criminal court for an offence
which is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding six months.
Under Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 where any cheque drawn by a person for
the discharge of any liability is returned by the bank unpaid either for insufficiency of
funds or the cheque amount exceeds the arrangements made by the drawer of the
cheque the drawer of the cheque shall be deemed to have committed an offence.
In the given case the cheque was dishonored with the remark insufficient funds.
Therefore, CS Rohan may be liable for misconduct under Clause 2 of Part IV of the First
Schedule of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980, if the Council is of the opinion that the
EP–CL–December 2019 44
offence under Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 is due to negligence or willful act of CS
Rohan.
Answer 6(b)
Mega Firm can be described as a Partnership firm with more than twenty-five partners.
A firm which provides core professional service of a particular profession along with the
allied and ancillary services with equal competence under one roof is a multidisciplinary
firm. For example, company and corporate law is core for company secretaries, however,
they can acquire expertise in any other area like direct-indirect taxation, labour laws,
economic laws, finance, accounting, insurance, international business and IPRs and
they may be in position to provide single window business solutions.
Regulation 168B of Company Secretaries Regulations, 1982, which has introduced
the concept of multi-disciplinary firms or mega firms, determines the membership of
professional body for partnership. Accordingly for the purposes of entering into partnership
under clauses (4) and (5) of Part I of the First Schedule of the Company Secretaries Act,
1980, a person shall be a member of any of the following professional bodies, namely:-
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India established under the Chartered
Accountants Act, 1949 (No. 38 of 1949);
• The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India established under the Cost
and Works Accountants Act, 1959 (No.23 of 1959);
• Bar Council of India established under the Advocates Act, 1961 (No. 25 of 1961);
• The Institute of Engineers or Engineering from a University established by law or
an institution recognized by law;
• The Indian Institute of Architects established under the Architects Act, 1972
(No. 20 of 1972);
• The Institute of Actuaries of India established, under the Actuaries Act, 2006
(No. 35 of 2006);
• Professional bodies or institutions outside India whose qualifications relating to
Company Secretary recognized by the Council under Sub-section (2) of Section
38 of the Act.
Therefore, the middle aged Practicing Company Secretary, who is considering to
start a mega professional firm can enter into partnership with the member(s) of any of the
above professional bodies which will help him to cater to the bigger assignments and
meet the needs of clients and assure timely and quality services to them.
***
45 EP–SBEC–December 2019
PART A
Question 1
(a) Bindu Mediatech Private Ltd. is having paid-up capital of ` 40 lakh, its Securities
Premium Account is ` 30 lakh and its free reserves are ` 30 lakh. The company
has accepted `95 lakh as loans from its members and term loan from a
scheduled bank to the extent of `75 lakh. State whether the company can
accept loans/deposits from its members. Is there any maximum limit upto which
the company can accept as loan/deposit from its members ? Discuss the
applicability of exemptions to the Private Ltd. Company from some of the
provisions of Section 73 of the Companies Act, 2013. (Assume the Company
has not made any defaults in loan repayments). (5 marks)
(b) An unlisted Public Ltd. Company is having 220 members, 5 directors and is
having public deposits of ` 5 crores and shareholders deposits of ` 3 crores
(paid-up capital is `1 crore and free reserves `1 crore and Bank Loan ` 2 crores)
is proposing to convert it into a Private Ltd. Company. Mention conditions to be
satisfied before conversion of the Company into Private Ltd. Also list out
important procedures to be complied for such conversion. (5 marks)
(c) TP Private Ltd. Company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 with paid
up capital of `35 lakh and turnover of `2.5 crore. Explain the meaning of ‘Small
Company’ and examine the following in accordance with the provision of the
Companies Act, 2013 :
(i) Whether the TP Pvt. Limited can avail the status of ‘Small Company’ ?
(ii) Will your answer be different if the turnover of the company is `1 crore ?
(5 marks)
(d) Axar is in plant research and he has invented a process for extracting bio-fuel
from certain plants, now he is proposing to commercialize his invention by
promoting a One Person Company (OPC). But he proposes his name and his
wife name as directors of the Company. As a Company Secretary clarify Axar
on number of shareholders and directors OPC can have. Also brief him the
provisions on Board, Annual General Meeting, signing of Financial statements,
Board’s Report and Annual Return. (5 marks)
Answer 1(a)
The Company has accepted a term loan from a scheduled bank of Rs.75 lakhs.
45
EP–SBEC–December 2019 46
However, under Rule 2(1)(c) of Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 2014, it is
an exempted deposit.
MCA has provided certain exemptions to private limited companies for accepting
loans/deposits from its members. Accordingly, clause (a) to (e) of Sub-section 2 of
Section 73 of the Companies Act, 2013 shall not apply to the following private companies:
(i) which accept money not exceeding 100 % of the paid-up capital and free reserves
and securities premium.
(ii) start-up company for 5 years from its incorporation.
(iii) a private company which fulfils the following conditions:
(a) which is not an associate or a subsidiary of any other company,
(b) if the borrowings of such a company is less than twice of its paid-up share
capital or rupees fifty crores, whichever is less; and
(c) such company has not defaulted in repayment of such borrowings subsisting
at the time of accepting of deposits.
Provided that the company referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above shall file the
details of monies accepted to the registrar in such manner as may be specified.
In this case, Bindu Mediatech Private Limited, is having a paid-up share capital of
Rs.40 lakh, Free Reserves of Rs.30 lakh and share premium of Rs.30 lakh. Hence, the
company can accept loans upto Rs.100 lakh. Since the company has already accepted
Rs.95 lakh as loans from its members it can further accept Rs.5 lakh from its members
as loan/deposits.
Answer 1(b)
Pre-conditions to be examined for conversion of a public company into a private
company are as under:
(i) members to be reduced below 200 (presently 220)
(ii) public deposits to be repaid in full (presently 5 crores)
(iii) shareholders deposits/loan should not exceed 100% of paid-up capital and free
reserves and share premium (presently 3 crores) subject to fulfilment of all
conditions provided in MCA notification dated 13th June, 2017.
In this case, the company has a paid up capital of Rs.1crore and free reserves of
Rs.1 crore i.e total of Rs.2 crore which is the maximum limit of exempted deposit from
shareholder for private limited company. Hence, Rs.1 crore needs to be repaid to
shareholders before conversion.
According to section 13 and 14 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with rule 33 and
rule 41 of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014, a public company can be converted
into the private company only after obtaining its shareholders’ approval by way of passing
a special resolution in general meeting.
Apart from this, the other important procedures to be complied are:
— Calling of Board meeting
47 EP–SBEC–December 2019
— General meeting
— Advertisement in newspaper
— Filing of copy of special resolution with the ROC
— Filing of application for conversion with RD
— Order of RD approving the conversion
— Filing of order of RD with ROC
— Certificate from ROC
Applicable provisions
1. Section 13: For alteration in Memorandum of Association of the Company
2. Section 14: For alteration in Article of Association of the Company.
3. Rule 41 of Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 (inserted by Companies
(Incorporation) Fourth Amendment, Rules 2018 on 18.12.2018): Approval of
Regional Director for conversion of Public Companies into Private Companies.
Answer 1(c)
Section 2(85) of the Companies Act, 2013 defines a ‘small company’ as a company,
other than a public company, –
(i) paid-up share capital of which does not exceed fifty lakh rupees or such higher
amount as may be prescribed which shall not be more than ten crore rupees;
and
(ii) turnover of which as per profit and loss account for the immediately preceding
financial year does not exceed two crore rupees or such higher amount as may
be prescribed which shall not be more than one hundred crore rupees:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to –
(A) a holding company or a subsidiary company;
(B) a company registered under section 8; or
(C) a company or body corporate governed by any Special Act.
Hence, in order to avail the status of a ‘small company’, a company has to fulfill
both conditions (i) and (ii) above.
(i) In the given case, TP Pvt. Ltd. is a registered company under the Companies
Act, 2013 with a paid-up capital of Rs.35 lakh and turnover of Rs.2.5 crore. As
per the provision it only meets one criteria i.e. share capital does not exceed
fifty lakh rupees and does not meet the second criteria. Hence, TP Pvt. Ltd.
cannot avail the status of small company.
(ii) If the turnover of the company is Rs.1 crore then TP Pvt. Ltd. can avail the
status of small company as both the conditions will be fulfilled.
Answer 1(d)
According to Section 2(62) of the Companies Act, 2013, ‘One Person Company’
EP–SBEC–December 2019 48
means a company which has only one person as a member. A natural person who is an
Indian citizen and resident in India shall be eligible to incorporate a One Person Company
(OPC).
As per section 149(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, One Person Company may have
more than one director on its Board. But an OPC should have only one member. Hence,
Axar may incorporate an OPC and he and his wife may be the directors of the company.
As per section 173(5) of the Companies Act, 2013, it is required to hold at least one
meeting of the Board of Directors in each half of a calendar year and the gap between
the two meetings should not be less than ninety days. For an OPC having only one
director, the provisions of section 173 (Meetings of the Board) and section 174 (Quorum
for meeting of Board) of the Companies Act, 2013 will not apply.
As per section 96(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, OPC need not hold annual general
meeting. As per section 92(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, the annual return shall be
signed by the Company Secretary, or where there is no Company Secretary, by the
director of company.
As per section 134(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, financial statement and Board’s
Report can be signed only by one director.
Attempt all parts of either Q. No. 2 or Q. No. 2A
Question 2
(a) ‘Alteration of Capital Clause in Memorandum of Association is a precondition to
restructuring the Capital structure of the Company’ — Elaborate the statement
mentioning relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 on types of alterations
of Capital Clause. (4 marks)
(b) Aryan & Aarav, an LLP having turnover of `45 lakh and contribution of the
partners exeeding `30 lakh in F.Y. 2018-19 is seeking your advice in the following
matters :
(i) Is dividend distribution tax applicable on LLP ?
(ii) Is LLP subjected to audit ? State the reason.
(iii) Is LLP eligible to raise loan from ABC Ltd., a foreign bank ?
(iv) State Offences & Penalties for non-filing of financial statements under the
LLP Act, 2008. (4 marks)
(c) ‘Joint Ventures can be extremely valuable and chances of their failure can be
reduced to a great extent, if strategically formed’ — Comment on important
strategies of joint venture. (4 marks)
(d) ‘Asset Reconstruction Companies are created to manage and recover Non-
Performing Assets’ — Comment referring the functions and benefits of Asset
Reconstruction Companies. (4 marks)
(e) Pawan incorporated a Private Ltd. Company in the year 2016 for carrying on the
business of supplying freshly chopped vegetables to various food chains in and
49 EP–SBEC–December 2019
around New Delhi NCR. He wants his entity to be recognised as a start-up.
Advise the process to be followed by him for recognition of his company as a
start-up. (4 marks)
OR (Alternate question to Q. No. 2)
Question 2A
(i) Prathik has studied about mass farming and is keen in uniting farmers in various
states by forming a Multi State Co-operative Society. Brief Prathik on the
documentary requirements for formation of Multi State Co-operative Society
and the Authority with whom the application needs to be filed.
(ii) “Concept of self help group” is the most exciting discovery in the context of
Microfinance. Explain the terms and features of microfinance.
(iii) Your Company proposes to enter into Joint Venture outside India and the
Management of the Company wants to know from you various methods/modes
available for funding the joint venture.
(iv) Individual or minority members cannot bring a suit except when it is intended for
enforcement of personal rights of members or to prevent the company from
doing any ultravires or illegal act, fraud or oppression and mismanagement.
Discuss with the help of decided case laws the distinction between ultravires or
illegal acts and personal rights.
(v) X, an employee of BG Ltd., is aggrieved by the decision of shifting of the
registered office of the Company from the state of Uttar Pradesh to Haryana. He
has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the same, considering that
the business of the company will be severely affected by the said decision of
shifting of registered office. In the light of decided case laws, examine the
strength of argument raised in the PIL. (4 marks each)
Answer 2(a)
Section 61(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 provides for, the types of alteration of
capital clause in the general meeting of a company limited by shares through alteration
of its memorandum in the following ways :
(a) increase its authorised share capital by such amount as it thinks expedient;
(b) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of a larger
amount than its existing shares:
Provided that no consolidation and division which results in changes in the
voting percentage of shareholders shall take effect unless it is approved by the
Tribunal on an application made in the prescribed manner;
(c) convert all or any of its fully paid-up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock
into fully paid-up shares of any denomination;
(d) sub-divide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is
fixed by the memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division the proportion
between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share
EP–SBEC–December 2019 50
shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the reduced
share is derived;
(e) cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution in that behalf,
have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the
amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.
All the above alterations do not require the confirmation by the Tribunal except that
alteration relating to consolidation and division which results in changes in the voting
percentage of shareholders shall not take effect unless it is approved by the Tribunal on
an application made in the prescribed manner.
These alterations are, however, required to be notified and a copy of the resolution
should be filed with the Registrar within 30 days of the passing of the resolution along
with an altered memorandum. [Section 64(1)]
Hence, according to section 61(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, alteration of
memorandum of association is a precursor to the change in capital structure of the
company.
Answer 2(b)
(i) For the purpose of income tax, LLP is treated at par with partnership. A LLP is
not subject to Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT).
(ii) The accounts of LLP shall be audited in accordance with Rule 24 of the Limited
Liability Partnership Rules, 2009. The audit is required only in those cases
where the turnover exceeds Rs.40 lakh and where the contribution exceeds
Rs.25 lakh. Hence, in the given case since, both the criteria has been fulfilled,
it requires to conduct audit.
(iii) Limitation in External Commercial Borrowings (ECB): LLP’s are not allowed to
raise ECB. Hence, it cannot avail commercial loans from its foreign partners,
FII’s, foreign banks and any financial institution located outside India. Hence,
Aryan & Aarav LLP cannot raise loan from ABC Ltd., a foreign bank.
(iv) Offences and penalties : Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 provides that
for non-compliance on procedural matters such as delay in filing e-forms, one
has to pay default fees for every day for which the default continuous. Such
default fees would be payable at the rate of rupee one hundred per day after the
expiry of the date of filing up to a period of three hundred days. The offence can
result in either (i) through payment of fine or (ii) through payment of fine as well
as imprisonment of the offender.
Answer 2(c)
Joint ventures can be very effective for growth and success of a business. Their
chances for failure can be reduced to a great extent if the following strategies are formed:
(a) Joint Venture Partner should never be weak or untrustworthy partner, as it would
definitely lead to failure of the joint venture. On the other hand, JV with strong
and trustworthy partner would generate enormous benefits for both the partners
and Joint Venture entity.
51 EP–SBEC–December 2019
(b) Development of Strong Joint Venture Relationship : Partners must strive to
develop joint venture relationships that are easy to maintain, financially profitable,
intellectually rewarding, and long-lasting. After a necessary period of negotiation
and implementation, the Joint Venture relationship should grow well and quickly
and painlessly.
(c) Equal Contribution : Joint Venture Partners must make sure that all the partners
have equal contribution in the Joint Venture entity in terms of skills, intellectual
resources, marketing resources, capital, and so on. Unbalanced or unequal
contributions are never healthy for the success of a Joint Venture entity.
(d) Written Agreement : The agreement between two or more parties always be
written and must clearly define all the terms, relates to rights and responsibilities
of each partner. The language of the agreement must be simple and there should
be no ambiguity, also there should be no clashing of interest.
(e) Well defined business model : The firms in a JV must clearly define the nature
of the new venture including the proposition to the customer, the channels and
relationship management, the value chain, the structure and roles, investments,
income, costs and payments, success factors and the timetable for delivery. A
well-defined business model provides a base for the legal and financial
frameworks.
(f) Establishment of Exit Routes : JV Partners much establish clear protocols in
the beginning itself for amending or unwinding the relation if it fails to meet the
expectations or in case there arises any dispute.
Answer 2(d)
As per RBI Notification No. DNBS.2/CGM (CSM)-2003, dated April 23, 2003, Asset
Reconstruction Company (ARC) performs the following functions:
(i) Acquisition of financial assets
(ii) Change or takeover of management / sale or lease of business of the borrower
(iii) Rescheduling of debt
(iv) Enforcement of security interest
(v) Settlement of dues payable by the borrower
Benefits of incorporating an ARC are as under:
(i) Banks can focus better on managing the core business including providing new
business opportunities for the ARC.
(ii) Restoration of depositor and investor confidence by ensuring the lender’s financial
health.
(iii) It will help in building industry expertise in loan resolution and restructuring
management besides serving as a catalyst for important legal reforms in
bankruptcy procedures and loan collection.
(iv) ARCs play an important role in developing capital markets through secondary
asset instruments.
EP–SBEC–December 2019 52
Answer 2(e)
The recognition of the startups in India is regulated vide notification G.S.R. 127(E)
issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) dated
19th February, 2019. The entity shall be considered as a Startup:
(i) Upto a period of ten years from the date of incorporation/ registration, if it is
incorporated as a private limited company (as defined in the Companies Act,
2013) or registered as a partnership firm (registered under section 59 of the
Partnership Act, 1932) or a limited liability partnership (under the Limited Liability
Partnership Act, 2008) in India.
(ii) Turnover of the entity for any of the financial years since incorporation/ registration
has not exceeded one hundred crore rupees.
(iii) Entity is working towards innovation, development or improvement of products
or processes or services, or if it is a scalable business model with a high potential
of employment generation or wealth creation.
The process of recognition of an eligible entity as startup shall be as under:
(i) A Startup shall make an online application over the mobile app or portal set-up
by the DPIIT.
(ii) The application shall be accompanied by — (a) a copy of Certificate of
Incorporation or Registration, as the case may be, and (b) a write-up about the
nature of business highlighting how it is working towards innovation, development
or improvement of products or processes or services, or its scalability in terms
of employment generation or wealth creation.
The DPIIT may, after calling for such documents or information and making such
enquires, as it may deem fit, — (a) recognise the eligible entity as Startup; or (b) reject
the application by providing reasons.
Answer 2A(i)
An application in Form-1 (under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Multi-State Cooperative
Societies Rules, 2002) should be filed with the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies,
New Delhi along with the following enclosures:
1. A certificate from the bank stating credit balance there in favour of the proposed
multi-state co-operative society.
2. A scheme explaining how the proposed multi-state co-operative society has
reasonable prospects of becoming a viable unit.
3. Four copies of bye-laws in original.
4. Proposed area of operation for registration shall initially be permitted for two
contagious States only.
5. List of at least 50 members from each State. The list has to be submitted in the
format annexed with the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 (MSCS
Act, 2002) along with the copies of ID proofs of the members duly attested by
Chief Promoter.
53 EP–SBEC–December 2019
6. Certified copies of the resolutions passed by the proposed society along with
the certified copy of the resolution of the promoters which shall specify the
name and address of one of the applicant(s) to whom the Central Registrar may
address correspondence under the rules before registration and dispatch or
hand over of registration documents.
7. Contact number and e-mail address of the Chief Promoter or Society on cover
page.
For societies having objects related to thrift and credit and for multi-purpose societies
following additional documents are required to be submitted along with documents
mentioned above:
1. No Objection Certificate from the Registrar of Cooperative Societies of the States/
UT where the area of operation of the society is proposed to be confined.
2. A certificate to the effect that the credentials of the Chief Promoter/Promoters
have been verified by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies of the State where
the head office is proposed to be located.
All documents to be submitted in original with the signatures of the Chief Promoter/
Promoters on each page.
Answer 2A(ii)
NABARD has defined microfinance as “provision of thrift, credit and other financial
services and products of very small amounts to the poor in rural, semi-urban and urban
areas provided to customers to meet their financial needs; with only qualification that (1)
transactions value is small and (2) customers are poor.”
(1) Microfinance provides financial services to those whose income is small and
unstable. These people are in need of credit facilities for several reasons, some
of which are listed below:
(a) their needs are small and arise suddenly.
(b) the institutional providers of finance, namely, the banks demand collateral
security which they cannot provide.
(c) most of the time, they are in urgent need of funds to meet their consumption
demands, for example, to meet expenses related to education, illness,
funerals, weddings for which it is difficult to obtain institution finance.
(d) For purpose of investment in income generating activities.
(2) Concept of Self Help Groups (SHGs) is the most exciting discovery in the
context of microfinance. The Indian microfinance scene is dominated by SHGs
and their linkage with banks. This has helped in empowerment of women and
eradication of poverty among people with low income.
(3) Microfinance provides a greater menu of options whereby the small loan can be
garnered not just from the external sources but also through self-mobilization,
by way of saving and sale of assets.
(4) The biggest flexibility in the case of microfinance is the lack of any physical
collateral, even in case of loan from the bank.
EP–SBEC–December 2019 54
Answer 2A(iii)
Investment (or financial commitment) in an overseas Joint venture (JV) / Wholly
Owned Subsidiary (WOS) may be funded out of one or more of the following sources:
(i) drawal of foreign exchange from an AD bank in India;
(ii) capitalization of exports;
(iii) swap of shares;
(iv) proceeds of External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) / Foreign Currency
Convertible Bonds (FCCBs);
(v) in exchange of ADRs/GDRs issued in accordance with the Scheme for issue of
Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (through Depository
Receipt Mechanism) Scheme, 1993, and the guidelines issued there under from
time to time by the Government of India;
(vi) balances held in EEFC account of the Indian Party and
(vii) proceeds of foreign currency funds raised through ADR / GDR issues.
In respect of (vi) and (vii) above, the limit of financial commitment vis-à-vis the net
worth will not apply.
However, all investments (or financial commitment) made in the financial sector will
be subject to compliance with Regulation 7 of the Master Direction – Direct investment
by resident in Joint venture (JV) / Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) abroad irrespective
of the method of funding.
Answer 2A(iv)
There are basically two types of rights that are enjoyed by the members of the
company. One is the personal right and the other is the corporate right.
In the landmark case of C.L Joseph v. Jos and Anr the Kerela High Court observed
that:
There are two kinds of rights for a member of a company, on the individual membership
rights and the other the corporate membership right. So far as the corporate membership
rights are concerned a shareholder can assert those rights only in conformity with the
decision of the majority of the shareholders. An individual membership is a right to
maintain himself in full membership with all the rights and privileges appertaining to that
status. The right implies that the individual shareholder can insist on the strict observance
of the legal rules, statutory provision and provisions in the memorandum and articles
cannot be waived by the majority shareholders.
In certain circumstances an individual member may bring an action to remedy a
wrong done to his company or to compel his company to conduct its affair in accordance
with the constitution and the rules of law governing it, even though no wrong has been
done to him personally, even though the majority of his fellow members do not wish the
action to be brought.
It should be carefully noted that the rule in Foss v. Hartbottle to cases when corporate
55 EP–SBEC–December 2019
membership is involved provided that the case is not of an exception of the rule derived
in the above case or for example if the acts are done ultra vires.
Also section 241 of the companies Act, 2013 says that any member of a company
who complains that 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
any other member or members or in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the company
can apply to the tribunal for relief.
Hence, the law allows intervention by the individual member in case of wrong done
to him personally or any act done by the company that is illegal or ultra vires.
Answer 2A(v)
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) of X, an employee of BG Ltd. regarding shifting
of registered office is not tenable.
The facts are similar to the case of Bharat Commerce and Industries Ltd., Re,
(1973) 43 Com Cases 162 (Cal.), where it was held that employees’ union, which was a
registered body and which represented quite a number of the employees at the registered
office of the company, would have the legal standing to appear before the court and
oppose the application on the ground that their interests are likely to be prejudicially
affected if the resolution for shifting the registered office of the company from one State
to another is confirmed by the court. However, it was held that the employees’ union
cannot oppose on the ground that there would be loss of revenue or unemployment in
the State or that the meeting at which the special resolution was passed was itself not
valid.
So long as interest of none of the employee at the registered office is prejudiced by
retrenchment or otherwise, the argument of X is not tenable.
PART B
Question 3
(a) Aravind has recently completed Telecommunications engineering and he is keen
in starting his own venture for Telecommunication support services. He has
heard about OSP License and approached you to get more information on it.
Brief him, on the purpose, authority authorised to issue such license, documents
necessary for making application and compliance after registration.
(b) State the circumstances under which an employee is not liable for Compensation
under Employees Compensation Act, 1923.
(c) Saravan is carrying out building contract works for industrial and commercial
customers. He engages 25 workers on regular basis, wants to know about the
applicability of Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 to him and
licensing requirement if any for his business. Also brief him the details regarding
the Registers to be maintained by Principal Employer and the contractor.
(d) Bhaskar is presently running a business of finance. He has planned to promote
an Infrastructure Finance Company along with his friends. He seeks your advice
to know whether it is a Non-Banking Finance Company requiring Reserve Bank
EP–SBEC–December 2019 56
of India’s registration and criteria to be satisfied by such Company. Also clarify
on how Net owned Fund is calculated. (5 marks each)
Answer 3(a)
OSP Registration
According to the New Telecom Policy (NTP) 1999, service providers in India involved
in providing services like tele-banking, tele-medicine, tele-education, tele-trading, e-
commerce, call center, network operation center and other IT Enabled Services, using
telecom resources are termed as “Other Service Providers” (OSP). These OSP’s are
required to obtain an OSP Registration from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT).
If Aravind is keen on starting his own venture for telecommunication support services,
he has to know about the OSP License procedures which are as follows:
To obtain an OSP Registration in India, it is mandatory for the entity to be a Private
Limited Company. Therefore, entrepreneurs having plans for starting a call center or
BPO or e-commerce or other IT Enabled Services must incorporate a Private Limited
Company.
The following are the documents necessary for OSP Registration in addition to the
application in the prescribed format:
• Certificate of Incorporation of Private Limited Company
• Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA)
• Board Resolution or Power of Attorney authorizing the authorized signatory
• Name of business and activities proposed
• List of directors
• Present shareholding
The above documents must be certified with seal by a Company Secretary, or
director of the company or statutory auditor or public notary.
The compliances after registration are:
(a) OSPs are required to submit an “Annual Return” to the DOT mentioning the
activities undertaken and the present status of the OSP. The annual return for
OSP License renewal must be submitted within 6 months of completion of
financial year.
(b) Maintaining compliance with the terms and conditions prescribed by the DOT
for OSP.
Answer 3(b)
Circumstances where an employee is not liable for compensation under the
Employees Compensation Act, 1923:
(i) In respect of any injury which does not result in the total or partial disablement
of the workman for a period exceeding three days.
57 EP–SBEC–December 2019
(ii) In respect of any injury, not resulting in death or permanent total disablement
caused by an accident which is directly attributable to -
(a) The workman having been at the time thereof under the influence of drink or
drugs; or
(b) Wilful disobedience of the workman to an order expressly given, or to a rule
expressly framed, for the purpose of securing the safety of workman; or
(c) Wilful removal or disregard by the workman of any safety guard or other
device which he knew to have been provided for the purpose of securing the
safety of workman.
Answer 3(c)
Applicability of Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970
Every establishment in which 20 or more workmen are employed or were employed
on any day of the preceding 12 months as contract labor.
Every contractor who employs or who employed on any day of the preceding twelve
months 20 or more workmen.
Licensing of Contractor
• Engaging 20 or more than 20 workers and on deposit of required fee in Form IV.
• Valid for specified period.
Registers of Contractors to be maintained by,
Principle Employer
• To maintain a register of contractor in respect of every establishment in Form
XII.
Contractor
• To maintain register of workers for each registered establishment in Form XIII.
• To issue an Employment card to each worker in Form XIV
• To issue service certificate to every workman on his termination in Form XV.
Answer 3 (d)
Infrastructure Finance Company
Yes, the proposed Infrastructure Finance Company is a non-banking finance company
that
(a) deploys at least 75 percent of its total assets in infrastructure loans
(b) has a minimum net owned funds of Rs.300 crore
(c) maintains a minimum credit rating of ‘A’ or equivalent
(d) and has a capital to risk assets ratio (CRAR) of 15% It requires registration
with the Reserve Bank of India.
EP–SBEC–December 2019 58
Net Owned Fund Formula
The net owned fund would be calculated based on the last audited balance sheet of
the company. Net owned fund will consist of paid-up equity capital, free reserves, balance
in share premium account and capital reserve representing surplus arising out of sale
proceeds of assets but not reserve created by revaluation of assets. From the aggregate
of items it will be deducted, accumulated loss balance and book value of intangible
assets, if any, to arrive at owned funds. Further, investment in shares of other NBFCs
and in shares, debentures of subsidiaries and group companies in excess of 10% of the
owned funds mentioned above will be deducted to arrive at the Net Owned Fund.
In terms of section 45-IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, a non-banking
financial company can commence or carry on business of a non-banking financial
institution only after obtaining a certificate of registration from the Reserve Bank of
India.
Attempt all parts of either Q. No. 4 or Q. No. 4A
Question 4
(a) A factory has 100 male employees and 50 female employees. Factory Manager
is keen to know whether the factory has to provide following welfare to the
workers employed as per Factories Act :
(i) First aid appliances
(ii) Canteens
(iii) Creches. (3 marks)
(b) Harpreet is doing Masters Degree and he is studying about environmental
legislations.
He is enquiring about ‘Green Tribunal’. Brief him about Green Tribunal and its
objectives. (3 marks)
(c) Tony Singh is a popular stage performer and M/s Pon Sun Studios, Chandigarh
is having all the rights, titles and interests in the personality of the artist along
with the trade. A company started selling miniature toys of Tony Singh to encash
his popularity. In the light of statutory provision, examine the remedy available
against company for infringing Tony Singh’s right to publicity. (3 marks)
(d) Public Liability Insurance intends to provide protection to the general public
against any unforseen industrial accident. Elucidate. (3 marks)
(e) Prabhat is proposing to start a new business wants to know from you the
mandatory annual compliances for an LLP and a partnership firm. (3 marks)
OR (Alternate question to Q. No. 4)
Question 4A
(i) One of the objectives of the Design Rules, 2001 is to enable protection of newly
created designs applying to an article manufactured by a particular industrial
process ? Elucidate. (3 marks)
59 EP–SBEC–December 2019
(ii) Preerna has taken some books from Library and she wants to reproduce
“Verbatim” some pages from the book of her Ph.D. thesis. She would like to
know from you whether she will be violating any Copyright protection in doing
so. Also brief her exceptions available to protect the interest of the users under
Copyright law. (3 marks)
(iii) Sukrit is running small fabrication unit with 5 workers. He is planning for expansion
and it may require addition of 10-15 employees. He is planning to register his
business under Employees State Insurance (ESI) and extend the benefit to all
his employees. He is keen in knowing from you the benefits available to him as
an employer in extending the ESI facilities to his employees. (3 marks)
(iv) What are the circumstances under which RBI may cancel the license granted to
a banking company regulated under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. (3 marks)
(v) TPS Pvt. Ltd. incorporated on 1st August, 2017 having its registered office at
Saket, New Delhi. Management of the Company kept some of the statutory
records in the other branch of the Company in Janakpuri, New Delhi. Explain
whether Company is eligible to keep its statutory records at place other than its
registered office under the Companies Act, 2013. (3 marks)
Answer 4(a)
Factories Act, 1948 provides for the following welfare to the workers:
• First-aid appliances – one first-aid box not less than one for every 150 workers
• Canteens when there are 250 or more workers
• Crèches when there are 30 or more women workers.
In the given case,
(i) Since a total of 150 workers are employed in the factory, it has to provide first
aid appliances.
(ii) The canteen facility need not be provided, as it applies to factories employing
more than 250 workers.
(iii) Since the factory has 50 female workers, it has to provide for crèche facility.
Answer 4(b)
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), 2010 was established keeping in mind The Rio
Conference of 1992 and based on the international environment principles of ‘polluter
pays principle’ and ‘sustainable development’.
This legislation was established to deal with environment related disputes, a speedy
disposal of these cases and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and
property and for matters connected or incidental thereto
NGT was established for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to
environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including
enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation
for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental
thereto.
EP–SBEC–December 2019 60
Objectives of NGT
• The effective and speedy disposal of the cases relating to environment protection
and conservation of forests and other natural resources. All the previous pending
cases will also be heard by the Tribunal.
• It aims at enforcing all the legal rights relating to the environment
• It also accounts for providing compensation and relief to effected people for
damage of property
Answer 4(c)
Tony Singh,being the lawful owner of the trade mark, M/s Pon Sun Studies can
institute a civil suit seeking a restraint on infringement of the trade mark.
The facts are similar to the decided case Daler Mehndi Entertainment v. Baby Gift
House & org. In that case, court held that passing off would occur when the mark is
being used to create confusion in the minds of the consumer that results in the damage
or loss of business for the person or company who are the lawful owner of the trademark.
Answer 4(d)
Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 provide the compensation for damages to victims
of an accident of handling any hazardous substance or, to save the owner of production/
storage of hazardous substance from hefty penalties. This is done by providing
compulsory insurance for third party liability.
The owner shall buy one or more insurance policies before he/she starts handling
any hazardous substance. When any accident comes to the knowledge of the Collector,
then he/she shall verify the occurrence of accident and order for relief as he/she deems
fit.
Answer 4(e)
Mandatory annual compliances for LLP
Annual returns are filed in Form 11. This form is a summary of the management of
affairs of the LLP, such as number of partners and their names. Form 11 needs to be
filed with the Registrar within 60 days of the closure of the financial year. Hence this
Annual Return should be filed on or before 30th May every year by the LLP.
In case the annual turnover of the LLP crosses Rs.5 crore or the capital contribution
from Partners exceeds Rs.50 lakh, the Annual return should be accompanied by a
Certificate from Practicing Company Secretary
All LLPs are required to maintain their books of accounts in Double Entry System.
They also need to prepare a Statement of Solvency (Accounts) every year ending on
31st March. For this purpose, LLP Form 8 should be filed with the Registrar of Companies
on or before 30th October every year.
It should be noted that LLPs whose annual turnover exceeds Rs.40 lakh or whose
contribution exceeds Rs.25 lakh are required to get their accounts audited by a qualified
Chartered Accountant mandatorily.
61 EP–SBEC–December 2019
Maintenance of book of account is mandatory for LLP, irrespective of annual turnover.
In partnership there is no requirement for filing Annual Return. There is no requirement
for certificate from company secretary.
Answer 4A(i)
A design registration protects the aesthetic aspect of a product. Registration confers
protection on the features of shape, configuration, pattern, ornament or composition of
lines or colours as applied to an article of manufacture. Since manufacturing has to be
achieved through one or more industrial process the object of rules provides for the
particular objective.
Functional or technical features of articles are not protected under the Design Act,
2000. An ‘article’ includes, among other things, any substance – artificial or partly artificial
and partly natural – and any part of an article which is capable of being manufactured
and sold independently.
Answer 4(A)(ii)
Verbatim reproduction of pages of the book for the Ph.D. thesis is not protected
under the fair use doctrine of the Copyright Act, 1957. The case of Fateh Singh Mehta v.
OP Singhal decided by the Rajasthan High Court deals with similar set of facts whereby
research thesis submitted by the respondent was copied verbatim to large extent by the
appellant for preparing his Ph.D. thesis. It was held to be infringement on part of the
appellant.
In order to protect the interests of users, some exemptions have been prescribed in
respect of specific uses of works enjoying copyright. It includes:
• for the purpose of research or private study,
• for criticism or review,
• for reporting current events,
• in connection with judicial proceeding,
• for the purpose of education and religious ceremonies
Section 52 of the Copyright Act, 1957 provides for various other purposes which will
constitute fair use of copyrighted material.
Answer 4(A)(iii)
Benefits for employers in extending the ESI facilities to employees
• Employers are absolved of all their liabilities of providing medical benefits to
their employees and their family members or dependents in kind or in the form
of fixed cash allowance.
• Employers are granted exemption pertaining to the applicability of Maternity
Benefit Act, 1961, Employees Compensation Act, 1923, etc. in respect of
employees covered under the ESIC Scheme. This results in employers
possessing a productive and well-secured workforce, at their disposal which is
an essential ingredient for better productivity of an organization.
EP–SBEC–December 2019 62
• Employers are absolved of any responsibility in times of physical distress of
their employees or workers such as employment injury, sickness or physical
disablement thereby resulting in loss of wages since the responsibility of paying
cash benefits shifts from the employer to the ESIC Corporation in respect of
insured employees.
• Any amount or sum paid by way of contribution under the Employees’ State
Insurance Act, 1948 is deducted in computing ‘Income’ under the Income Tax
Act, 1961.
Answer 4(A)(iv)
The Reserve Bank of India may cancel a license granted to a banking company
under section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 -
(i) if the company ceases to carry on banking business in India; or
(ii) if the company at any time fails to comply with any of the conditions imposed
upon it under sub-section (1) of section 22; or
(iii) if at any time, any of the conditions referred to in sub-section 3(15) and sub-
section (3A) is not fulfilled.
Provided that before cancelling a license under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this sub-
section on the ground that the banking company has failed to comply with or has failed
to fulfill any of the conditions referred to therein, the Reserve Bank of India, unless it is
of opinion that the delay will be prejudicial to the interests of the company’s depositors
or the public, shall grant to the company on such terms as it may specify, an opportunity
of taking the necessary steps for complying with or fulfilling such condition.
Answer 4(A)(v)
Unless otherwise notified, it is assumed that statutory records are kept at the
registered office address of the company. If it is inconvenient to make certain records
available for inspection at the registered office, you may keep some or all of them at the
other nearby premises under the jurisdiction of the company. It must be notified, if any
statutory records are kept at any other place other than the registered office of the
company.
Further, one must notify if they move any records, and the company is expected to
confirm their location whenever you file an annual confirmation statement.
Hence, in this case TPS Pvt. Ltd. is eligible to keep its statutory record in their
branch at Janakpuri, New Delhi.
PART C
Question 5
(a) ABC Ltd., has initiated insolvency proceedings against RS Ltd., for recovery of
debt of `2.86 crore. ABC Ltd. intends to appoint Rahul, one of the employees of
its statutory auditors, M/s ASA & Associates, Chartered Accountants, as its
resolution professional. In the light of the statutory provisions, examine whether
Rahul can be appointed as a resolution professional. (3 marks)
63 EP–SBEC–December 2019
(b) Describe the procedure mentioned under Section 53 of Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016 for distribution of assets in case of liquidation.
(3 marks)
(c) Preetha has recently become Director of a Company. She wants to know about
‘active’ and ‘inactive’ status shown in MCA website. Explain the concept of
‘Inactive Company’ to her referring the relevant provisions of the Company Law
and also brief her under what circumstances a company can make application
for obtaining ‘dormant’ status. (3 marks)
(d) National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has passed order for Commencement
of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) of Dora Travels Ltd., one of
its director has approached you to know the effects of “Moratorium” upon the
commencement of CIRP. (3 marks)
(e) Mithali sports LLP has been struck off by Registrar of Companies. One of its
unsecured creditors has approached you to know his eligibility in making
application for revival of struck off LLP. Also brief with the procedures for the
revival of struck off LLP. (3 marks)
Answer 5(a)
Rahul being one of the employees of statutory auditors of the debtor company is not
independent of the debtor and as such his appointment as Resolution Professional is
not valid.
As per IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations,
2016, an insolvency professional shall be eligible to be appointed as a resolution
professional if he, and all partners and directors of the insolvency professional entity of
which he is a partner or director, are independent of the corporate debtor.
Answer 5(b)
Section 53 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 provides for the manner of
distribution of assets in case of liquidation and order of priority of distribution. This order
of providing is known as the ‘waterfall Arrangement’. Each category of persons comes
in priority after the previous one. It is pertinent to note that this order of priority is
notwithstanding anything which is contained in any other Central or State law.
Answer 5(c)
‘Inactive company’ means a company which,
(a) has not been carrying on any business or operation, or
(b) has not made any significant accounting transaction during the last two financial
years, or
(c) has not filed financial statements and annual returns during the last two financial
years.
‘Dormant company’ is formed and registered for a future project to hold an asset or
intellectual property and has no significant accounting transaction. Such a company or
an inactive company may make an application to the Registrar in such manner as may
be prescribed for obtaining the status of a dormant company.
EP–SBEC–December 2019 64
Answer 5(d)
On commencement of the CIRP, the adjudicating authority passes an order declaring
moratorium for prohibiting all of the following by virtue of section 14 of the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code, 2016:
(a) Institution of suits or continuation of pending suits or proceedings against the
corporate debtor including execution of any judgment, decree or order in any
court of law, tribunal, arbitration panel or other authority
(b) Transferring, encumbering, alienating or disposing of by the corporate debtor
any of its assets or any legal right or beneficial interest therein
(c) Any action to foreclose, recover or enforce any security interest created by the
corporate debtor in respect of its property including any action under SARFAESI
Act, 2002.
(d) The recovery of any property by an owner or lessor where such property is
occupied by or in the possession of the corporate debtor
The order of moratorium shall have effect from the date of order till the completion of
CIRP or date of approval of resolution plan or order of liquidation as the case may be.
Answer 5(e)
Unlike procedure for revival of a company enumerated in section 252 (1) and (3) of
the Companies Act, 2013, there is no corresponding provision for the revival of LLPs in
the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008.
Therefore, in the case of strike-off of LLPs the ultimate remedy for revival is to file
the Writ Petition before the High Court of appropriate jurisdiction.
However, in the recent matter of Lawns Hospitality LLP, the NCLT Chennai Bench
has allowed revival of the stuck off LLP on the same parallel lines as that of companies
under section 252(3) of the Companies Act, 2013.
Question 6
(a) Yogendra is an allottee of a flat in a real estate project promoted by the company,
but he has not been delivered flat as per Agreement. He has approached you to
know, whether he can make application under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code,
2016 and in what status he can make application. Also brief the timelines for
Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process.
(b) Yuvan Infra Ltd. is continuously making losses and the Directors of the Company
are planning to voluntarily wind up the Company. As a Company Secretary
advise on conditions and also advise them briefly on procedures for voluntary
liquidation. (5 marks each)
Answer 6(a)
Yogendra, allottee of the flat can be treated as financial creditor.
As per amendments made to the definition of ‘financial debt’ under section 5(8) of
the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, ‘financial debt’ means a debt along with
65 EP–SBEC–December 2019
interest, if any, which is disbursed against the consideration for the time value of money
and includes any amount raised under any other transaction, including any forward sale
or purchase agreement, having the commercial effect of a borrowing.
Explanation: for the purpose of sub-clause (f) of section 5(8), any amount raised
from an allottee under real estate project shall be deemed to be an amount having the
commercial effect of a borrowing; and the expressions, ‘allottee’ and ‘real estate project’
shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (d) and (zb) of Section
2 of Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.
Timeline for completion of CIRP increased to an overall limit of 330 days by the
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2019 w.e.f. 5th August, 2019. Prior
to the Amendment, the Code required that the CIRP should be concluded within a
maximum period of 180 days (with a maximum one-time extension of 90 days) from the
insolvency commencement date.
Answer 6(b)
Section 59(3) of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code prescribes following conditions
for voluntary liquidation.
1. A declaration by majority of the directors of the company (in an affidavit) stating
that they have made a full inquiry into the affairs of the company and formed an
opinion that either the company has no debt or it will be able to pay its debts in
full from the proceeds of assets to be sold in the voluntary liquidation.
2. Company is not being liquidated to defraud any person.
Brief procedure of voluntary liquidation of a corporate person under IBC includes:
1. Submission of declaration that the company will be able to pay its dues and is
not being liquidated to defraud any person to ROC
2. Passing special resolution for approving the proposal of voluntary liquidation
and appointment of liquidator
3. Public announcement inviting claims of all stakeholders
4. Intimation to the ROC and the Board about the approval
5. Preparation of preliminary report about the capital structure, estimates of assets
and liabilities, proposed plan of action
6. Verification of claims
7. Opening of a bank account in the name of the corporate person followed by the
words ‘in voluntary liquidation’ in a scheduled bank
8. Sale of assets, recovery of monies due to corporate person, realization of uncalled
capital or unpaid capital contribution
9. Distribution of the proceeds from realisation
10. Submission of final report by the liquidator to the corporate person, ROC and
the Board and application to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)
11. Submission of NCLT order regarding the dissolution.
***
EP–TL–December 2019 66
TAX LAWS
Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum marks : 100
Total number of Questions : 100
Note : All questions in Part-I relate to the Income Tax Act, 1961 and Assessment Year
2019-20, unless stated otherwise.
PART I
1. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is headed by Chairman and also
comprises of six members. The Chairman and all the Members of the CBDT are
being selected :
(A) By Finance Minister
(B) From IRS
(C) By Prime Minister
(D) By Chief Justice of India
2. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) provides essential inputs for policy
and planning of direct taxes in India and is a ...................... functioning under
the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963.
(A) Constituted Authority
(B) Revenue Administration Authority
(C) Statutory Authority
(D) Central Authority
3. A person is deemed to be of Indian origin if he, or either of his parents or any of
his grandparents, was born in ................. .
(A) India
(B) India other than J & K
(C) Undivided India
(D) Greater India
4. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) vide Circular No. 8 of 2017 dated 23rd
February, 2017 has clarified that the Place of Effective Management (POEM)
provisions shall not apply to a company having turnover or gross receipts in a
financial year of ............... .
(A) `30 crore or less
(B) `10 crore or less
66
67 EP-TL–December 2019
(C) `50 crore or less
(D) `5 crore or less
5. Thomas, an Indian citizen is living in Kerala since birth in 1954 and left for UAE
on 13th June, 2014 for a salaried employment contract for 4 years and came
back on 7th July, 2018 to India and settled at Kerala.
(A) Resident
(B) Non-Resident
6. The Apex Court in the case of CIT-Gujarat Vs. Saurashtra Cements Ltd. (2010)
233 CTR 209 has held that liquidated damages received from the supplier on
account of delay in the supply of plant and machinery shall be treated in the
nature of :
(C) Not a receipt but to be reduced from the cost of Plant & Machinery
(D) Compensation
7. XYZ Pvt. Ltd. had distributed income of `6 lakh to Rajesh for the reason of
buyback of its shares (Not being listed on a recognized stock exchange) from
him on 1st February, 2019. The amount of `6 lakh received by Rajesh in the
A.Y. 2019-20 shall be ........................... .
(A) Taxable in full
(B) Exempt u/s 10(34A)
(C) Taxable @ 20%
(D) Taxable at normal rate of tax
(C) `5 Lakh
14. Santhnam purchased in October, 2017 with the financial assistance by way of
housing loan provided by PNB Housing Finance Ltd. a flat in Chennai to be used
exclusively for his own residential purposes. Interest on the housing loan till
March, 2019 paid by him was of `2,18,780. He wants to know the amount of
deduction to be available to him in respect of interest so paid on the housing
loan while computing his income for A.Y. 2019-20.
(A) `30,000
(B) `2,18,780
(C) `1,50,000
(D) `2,00,000
15. House owned by Suresh was sold on 1st January, 2019 and till the date of sale,
the house was on rent of `7,000 p.m. The other relevant details of this house
are (i) municipal value `72,000 p.a. (ii) fair rent `66,000 p.a. and standard rent
`60,000 p.a. The income chargeable under the head House Property in A.Y.
2019-20 of this house shall be :
(A) `63,000
(B) `50,400
(C) `46,200
(D) `44,100
16. Assets put to use in business for more than 180 days during the previous year
consisting (i) Factory Building, (ii) Computers, (iii) Motor Vehicles used for
Commercial Purposes and (iv) Intangible Assets shall be depreciated at the
rate of ..................... respectively.
(A) 5%, 15%, 30%, 25%
(B) 10%, 40%, 30%, 25%
(C) 10%, 15%, 25%, 25%
(D) 5%, 40%, 15%, 25%
EP–TL–December 2019 70
17. The WDV of the block of asset of plant & machinery depreciated @ 15% as on
1st April, 2018 was of `13,50,000. Out of this block, one machine was sold 1st
July, 2018 for `4,50,000 and a new machine of `7,50,000 was purchased on 1st
August, 2018 which could be put to use from 1st March, 2019. The amount of
depreciation to be claimed on the block of plant & machinery in the computation
of income for A.Y. 2019-20 shall be :
(A) `1,35,000
(B) `2,47,500
(C) `1,91,250
(D) `2,53,125
18. A machine owned by AB & Co. was transferred to XYZ & Co. on 1st January,
2019 for `5 lakh of which actual cost and WDV was of `3 lakh and 2 lakh
respectively. However, the fair market value on the date of transfer of machine
was of `4 lakh. XYZ & Co. will be allowed depreciation on such machine by
taking value thereof at `.................... .
(A) 5 lakh
(B) 2 lakh
(C) 3 lakh
(D) 4 lakh
19. Any asset, on which depreciation is claimed on the basis of Straight Line Method
(SLM) is sold and the amount by which money payable together with scrap
value, fall short of the Written Down Value (WDV) of such asset, the amount of
such deficiency in value of asset is allowed to be written off in the year of sale
as ......................... .
(A) Balancing charge
(B) Terminal depreciation
(C) Loss on sale of asset
(D) Residual value of asset
20. Anirudh had made payment of (i) `30,000 to IIT, Kanpur for an approved scientific
research programme (ii) `45,000 revenue expenditure on in house R&D facility
as approved by prescribed authority and (iii) `1,00,000 to Indian Institute of
Science, Bengaluru for scientific research, wants to know about the deduction
available while computing the income under “Profits and gains from business” in
the Assessment Year 2019-20.
(A) `2,40,000
(B) `1,75,000
(C) `2,62,500
(D) `2,65,000
71 EP-TL–December 2019
21. XAB Ltd. has incurred amount of `4,00,000 towards capital expenditure and
`1,50,000 towards bona fide revenue expenditure for the purpose of promoting
family planning amongst its employees during the year 2018-19. Company can
claim deduction of an amount of `.................... for such expenses in the return
to be filed for A.Y. 2019-20.
(A) 50% of `5,50,000
(B) `2,30,000
(C) Such expenses are not allowed
(D) 20% of `5,50,000
22. Ping Pong is a Proprietorship firm of Pinga, resident in India having turnover
from manufacturing and sale of Steel balls for the year 2018-19 of `148 lakh
which is inclusive of amount of `42 lakh received through electronic clearing
system/RTGS/NEFT. The accounts are not properly maintained by Pinga and
therefore he wants to pay tax on the income computed under section 44AD of
Act. Advise Pinga, how much income he will be required to pay tax for A.Y.
2019-20 as per section 44AD :
(A) `11,84,000
(B) Not allowed to opt 44AD being turnover above `100 lakh
(C) `11,00,000
(D) `8,88,000
23. Mr. Ramanad, engaged in the business of plying, hiring or leasing of goods
carriers as on 1st April, 2018 was having 3 trucks of gross vehicles weight of
less than 12,000 kgs each. One truck out of these 3 trucks was sold by him on
23rd July, 2018 and after its sale, 2 more trucks (1 of less than 12,000 kgs. and
1 of 16,900 kgs) were purchased on 5th September, 2018. He wants to declare
the income of trucks as per provisions of section 44AE of the Act and be
required to declare such income at `...................... in the return for A.Y. 2019-
20 from plying of these vehicles during theprevious year ended on 31st March,
2019.
(A) `3,54,500
(B) `3,81,500
(C) `3,15,000
(D) `3,74,000
24. Indexed cost of acquisition of the house property purchased for `80 lakh in
June, 1998 and was sold in December, 2018 will be of `................... (worked
out by taking the CII of 1998-99 as 351; of the year 2001-02 as 100; of the year
2018-19 as 280) and FMV of the house property as on 1st April, 2001 of `90
lakh.
(A) `63,81,766
EP–TL–December 2019 72
(B) `90 lakh
(C) `252 lakh
(D) `71,79,487
25. Chirag entered into an agreement for sale of his house property located at Jaipur
to Yash on 1st August, 2017 for a total sale consideration of `95 lakh. Yash
paid an amount of `20 lakh by account payee cheque to Chirag on 1st August,
2017 and balance was agreed to be paid at the time of registration of the
Conveyance Deed which could only be executed by Chirag on 1st September
2018. The Stamp Valuation Authority determined the value of the house property
on the date of registration of deed at `140 lakh. However, the value determined
by the Stamp Valuation Authority of the house on the date of agreement (1st
August, 2017) was `110 lakh. The sale value for the purpose of computing the
capital gain of the property in A.Y. 2019-20 to be taken by Chirag shall be :
(A) `95 lakh
(B) `110 lakh
(C) `140 lakh
(D) `120 lakh
26. Rohit is working as Company Secretary in Raj Chem Pvt. Ltd. on a salary of
`20,000 p.m. He got married to Pooja who holds 25% shares of this Company.
What will be the impact of salary paid to Rohit by the company in the hands of
Pooja ?
(A) No amount to be clubbed
(B) Club 50% salary
(C) Club 100% salary
(D) 25% salary be clubbed
27. Transfer of income is revocable in the following cases :
(A) Sale with a condition of re-purchase
(B) Power to change beneficiary or trustees
(C) Both (A) and (B)
(D) Neither (A) nor (B)
28. Ram has gifted on 11th May, 2018 an amount of `10,00,000 to his wife Sita
without consideration and also for not to live apart. The gifted amount was
invested by his wife in interest bearing security on which she earned interest of
`1,00,000 on 1st January, 2019. The amount of interest of `1,00,000 was further
invested by her in the business from which she earned a profit of `15,000 for the
period ended on 31st March, 2019. Specify the income which is to be included
in the hands of Ram in A.Y. 2019-20.
(A) `1,15,000
(B) `1,00,000
73 EP-TL–December 2019
(C) `15,000
(D) Nil
29. ABC Limited fulfilling all the conditions of operating different infrastructure facilities
for claiming deduction u/s 80-IA. Find which are being not covered under
infrastructure facility out of the following :
(A) Developing of Toll-Road
(B) Operating and maintaining of Highway Project
(C) Operating and maintaining of an Airport
(D) Developing of industrial park
30. The profits of a Co-operative Society engaged in (i) Carrying out the business of
banking, (ii) A cottage industry and (iii) Collective disposal of labour of its
members are exempt from tax as per section 80P up-to :
(A) 75% of the profits
(B) 100% of the profits
(C) 50% of the profits
(D) 40% of the profits
31. Ram & Co., a partnership firm worked out total book profits for the year ended
31st March, 2019 of `6,00,000 and has made payment of salary of `4,60,000
authorized by the partnership deed to the working partners. Firm wants to know
that how much amount of salary paid to partners be allowable as deduction in
A.Y. 2019-20.
(A) `4,60,000
(B) `3,90,000
(C) `2,70,000
(D) `4,50,000
32. A charitable trust registered as per section 12AA of Income Tax Act, having
capital asset purchased in June, 2015 for `1,00,000 and used for the charitable
purposes till the same was sold in December, 2018 for `1,50,000. The Trust,
after sale of capital asset purchased a new capital asset for `1,20,000 which
was also used for charitable purposes of the Trust. The amount of capital gain
utilized in purchase of new capital asset by Trust shall be .............. .
(A) `20,000
(B) `50,000
(C) `30,000
(D) Nil
EP–TL–December 2019 74
33. Samode Charitable Trust formed under the Trust Deed on 1st May, 2018 filed
an application for grant of registration u/s 12AA of the Act to the CIT (Exemption)
on 13th May, 2018. The CIT (Exemption) did not pass any order as to Registration
of the Trust, till 31st March, 2019. The trust shall be deemed to have the
registration as per provisions of Act under section 12AA effective from
....................... .
(A) 1st May, 2018
(B) 1st December, 2018
(C) 13th May, 2018
(D) 13th November, 2018
34. ABC Ltd., a domestic company having a turnover of `350 crore has computed
its total income for the year 2018-19 of `102 lakh. The tax payable by the
company on such income in A.Y. 2019-20 shall be :
(A) `34,05,168
(B) `29,70,240
(C) `33,28,000
(D) `33,30,968
35. Provisions of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) are applicable to the companies
which are;
(i) Indian companies
(iii) LLP
36. Total income of XYZ Limited includes the income of dividend of `10 lakh paid
by a U.K. base foreign company in which XYZ Limited holds 30% of the equity
share capital. The dividend income so received by the company from the U.K.
base foreign company in A.Y. 2019-20 shall be :
51. Every decision of the Goods and Service Tax Council shall be taken at a meeting,
by majority of not less than ..................... of the weighted votes of the members
present and voting. The vote of the Central Government shall have the weightage
of .................... of the total votes cast and the votes of all the State Government
taken together shall have a weightage of .............. of the total votes cast in
that meeting.
52. The Goods and Service Tax Council shall establish a mechanism to adjudicate
any dispute ...................... .
53. Administration and procedural aspects of Goods and Service Tax are to be
administered by the .................... which is under the control of the Department
of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
62. The exempt supply has been defined as supply of any goods/services/both,
which attract a Nil rate of tax, or which may be wholly exempt from tax, and
therefore, includes non-taxable supplies. Which of the following is covered as
an exempt supply under GST ?
(A) 90 days
(B) 45 days
(C) 60 days
(D) 30 days
80. The application for registration filed as per Rule 8, prior to grant of registration
be examined and if found to be deficient, a notice to the applicant in
Form.................. be issued within a period of .................... days from the date
of submission of application.
81. Any person required to deduct tax or required to collect tax at source under GST
as per Rule 12 shall electronically submit an application for the grant of
registration in Form ............................... and after verification of the application
the proper officer may grant the registration and issue the certificate of registration
in Form ....................... .
88. The Electronic Liability Register specified under section 49(7) of the CGST Act,
2017 as per Rule 85 of the CGST Rules 2017 shall be maintained in
Form..................... for each person liable to pay tax, penalty, late fees or any
other amounts payable by him on the common portal which shall be debited to
the said register.
89. Section 56 of the CGST Act, 2017 states that claim of refund arising from an
order passed by an adjudicating authority or Appellate Authority or an Appellate
Tribunal or Court which is not being refunded within..................... days from
the date of receipt of application filed consequent to such order, interest at such
rate not exceeding ................. per annum, shall be payable in respect of such
refund.
(A) 30 days, 6%
(B) 30 days, 9%
(C) 60 days, 9%
(D) 60 days, 6%
90. Tax on inter-state supplies, import into India, supplies made outside India and
supplies made in SEZ shall be charged under ......................... .
(D) IGST
91. Provision for levy and collection of tax on intra-state supply of goods or services
or both by the Union Territory and for matters connected therewith or incidental
thereto are being enumerated in :
(A) CGST Act, 2017
(B) IGST Act, 2017
(C) UTGST Act, 2017
(D) None of the above
EP–TL–December 2019 88
92. Integrated tax credit as per section 9A of UTGST Act, 2017 on account of Union
Territory Tax shall be utilized towards payrnent of ........................ only after
the input tax credit available on account of ....................... has first been utilized
towards such payment.
(A) Integrated Tax and Union Territory Tax, Integrated Tax
(B) Union Territory Tax, Input Tax
(C) Integrated Tax or Union Territory Tax, Union Territory Tax
(D) Integrated Tax or Union Territory Tax, Integrated Tax
93. Advance ruling means a decision provided by the ...................... to an applicant
on the matter or a question specify u/s 97(2) and 100(1) of the CGST Act, in
relation of the supply of goods or services or both being undertaken by the
applicant.
(A) Commissioner (Appeals)
(B) Authority or Appellate Authority
(C) Appellate Tribunal
(D) Adjudicating Authority
94. Section 22 of the UTGST Act, 2017 lays down the power of Central Government
to make rules on the recommendation of the Council. Any rule made under sub-
section-1 of section 22 may provide that a contravention thereof shall be liable
to a maximum penalty of ................... .
(A) `10,000
(B) `1,000
(C) `5,000
(D) `2,500
95. Total proceeds of the cess levied under section 8 of GST (Compensation to
States) Act, 2017 as per section 10 shall be credited to a fund which is known
as ............... and shall form part of the public account of India to be utilized for
the purposes specified and shall be a non-lapsable Fund.
(A) GST Cess Fund
Q .No. 12 Both options B/C are correct. The question is not clear as to compute the
net annual value of the house property or the Income chargeable to tax
under the head house property. Option B is correct (Income taxable under
the head house property) . Options C is correct (Net Annual Value).
Q. No. 14 As per section 24(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the deduction in case of
self occupied property is Rs. 200000 or interest during the current financial
year whichever is lower. The bifurcation of the interest payment on housing
loan during the current year is not mentioned separately in the question.
Q. No. 33 Both options B/D are correct. Option B: As per section 12AA(2), Every
order granting or refusing registration shall be passed before the expiry of
six months from the end of the month in which the application was received.
If no order has been passed, then it is considered as deemed registration
has been granted. Option D: in the case of CIT v/s Society for the Promotion
of Education, it has been held that If no order has been passed, then it is
considered as deemed registration has been granted after the expiry of 6
months from the date of application.
Q. 75 Both option A and C are correct as the question says total tax liability which
can be interpreted differently by different people.
Q. 84 None of the options are correct as correct answer is self invoicing or
GSTR - 1.
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