Is Directorship under Private Limited Company a status or responsibility
Private Limited Company is one of the most popular forms for carrying the business in India. It is formed under the Companies Act, 2013 (previously Companies Act, 1956). A Company is a separate legal entity distinct from its members. The day to day affairs and management is handled by the Board of Directors. Board of Directors acts as governing body of the Company. Board of Directors is a group of individuals elected by the shareholders to manage the affairs of the Company. Directors are the representatives of the Company as well as of the shareholders. They are directly accountable to the shareholders for carrying out the management responsibilities and provide a report to shareholders on the operations, future growth and plan and strategies of the Company. Being a Director of the Company, one should keep several things in mind. Understanding the roles and responsibilities should be the first task of Directors when appointed. They must ensure that the Company does everything that it is obliged to do by law and the decisions they make are in the best interest of the Company. Companies Act, 2013 has also increased the responsibilities of Directors, irrespective of whether they belong to small private company or a listed one, as reporting compliances and penalties have been increased in the new Act. Who can be a Director? Only an individual can be appointed as a Director. A corporate, association, firm or other body cannot be appointed as a Director. There is no specific qualification required to be a Director. However a person shall not be eligible for appointment as Director if: He is of unsound mind he is an undischarged insolvent he has applied to be an insolvent he has been convicted by a court of any offence (imprisoned for at least 6 months and 5 years has not elapsed) The Court or Tribunal has passed an order disqualifying him for appointment as Director He has not paid any calls in respect of any shares of the company held by him He has been convicted of the offence dealing with related party transactions in preceding 5 years Appointment It is generally up to the members to appoint the Directors in General Meeting. In some cases, Directors can be appointed in Board Meeting. For appointing as a Director, Director Identification Number (DIN) is required to be taken. When a Director is appointed, intimation in Form DIR -12 to Registrar of Companies must be given within 30 days of appointment. Cessation Office of Directors can be vacated in various circumstances such as death, resignation, removal, disqualification etc. Regardless of manner of vacation, Registrar of Companies must be intimated in form DIR- 11 (by Director and this form is optional now) and DIR-12 (by Company) within 30 days of cessation. Office of Directors will also be vacated in case of non attending of board meetings for a period of one year. Number of directorship There is a limit for Directorship. A person can be a Director in maximum of 20 Companies. (including alternate Directorship).However, the Maximum limit for appointment as Director in Public Companies (including its holding or subsidiary company) is 10 out of the aforesaid limit of 20 Companies. Further directorship in foreign companies is not included in the aforesaid limits. Powers and Accountability Powers -Powers of Directors to act on behalf of the Company are collective. Individual Director do not have authority to exercise the power unless specifically delegated. Directors’ power may be defined by the Act, Memorandum and Articles of Association, by the members in the general meeting. The Company is bound by the act of the Directors. Accountability-Generally Directors are not liable for the debts of the Company. However they will be personally liable if they act outside their authority or in breach of their duties or in circumstances amounting to fraudulent or wrongful. Duties and Responsibilities Directors have a number of responsibilities under the Companies Act, 2013, non compliance of which give rise to the fine, disqualification or even imprisonment also. These are as follows: 1. Maintaining Books of Accounts-Maintenance of books of accounts would mean books maintained by the company to record the specified financial transaction. Every company is required to prepare books of accounts and other relevant books and papers for every financial year. It shall be prepared on accrual basis and shall give a true and fair view of the affairs of the Company. These books may be kept in electronic mode. Such books of accounts and other relevant papers are generally kept at the registered office. However these can be kept at any other place in India with the approval of Board of Directors and intimation in prescribed form will be given to Registrar of Companies within 7 days of such decision. 2. Board Meetings-Directors must ensure that board meeting are held on a regular basis and records are kept of decisions made thereat. Directors should meet at least four times in each calendar year (with a maximum gap of 120 days between two meetings). Further one meeting in each quarter shall be conducted. Board meeting can be held anywhere and at any time( on sunday as well). The quorum for the Board Meeting shall be at least 2 directors or 1/3rd of the total number of directors, whichever is higher. Quorum means the minimum number of Directors whose presence is necessary for holding the Meeting. The Notice for the date and purpose of the meeting should be given to each Director at least 7 days in advance from the date of the meeting. The discussions of the meeting need to be drafted and recorded in the form of “Minutes of Board Meeting” and maintained at the Registered Office of the Company. It is also required to disclose the number of meetings held during each financial year in Directors Report. 3. Shareholders Meetings-Shareholders’ meetings can be called by the Directors or in certain circumstances by the shareholders. Every Company is required to hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of its shareholders once in every year. However extra ordinary General Meeting can be called whenever is required. It can be
Is Directorship under Private Limited Company a status or responsibility Read More »