Provision of Charge as mentioned in Companies Act, 2013

A charge is a security given to the creditors for securing loans and debentures by creating mortgage on the assets of the company. The charges are created on both existing as well future property by agreeing to the terms for making the create charges available as a security for the repayment of debt. The legal right of the creditor can be invoked during insolvency, winding-up or with any enforced date governing the loan or when such governance are not met. The creditor only gets the rights to have the security made available and gets no other legal right either absolute or special rights with regards to the charges created on the property. 

Provision of Charge as mentioned in Companies Act, 2013

Types of charges

  • Fixed Charge 
  • Floating Charge 

Fixed charge – Fixed charges are otherwise known as specific charges which are identifiable and definite property. These type of charges are identified and at the time if creation if charges. The company can transfer the property charged only to that particular charge, thus, during the time of winding up or insolvency the mortgagee must be paid first and settled off with the amount arising out of such property. 

Floating charge – A floating charge doesn’t attach to any definite property but covers the property of fluctuating nature such as stocks. Such charged properties are subjective to vary its condition from time to time. The essence of such charges is that the securities of such created charges remain dormant until it is fixed or crystallised. Such charge includes all the assets of the company and since its not a specific security the holder of such charges cannot affirm on specifically been allotted as a mortgaged property. 

Governing Law

Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is the primary governing authority with filing and registration of charges and aspect concerning to the definition, creation, registration and procedures are laid down in Companies Act, 2013 and the proper authority takes care of the issues and matters covering and concerning charges. 

Crystallization of Charge

  • Meaning of Crystallization :Floating charges are created on all the assets of the company and when the charge holder takes steps to enforce the floating charges it becomes fixed charge ie. Crystallization. Until then the company is free to deal and utilize the company’s property which is authorized by the Memorandum of Association.
    With the crystallisation the company has to discharge the duty by paying off the charge holder.
  • Initiation of crystallization : A floating charges becomes crystallises on following condition-
    • Where the company cease to carry on the business 
    • Commencement of winding up
    • The charge holder becomes entitled to realise the securities 
    • Occurrence of events specified in the deed

Particulars of Charges

  • Name and address of the charge holder 
  • Date and description on instrument creating charges 
  • Total amount secured by the charge 
  • Date of resolution authorizing the creation of the charge 
  • General description of the property charged 
  • A copy of deed or agreement with the description evidencing the creation of the charge to be enclosed 

Fees for creation/ modification of charges

  • Nominal capital less than 1, 00, 000, applicable fee INR 200
  • Nominal capital INR 1, 00, 000 – 4, 99, 999, applicable fee INR 300
  • Nominal capital INR 5, 00, 000 – 24, 99, 999, applicable fee INR 400
  • Nominal capital INR 25, 00, 000 – 99, 99, 999, applicable fee INR 500
  • Nominal capital INR 1, 00, 00, 000 and more, applicable fee INR 600

Registration of charges

Form No. CHG 1 – A charge has to be registered within 30 days of the date of creation or modificationof charges.

Form No. CHG 9 – A charge created on debentures 

Form No. CHG 8 – the created charge can be registered from 30 days to 300 days with the registrar by paying an additional fees and after 300 days of creating a charge can be still registered by ROC if the delay of condoned agreed by central government. 

Form No. CHG 2 – certificate of registration of charges issued by ROC

Form No. CHG 3 – Modification of registration of charges issued by ROC

Form No. CHG 4 – intimation about the issuance of satisfaction of charges  

Form No. CHG 5 – Memorandum of satisfaction of charges 

Form No. CHG 6 – The notice of appointment or cessation of a receiver shall be filed with the ROC

Form No. CHG 7 – The registered charges shall be maintained by the registrar a preserved permanently for the period of 8 years. 

Form No. CHG 8 – application of condone delay 

Form No. CHG 9 – creation/ modification/ rectification of charges for debentures 

Form No. CHG 10 – application for delay to the registrar 

Note – The registrar of chargers and instruments of the charges created shall be kept open for the inspection during the business hours by members, creditors or any other person subjective to those who have reasonable restriction by the company. 

Section 85 Registrar of charges 

ROC shall maintain a registrar containing particular of the charges registered in respect of every company. The particular of the charges maintained on the Ministry of Corporate Affair’s portal which shall be deemed to be the registrar of charges. This charge registrar shall remain open to inspection by any person on payment of the fee for each inspection exempting restricted to the person banded by the company. 

Section 80 Effects of Registration 

  • With the registration of charges the created charge acts as a notice to the public at large 
  • Once the certificate of charge is issued by the registrar, it becomes the conclusive evidence upon the charge created on the company’s property.  

Section 79 – Modification of charges 

The charges gets modified when there is change in terms and conditions of the entered charges such as – 

  • Extent of an existing charges 
  • Terms of repayment of loans/ limits for which the charge was created as securities 
  • Change in rate of interest 
  • Release of assets from available security 
  • Pari passu clause created on assets which are already charged 
  • Assignment of rights of charge holder to third party. 

If the charges in terms and conditions the modification of such changes should be filed with the ROC within 30 days of such charges or 300 days with the condone approval from the central government. 

Penalty for infringing provision of charges

The penalty of INR 1, 00, 000 lakh which shall be extended up-to INR 10, 00, 000 with an imprisonment for a term of 6 months or both shall be imposed on those who infringes any provision with regards to registration of charges. 

FAQs

What is meant by "charge" in the Companies Act, 2013?

In the Companies Act, 2013, a “charge” refers to the security interest created over the company’s assets, such as immovable property or movable property, to secure the repayment of a loan or fulfillment of an obligation.

What types of charges are covered under the Companies Act, 2013?

The Act covers both fixed and floating charges. A fixed charge is created on specific assets, while a floating charge is created on a class of assets that may change from time to time.

Is registration of charges mandatory?

Yes, as per the Companies Act, 2013, registration of charges with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) is mandatory. Companies are required to register charges within 30 days of their creation.

Practice area's of B K Goyal & Co LLP

Company Registration Services in major cities of India

Complete CA Services

RERA Services

Most read resources