BRIEF RESEARCH ON COMPOUNDING OF OFFENCES

BRIEF RESEARCH ON COMPOUNDING OF OFFENCES

(SHUBHAM BUDHIARAJA IN COLLABORATION WITH SAMEER GAHLOT AND CHANDAN JHA.) 

SHUBHAM BUDHIRAJA

MOBILE-9654055315

CSSHUBHAMBUDIRAJA1994@GMAIL.COM

BRIEF FACTS:-

Petitioner defaulted in filling annual return and financials for the year 2014-15. However, default made good as company filed its financials on 14.11.2017         (i.e, during FY 2017-18). While criminal prosecution was pending under section 137 of companies act, 2013 before tis hazari court (Special court) , the company went into compounding before NCLT.

Important Note:-

1.   Section 137 deals with non -filling of AOC4 and Section 92(5) deals with MGT7. It is pertinent to note that non filling of AOC4 attracts FINE whereas non filling of MGT7 attracts PENALTY.  (However after 2018 ordinance , both are reclassified as PENALTY only). So the consequences of Fine may attract criminal prosecution as it evident in case of Section 137.

2.   Section 441 of companies act,2013 deals with compounding process.

3. Section 320 Crpc ,1973  make a reference of compounding of offences and the acquittal thereof.

4.   Section 164 of companies act, 2013 deals with disqualification of directors.

ISSUES

1. Whether Compounding before NCLT amount to disqualification of directors? If yes, whether there any precedents in contrary ?

2.   Whether Penalty imposed by ROC Justified in quantum ?

3.   Whether appeal before NCLAT tenable ?

4. Whether prosecution of directors before tiz hazari (Special court) is compoundable ? whether Crpc has its role here ?

5.   Whether compounding amount to disqualification of directors ?

OBSERVATIONS

1.   Section 320 Crpc :- Compounding will have the affect of acquittal of accused. It is not mere by a discharge. Thus, if an offence is compounded, the person is deemed to be acquitted, and hence does not become ineligible to be appointed as a director. Even if otherwise, he admitted himself as guilty and doesn’t get the fine before NCLT compounded , still the quantum of punishment is upto 6 months which nowhere attracts section 164 of companies act,2013. Thus, in either of the case the director cannot be disqualified for non filling of AOC4 and MGT7 (for one or two FY but not more than that) whether get offence compounded or not.

2.  The term offence defined under section 3(38) of General Clauses Act, 1897 "Offence" shall mean any act or omission made punishable by any law for the time being in force. Further, it is also to be note here that the Section 621A of companies act,1956 was interpreted in a way which otherwise meant compounding to be admission of guilty. However, the same is not expressed in section 441 of companies act,2013. Thus, compounding is not admission of guilt, rather it is acquittal by paying composite fees.

3.   LEGAL PRECEDENTS:-

a)   No penalty or prosecution after compounding:In P P Varkey V. STO (199) 114 STC 224 (Bom HC DB), it was held that once an offence is compounded, penalty or prosecution proceeding cannot be taken for same offence.

b)  In S Viswanathan V. State of Kerala (1993) 113 STC 182 (Ker HC DB),it was held that once the matter is compounded, neither department norassessee can challenge the compounding order. Department cannot reopen the matter on the reason that actual suppression was much higher.

c)   No appeal against order of composition:A person having agreed to the composition of offence is not entitled to challenge the said proceeding by filing an appeal. (S V Bagi v. State of Karnataka (1992) 87 STC 138).

d)  No hearing necessary to reject application for compounding?:In M P Purusothaman v. ADIT (2003), it was held that authority can reject the application for compounding. It is not necessary to give personal hearing before rejecting application for compounding.

4  

    Powers of Special Court:-

  Special Court can compound offence if offence punishable with imprisonment or fine or both:Any offence which is punishable under Companies Act with the permission or with fine, or with both, shall be compoundable with the permissionof Special Court, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Code of Criminal Procedure for compounding of offences. However, any offencewhich is punishable under this Act with imprisonment only or with imprisonment and also with fine shall not be compoundable. Special Court:

5.   Process of Compounding-

a) Calling of Board Meeting:

Company will call the Board Meeting as per Companies Act, 2013 and SS­1.

b) Calculate the amount of offence:  

 Board will calculate the amount of the penalty as per the relevant section.

c) Holding of Board Meeting   

  Pass a resolution to file application with authority for compounding of offence and authorize director of the Company and for preparation and signing of documents including application.   Company will authorize any professional for follow up the matter with authority.

d) Prepration of Compounding application:   

    Company will prepare the application of compounding as per NCLT Rules.

e)    Filling of Form with ROC Procedure for making application:

Application for compounding shall be submitted electronically in e­form GNL­1. This form will be forwarded by ROC to NCLT/Regional Director as applicable.

f) Hearing before Authority:

  There is no specific provision in the Act, normally, NCLT/Regional Director will give personal hearing and thenpass a speaking order giving reasons. The hearing can be attended by Director/secretary/ officer of Companyor by authorized representative like advocate or a practicing CA/ CMA/ CA.

6. Appeal before NCLAT is not tenable in present case since the quantum determined by ROC is in light with those of Section 137 and section 92(5) of Companies act, 2013. Kindly note that penalty would otherwise be half of what mentioned in section 137 and section 92(5) if the company fall within the definition of section 2(85)  but here the company is not a small company and as a result the benefit of  section 446B of Companies act,2013 is not available.

7.   Language of Section 164(2) of companies act, 2013 expressly  mention “ default in non-filling of financials for 3 continuous years”. Thus, in the present case the directors default is not within meaning of section 164(2), thus their default doesn’t tantamount to disqualification. 

8.   Language of Section 164(1)(d) of companies act,2013 said that the offence involving moral tripude or otherwise  where sentence is more than that of 6 months. The word otherwise depicts the legislature intention to cover all those cases which doesn’t include moral tripude. However, even if we interpret non filling of AOC4 as Otherwise offence within meaning of section 164(1)(d), still the Disqualifications doesn’t attract since Imprisonment under section 137 is Upto 6 months only. Thus, Section 164(1)(d) doesn’t apply also.

9.   Lets suppose the company is not going into compounding and directors got prosecuted before special court. So, the principal question arise is that whether the Special court can compound this 6 months imprisonment. Answer to this question depend upon the section of IPC under which he will be charged. Please note that compounding under Section 320 Crpc is permissible only for IPC offences. Thus , power of special court to compound imprisonment as a consequence of Sction 137 CA 2013 will depend upon section of IPC under which he will be charged with.

(SHUBHAM BUDHIARAJA IN COLLABORATION WITH SAMEER GAHLOT AND CHANDAN JHA.)