Banking Regulation Act, 1949
17. Reserve Fund
(1) Every banking company incorporated in
India shall create a reserve fund and 50[* **] shall, out of the balance of
profit of each year, as disclosed in the profit and loss account prepared under
section 29 and before any dividend is declared, transfer to the reserve fund a
sum equivalent to not less than twenty per cent of such profit.
(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in
sub-section (1), the Central Government may, on the recommendation of the
Reserve Bank and having regard to the adequacy of the paid-up, capital and
reserves of a banking company in relation to its deposit liabilities, declare
by order in writing that the provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to
the banking company for such period as may be specified in the order:
PROVIDED that no such order shall be made
unless, at the time it is made, the amount in the reserve fund under
sub-section (1), together with the amount in the share premium account is not
less than the paid-up capital of the banking company.]
(2) Where a banking company appropriates any
sum from the reserve fund or the share premium account, it shall, within
twenty-one days from the date of such appropriation, report the fact to the
Reserve Bank, explaining the circumstances relating to such appropriation:
PROVIDED that the Reserve Bank may, in any
particular case, extend the said period of twenty-one days by such period as it
thinks fit or condone any delay in the making of such report.