Companies Act, 1956

Sec 119    -     Liability of trustees for debenture holders.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any provision contained in a trust deed for securing an issue of debentures, or in any contract with the holders of debentures secured by a trust deed, shall be void in so far as it would have the effect of exempting a trustee thereof from, or indemnifying him against, liability for breach of trust, where he fails to show the degree of care and diligence required of him as trustee, having regard to the provisions of the trust deed conferring on him any powers, authorities or discretions.

(2) Sub-section (1) shall not invalidate :

(a) any release otherwise validly given in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by a trustee before the giving of the release ; or

(b) any provision enabling such a release to be given :

(i) on the agreement thereto of a majority of not less than three-fourths in value of the debenture holders present and voting in person or, where proxies are permitted, by proxy, at a meeting summoned for the purpose ; and

(ii) either with respect to specific acts or omissions or on the trustee dying or ceasing to act.

(3) Sub-section (1) shall not operate :

(a) to invalidate any provision in force the commencement of this Act so long as any person then entitled to the benefit of that provision or afterwards given the benefit thereof under sub-section (4) remains a trustee of the deed in question ; or

(b) to deprive any person of any exemption or right to be indemnified in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him while any such provision was in force.

(4) While any trustee of a trust deed remains entitled to the benefit of a provision saved by sub-section (3), the benefit of that provision may be given either :

(a) to all trustees of the deed, present and future ; or

(b) to any named trustees or proposed trustees thereof ;

by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths in value of the debenture holders present in person or, where proxies are permitted, by proxy, at a meeting called for the purpose in accordance with the provisions of the deed or, if the deed makes no provision for calling meetings, at a meeting called for the purpose in any manner approved by the Court.

Back

Index

Next