Companies Act, 1956
Sec 196 -
Inspection of minute books of general meetings.
(1) The books containing the minutes of the
proceedings of any general meeting of a company held on or after the 15th day
of January, 1937, shall
(a) be kept at the registered office of the
company, and
(b) be open, during business hours, to the
inspection of any member without charge, subject to such reasonable
restrictions as the company may, by its articles or in general meeting impose,
so however that not less than two hours in each day are allowed for inspection.
(2) Any member shall be entitled to be
furnished, within seven days after he has made a request in that behalf to the
company, with a copy of any minutes referred to in sub-section (1), on payment
of such sum as may be prescribed for every one hundred words or fractional part
thereof required to be copied.
(3) If any inspection required under sub-section
(1) is refused, or if any copy required under sub-section (2) is not furnished
within the time specified therein, the company, and every officer of the
company who is in default, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to
five thousand rupees in respect of each offence.
(4) In the case of any such refusal or
default, the Company Law Board may, by order, compel an immediate inspection of
the minute books or direct that the copy required shall forthwith be sent to
the person requiring it.