Companies Act, 1956
Sec 234 - Power
of Registrar to call for information or explanation.
(1) Where, on perusing any document which a
company is required to submit to him under this Act, the Registrar is of
opinion that any information or explanation is necessary with respect to any
matter to which such document purports to relate, he may, by a written order,
call on the company submitting the document to furnish in writing such
information or explanation, within such time as he may specify in the order.
(2) On receipt by the company of an order
under sub-section (1), it shall be the duty of the company, and of all persons
who are officers of the company, to furnish such information or explanation to
the best of their power.
(3) On receipt of a copy of an order under
sub-section (1), it shall also be the duty of every person who has been an
officer of the company to furnish such information or explanation to the best
of his power.
(3A) If no information or explanation is
furnished within the time specified or if the information or explanation
furnished is, in the opinion of the Registrar, inadequate, the Registrar may by
another written order call on the company to produce before him for his
inspection such books and papers as he considers necessary within such time as
he may specify in the order ; and it shall be the duty of the company, and of
all persons who are officers of the company, to produce such books and papers.
(4) If the company, or any such person as is
referred to in sub-section (2) or (3) refuses or neglects to furnish any such
information or explanation or if the company or any such person as is referred
to in sub-section (3A) refuses or neglects to produce any such books and
papers, -
(a) the company and each such person shall be
punishable with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees and in the case
of a continuing offence, with an additional fine which may extend to five hundred
rupees for every day after the first during which the offence continues ; and
(b) the Court trying the offence may, on the
application of the Registrar and after notice to the company, make an order on
the company for production before the Registrar of such books and papers as in
the opinion of the Court, may reasonably be required by the Registrar for the
purpose referred to in sub-section (1).
(5) On receipt of any writing containing the
information or explanation referred to in sub-section (1), or of any book or
paper produced whether in pursuance of an order of the Registrar under
sub-section (3A) or of an order of the Court under sub-section (4), the
Registrar may annex that writing, book or paper, or where that book or paper is
required by the company, any copy or extract thereof, to the document referred
to in sub-section (1) ; and any writing or any book or paper or copy or extract
thereof so annexed shall be subject to the like provisions as to inspection,
the taking of extracts and the furnishing of copies, as that document is
subject.
(6) If such information or explanation is not
furnished within the specified time or if after perusal of such information or
explanation or of the books and papers produced whether in pursuance of an
order of the Registrar under sub-section (3A) or of an order of the Court under
sub-section (4), the Registrar is of opinion that the document referred to in
sub-section (1), together with such information or explanation or such books
and papers discloses an unsatisfactory state of affairs or does not disclose a
full and fair statement of any matter to which the document purports to relate,
the Registrar shall report in writing the circumstances of the case to the
Central Government.
(7) If it is represented to the Registrar on
materials placed before him by any contributory or creditor or any other person
interested that the business of a company is being carried on in fraud of its
creditors or of persons dealing with the company or otherwise for a fraudulent
or unlawful purpose, he may, after giving the company an opportunity of being
heard, by a written order, call on the company to furnish in writing any
information or explanation on matters specified in the order, within such time
as he may specify therein ; and provisions of sub-sections (2), (3), (3A), (4)
and (6) of this section shall apply to such order. If upon inquiry the
Registrar is satisfied that any representation on which he took action under
this sub-section was frivolous or vexatious, he shall disclose the identity of
his informant to the company.
(8) The provisions of this section shall apply
mutatis mutandis to documents which a liquidator, or a foreign company within
the meaning of section 591, is required to file under this Act.