Companies Act, 1956
Sec 293A - Prohibitions and restrictions regarding
political contributions.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any
other provision of this Act,
(a) no Government company; and
(b) no other company which has been in
existence for less than three financial years,
shall contribute any amount or amounts,
directly or indirectly,
(i) to any political party; or
(ii) for any political purpose to any person.
(2) A company, not being a company referred to
in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1), may contribute any amount or
amounts, directly or indirectly,
(a) to any political party; or
(b) for any political purpose to any person:
Provided that the amount or, as the case may be,
the aggregate of the amounts which may be so contributed by a company in any
financial year shall not exceed five per cent of its average net profits
determined in accordance with the provisions of sections 349 and 350 during the
three immediately preceding financial years.
Provided further that no such contribution shall
be made by a company unless a resolution authorizing the making of such
contribution is passed at a meeting of the Board of Directors and such
resolution shall, subject to the other provisions of this section, be deemed to
be justification in law for the making and the acceptance of the contribution
authorized by it.
Explanation : Where a portion of a
financial year of the company falls before the commencement of the Companies
(Amendment) Act, 1985, and a portion falls after such commencement, the latter
portion shall be deemed to be a financial year within the meaning, and for the
purposes, of this sub-section:
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the
provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2),
(a) a donation or subscription or payment
caused to be given by a company on its behalf or on its account to a person
who, to its knowledge, is carrying on any activity which, at the time at which
such donation or subscription or payment was given or made, can reasonably be
regarded as likely to effect public support for a political party shall also be
deemed to be contribution of the amount of such donation, subscription or
payment to such person for a political purpose;
(b) the amount of expenditure incurred, directly
or indirectly, by a company on advertisement in any publication (being a
publication in the nature of a souvenir, brochure, tract, pamphlet or the like)
by or on behalf of a political party or for its advantage shall also be deemed,
(i) where such publication is by or on behalf
of a political party, to be a contribution of such amount to such political
party, and
(ii) where such publication is not by or on
behalf of but for the advantage of a political party, to be a contribution for
a political purpose to the person publishing it.
(4) Every company shall disclose in its profit
and loss account any amount or amounts contributed by it to any political party
or for any political purpose to any person during the financial year to which
that account relates, giving particulars of the total amount contributed and
the name of the party or person to which or to whom such amount has been
contributed.
(5) If a company makes any contribution in
contravention of the provisions of this section,
(a) the company shall be punishable with fine
which may extend to three times the amount so contributed; and
(b) every officer of the company who is in
default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
three years and shall also be liable to fine.