Companies Act, 1956
Sec 80A -
Redemption of irredeemable preference shares, etc.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the
terms of issue of any preference shares, every preference share issued before
the commencement of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1988,
(a) which is irredeemable, shall be redeemed
by the company within a period not exceeding five years from such commencement,
or
(b) which is not redeemable before the expiry
of ten years from the date of issue thereon in accordance with the terms of its
issue and which had not been redeemed before such commencement, shall be
redeemed by the company on the date on which such share is due for redemption
or within a period not exceeding ten years from such commencement, whichever is
earlier :
Provided that where a company is not in a
position to redeem any such share within the period aforesaid and to pay the
dividend, if any, due thereon (such shares being hereinafter referred to as
unredeemed preference shares), it may, with the consent of the Company Law
Board, on a petition made by it in this behalf and notwithstanding anything
contained in this Act, issue further redeemable preference shares equal to the
amounts due (including the dividend thereon), in respect of the unredeemed
preference shares, and on the issue of such further redeemable preference
shares, the unredeemed shares shall be deemed to have been redeemed.
(2) Nothing contained in section 106 or any
scheme referred to in sections 391 to 395, or in any scheme made under section
396, shall be deemed to confer power on any class of shareholders by resolution
or on any Court or the Central Government to vary or modify the provisions of this
section.
(3) If any default is made in complying with
the provisions of this section,
(a) the company making such default shall be
punishable with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees for every day
during which such default continues ; 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.