Companies Act, 2013
463.
Power
of court to grant relief in certain cases.
1. If in any proceeding
for negligence, default, breach of duty, misfeasance or breach of trust against
an officer of a company, it appears to the court hearing the case that he is or
may be liable in respect of the negligence, default, breach of duty,
misfeasance or breach of trust, but that he has acted honestly and reasonably,
and that having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including those
connected with his appointment, he ought fairly to be excused, the court may
relieve him, either wholly or partly, from his liability on such term, as it
may think fit:
Provided
that in a criminal proceeding under this sub-section, the court shall have no
power to grant relief from any civil liability which may attach to an officer
in respect of such negligence, default, breach of duty, misfeasance or breach
of trust.
1.
2. Where any such
officer has reason to apprehend that any proceeding will or might be brought
against him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty, misfeasance
or breach of trust, he may apply to the High Court for relief and the High
Court on such application shall have the same power to relieve him as it would
have had if it had been a court before which a proceedings against that officer
for negligence, default, breach of duty, misfeasance or breach of trust had
been brought under sub-section (1 ).
3. No court shall grant
any relief to any officer under sub-section (1 ) or sub-section (2 )
unless it has, by notice served in the manner specified by it, required the
Registrar and such other person, if any, as it thinks necessary, to show cause
why such relief should not be granted.