Companies Act, 2013
48.
Variation
of shareholders’ rights.
1. Where a share capital
of the company is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached
to the shares of any class may be varied with the consent in writing of the
holders of not less than three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or by
means of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of
the issued shares of that class,—
a.
if
provision with respect to such variation is contained in the memorandum or
articles of the company; or
b.
in
the absence of any such provision in the memorandum or articles, if such
variation is not prohibited by the terms of issue of the shares of that class:
Provided
that if variation by one class of shareholders affects the rights of any other
class of shareholders, the consent of three-fourths of such other class of
shareholders shall also be obtained and the provisions of this section shall
apply to such variation.
1.
2. Where the holders of
not less than ten per cent. of the issued shares of a class did not consent to
such variation or vote in favour of the special resolution for the variation,
they may apply to the Tribunal to have the variation cancelled, and where any
such application is made, the variation shall not have effect unless and until
it is confirmed by the Tribunal:
Provided
that an application under this section shall be made within twenty-one days
after the date on which the consent was given or the resolution was passed, as
the case may be, and may be made on behalf of the shareholders entitled to make
the application by such one or more of their number as they may appoint in
writing for the purpose.
1.
2.
3. The decision of the
Tribunal on any application under sub-section (2 ) shall be binding on
the shareholders.
4. The company shall,
within thirty days of the date of the order of the Tribunal, file a copy
thereof with the Registrar.
5. Where any default is
made in complying with the provisions of this section, the company shall be
punishable with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand rupees
but which may extend to five lakh rupees and every officer of the company who
is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to six months or with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand
rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees, or with both.