18/04/2014
Analysis of Section 185 of Companies Act 2013 (corresponding to section 295 of Companies Act 1956)
Basic Comparison: This section now applies to all companies including private companies also. Hitherto private companies were exempted from the provisions of the old section 295. So companies cannot give any loans to directors or to persons in whom the director is interested.
Section 295 of Companies Act, 1956 was applicable to only public companies while Section 185 of the 2013 Act is applicable to private companies as well. The requirements of obtaining approvals from the Central Government have been dispensed with. A managing or whole-time director can be given loan pursuant to scheme approved by the members by passing a special resolution or as a part of the conditions of service extended by the company to all its employees. A company whose business in ordinary course is to provide loan or guarantee or securities for the repayment of such loans, can provide loan or guarantee or security to its directors provided interest on loan is not less than bank rate declared by Reserve Bank of India. Punishment for contravention has been increased and not company will also be punishable in
case of contravention of this clause. The exemption given to loan
granted, guarantee or security provided by any holding company to
subsidiary or the exemptions granted to private company and a banking company has been dispensed with.
Language of Act:
185. (1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, no company shall, directly or indirectly, advance any loan, including any loan represented by a book debt, to any of its directors or to any other person in whom the director is interested or give any guarantee or provide any security in connection with any loan taken by him or such other person:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to—
(a) the giving of any loan to a managing or whole-time director—
(i) as a part of the conditions of service extended by the company to all its employees; or
(ii) pursuant to any scheme approved by the members by a special
resolution; or
(b) a company which in the ordinary course of its business provides loans or gives guarantees or securities for the due repayment of any loan and in respect of such Loan to directors, etc. loans an interest is charged at a rate not less than the bank rate declared by the Reserve Bank of India.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, the expression “to any other person in whom director is interested” means—
(a) any director of the lending company, or of a company which is its holding company or any partner or relative of any such director;
(b) any firm in which any such director or relative is a partner;
(c) any private company of which any such director is a director or member;
(d) any body corporate at a general meeting of which not less than twenty five per cent. of the total voting power may be exercised or controlled by any such director, or by two or more such directors, together; or
(e) any body corporate, the Board of directors, managing director or manager, whereof is accustomed to act in accordance with the directions or instructions of the Board, or of any director or directors, of the lending company.
(2) If any loan is advanced or a guarantee or security is given or provided in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1), the company shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than five lakh rupees but which may extend to twenty-five lakh rupees, and the director or the other person to whom any loan is advanced or guarantee or security is given or provided in connection with any loan taken by him or the other person, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which
shall not be less than five lakh rupees but which may extend to twenty-five lakh rupees, or with both.
Other views are welcome..!!!