Government of India
Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs
Department of Company Affairs
New Delhi -110001.
Dated 10-05-2001.
G.S.R.337(E). – In exercise of the powers conferred by section 192A read with clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (1) of section 642 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) the Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:-
1. Short title and commencement:-
(1) These rules may be called the Companies (passing of the resolution by postal ballot) Rules, 2001.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official gazette.
2. Definitions:-
In these Rules unless the context otherwise requires:-
(a) “Act” means the Companies Act, 1956,
(b) “Postal Ballot” includes voting by share holders by postal or electronic mode instead of voting personally by presenting for transacting businesses in a general meeting of the company,
(c) “Requisite majority” with regard to Special Resolution means votes cast in favour of the business is three times more than the votes cast against, with regard to ordinary resolution, votes cast in favour is more than the votes cast against.
3. Application:-
These Rules shall be applicable to listed companies and in case of resolutions relating to such businesses as are specified under rule 4.
4. List of businesses in which the resolutions may be passed through Postal Ballot.
(a) alteration in the Object Clause of Memorandum;
(b) alteration of Articles of Associations in relation to deletion or insertion of provisions defining private company;
(c) buy-back of own shares by the company under sub-section (1) of section 77A;
(d) issue of shares with differential voting rights as to voting or dividend or other wise under sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of section 86;
(e) change in place of Registered Office out side local limits of any city, town or village as specified in sub-section (2) of section 146;
(f) sale of whole or substantially the whole of undertaking of a company as specified under sub-clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 293;
(g) giving loans or extending guarantee or providing security in excess of the limit prescribed under sub-section (1) of section 372A;
(h) election of a director under sub-section (1) of section 252;
(i) power to compromise or make arrangements with creditors and members as specified under sub-section (2) of section 391;
(j) variation in the rights attached to a class of shares or debentures or other securities as specified under section 106.
5. Procedure to be followed for conducting business through Postal Ballot:-
(a) The company may make a note below the notice of General Meeting for
understanding of members that the transaction(s) at Sl. No. requires
consent of shareholders through postal ballot;
(b) The board of directors shall appoint one scrutinizer, who is not in employment of the company, may be a retired judge or any person of repute who, in the opinion of the board can conduct the postal ballot voting process in a fair and transparent manner;
(c) The scrutinizer will be in position for 35 days (excluding holidays) from the date of issue of Notice for Annual General Meeting. He is to submit his final report on or before the said period;
(d) The scrutinizer will be willing to be appointed and he is available at the Registered Office of the company for the purpose of ascertaining the requisite majority;
(e) The scrutinizer shall maintain a register to record the consent or otherwise received, including electronic media, mentioning the particulars of name, address, folio number, number of shares, nominal value of shares, whether the shares have voting, differential voting or non-voting rights and the Scrutinizer shall also maintain record for postal ballot which are received in defaced or mutilated form. The Postal Ballot and all other papers relating to postal ballot will be under the safe custody of the Scrutinizer till the Chairman considers, approves and sign the minutes of the meeting. Thereafter, the Scrutinizer shall return the ballot papers and other related papers/register to the company so as to preserve such ballot papers and other related papers/register safely till the resolution is given effect to;
(f) Consent or otherwise relating to issue mentioned in Notice for Annual General Meeting received after 35 days from the date of issue will be strictly treated as if the reply from the member has not been received.
(F.No.1/15/2000-CL.V)
A. Ramaswamy
Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India.
