Penalty Imposed on Shayona Petrochem Ltd for Annual Return Non-Compliance

The Government of India, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, recently took decisive action against Shayona Petrochem Limited, holding the company accountable for violations of Section 92 of the Companies Act, 2013. This enforcement measure is crucial for upholding the standards of corporate governance and ensuring adherence to statutory requirements.

The matter arose when it was discovered that Shayona Petrochem Limited failed to fulfill its obligation to file the annual return within sixty days from the date of the annual general meeting, as mandated by Section 92 of the Companies Act, 2013. Despite the legal requirement to submit the annual return by the due date of November 29, 2019, the company neglected to do so for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.

Upon careful examination of the case, it was found that Shayona Petrochem Limited defaulted for a period of 331 days, from November 30, 2019, to October 25, 2020. This failure to comply with regulatory obligations warranted penalties, as prescribed by the Companies Act, 2013.

The adjudicating officer, appointed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, exercised their powers and imposed penalties on both the company and its directors, who were considered officers in default. The company was levied a penalty of Rs. 83,100, while individual penalties of Rs. 83,100 each were imposed on directors Lalit Bhagwandas Patel, Kirit Amichand Patel, and Shashikant Mohanlal Doshi.

These penalties were calculated based on the severity and duration of the non-compliance, with due consideration given to the legal complexities involved in the matter. The penalties imposed are proportionate to the gravity of the offense, reflecting the government’s commitment to upholding regulatory standards and promoting corporate accountability.

Shayona Petrochem Limited and its directors in default are directed to remit the penalty amounts through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs portal within 90 days of receiving the order. Failure to comply with this directive may result in further punitive action, including fines and potential prosecution under the Companies Act, 2013.

Additionally, avenues for appeal against the imposed penalties are provided, allowing the concerned parties to present their case before the Regional Director, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, within sixty days from the date of receipt of the order.

This regulatory action underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of compliance and accountability within the corporate sector. It serves as a stern reminder to companies and their officers of the imperative to fulfill statutory obligations in a timely and responsible manner, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the corporate governance framework.

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES
100, “EVEREST”, MARINE DRIVE,
MUMBAI – 400 002
Website : www.mca.gov.in
e-Mail ID : roc.mumbai@mca.gov.in

No. ROC(M)/SPL/ADJ-ORDER/6209 to 6213

Date : 21 Dec 2023

Order for Penalty under Section 454 for violation of Section 92 of the Companies Act,
2013.

IN THE MATTER OF SHAYONA PETROCHEM LIMITED
(L23200MH1993PLC075659).

Appointment of Adjudicating Officer: –

1. Ministry of Corporate Affairs vide its Gazette Notification No. A-42011/112/ 2014- II dated 24.03.2015 appointed the undersigned as Adjudicating Officer in exercise of the powers conferred by section 454 of the Companies Act, 2013 [herein after known as Act] read with Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Rules, 2014 for adjudging penalties under the provisions of this Act.

Company:-

2. The Company SHAYONA PETROCHEM LIMITED (CIN: L23200MH1993PLC075659) (herein after known as ‘Company’) is a registered company with this office under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 having its registered office as per MCA21 Registry at address G-2, CHARKOP SUSHOBHIT CHS SECTOR 2 PLOT NO. 13, CHARKOP KANDIVILI WEST, MUMBAI, Mumbai City, Maharashtra, 400067, India as per the MCA portal.

Relevant Provisions of the Companies Act, 2013

3. Section 92- Annual return. — (1) Every company shall prepare a return (hereinafter referred to as the annual return) in the prescribed form containing the particulars as they stood on the close of the financial year regarding —

(a) its registered office, principal business activities, particulars of its holding, subsidiary and associate companies;

(b) its shares, debentures and other securities and shareholding pattern;

(c) its indebtedness;

(d) its members and debenture-holders along with changes therein since the close of the previous financial year;

(e) its promoters, directors, key managerial personnel along with changes there in since the close of the previous financial year;

(f) meetings of members or a class thereof Board and its various committees along with attendance details;

(g) remuneration of directors and key managerial personnel;

(h) penalty or punishment imposed on the company, its directors or officers and details of compounding of offences and appeals made against such penalty or punishment;

(i) matters relating to certification of compliances, disclosures as may be prescribed;

(j) details, as may be prescribed, in respect of shares held by or on behalf of the Foreign Institutional Investors indicating their names, addresses, countries of incorporation, registration and percentage of shareholding held by them; and

(k) such other matters as may be prescribed,.

and signed by a director and the company secretary, or where there is no company secretary, by a company secretary in practice:

Provided that in relation to One Person Company and small company, the annual return shall be signed by the company secretary, or where there is no company secretary, by the director of the company.

(2) The annual return, filed by a listed company or, by a company having such paid-up capital or turnover as may be prescribed shall be certified by a company secretary in practice in the prescribed form, stating that the annual return discloses the facts correctly and adequately and that the company has complied with all the provisions of this Act.

(3) An extract of the annual return in such form as may be prescribed shall form part of the Board’s report.

(4) Every company shall file with the Registrar a copy of the annual return, within sixty days from the date on which the annual general meeting is held or where no annual general meeting is held in any year within sixty days from the date on which the annual general meeting should have been held together with the statement specifying the reasons for not holding the annual general meeting, with such fees or additional fees as may be prescribed, within the time as specified, under section 403.

(5) If any company fails to file its annual return under sub-section (4), before the expiry of the period specified therein, such company and its every officer who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of fifty thousand rupees and in case of continuing failure, with further penalty of one hundred rupees for each day during which such failure continues, subject to a maximum of five lakh rupees.

(6) If a company secretary in practice certifies the annual return otherwise than in conformity with the requirements of this section or the rules made thereunder, he shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees.

Facts about the case: –

4. In terms of provisions of Section 92 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Company was required to file the Annual Return within sixty days from the date of Annual General Meeting held in pursuance of Section 96 of the Companies Act, 2013.

5. It was observed as per the MCA 21 database, that the Company has defaulted in filing its Annual Return for the Financial Year 2018-2019. The company is in non­compliance of provisions of Section 92 of the Companies Act, 2013 for non-filing of Annual Return for the financial year ended 31.03.2019. The due date of filing being 29.11.2019, whereas the Annual Return was not filed by the Company.

6. Subsequently, this office had issued Show cause notice to the Company and its Officers in default, dated 26.10.2020 under Section 454 of the Companies Act, 2013 for adjudication of offence under Section 92(5) of the Companies Act, 2013.

Reply of the Company: –

7. No reply has been received from the Company and its Directors as on date.

8. The Show Cause Notice dated 26.10.2020, bearing Consignment No. ‘EM961996252IN’ was sent to the Company. However, it was returned to this office bearing remark ‘Door Locked’ and ‘Unclaimed’.

9. The Show Cause Notice dated 26.10.2020, bearing Consignment No. ‘EM961996266IN’ was sent to Lalit Bhagwandas Patel. However, it was returned to this office bearing remark ‘Left’.

10. The Show Cause Notice dated 26.10.2020, bearing Consignment No. ‘EM961996270IN’ was sent to Kirit Amichand Patel. However, it was returned to this office bearing remark ‘Left’.

Findings:-

11. As observed from the MCA 21 database, the Company has failed in filing Annual Return within the time prescribed by the provisions of Section 92 of the Companies Act, 2013.

12. It is also observed, no reply has been received from the Company and its Officers in Default to the Show cause notice till date.

13. As per Section 454 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 3(11) of Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Rules, 2014, if the Company and Officers in default fail to reply or neglect or refuse to appear as required, the adjudicating officer may pass an order imposing the penalty, in the absence of such person after recording the reasons for doing so.

14. As no reply has been received, till date and the violation of the said provision has been established from the MCA 21 database, the following Order has been passed.

15. As per Section 2(60) Read with Section 2(51) of the Companies Act, 2013, Directors are being considered as Officers in Default. Hence, penalty is being levied on Mr. Lalit Bhagwandas Patel (Director), Mr. Kirit Amichand Patel (Director) and Mr. Shashikant Mohanlal Doshi (Director).

ORDER: –

16. In exercise of the powers conferred on me vide Notification dated 24.03.2015 and having considered the facts and circumstances of the case and after taking into account the factors mentioned in the relevant Rules, I am of the opinion that penalty shall be imposed for the default related to non-compliance of section 92 of the Act. The delay, if any, in passing of the order is due to the legal complexities involved in the matter.

17. Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case and after taking into the factors above, I hereby impose a penalty of Rs. 83,100/- (Rupees Eighty Three thousand One hundred only) on Company and each Officer in default, as per table given below for violation of provisions of Section 92 of the Companies Act, 2013.

TOTAL PENALTY PAYABLE:– Rs. 3,32,400/-

(♦) The period of violation of provisions under Section 92 of the Companies Act, 2013 is from 30.11.2019 till 25.10.2020. As per signatory details available on MCA-21 portal, the above-mentioned individuals were the Officers in default during the period of violation.

(♦) Due date of filing the Annual Return was 29.11.2019. Default in days is calculated at 331 days till 25.10.2020..

18. I am of this opinion that, the penalty is commensurate with the aforesaid failure committed by the Noticee.

19. The Noticee shall pay the said amount of penalty through “Ministry of Corporate Affairs” portal and proof of payment be produced for verification within 90 days of receipt of this order.

20. Please note that as per Section 454(8)(i) of the Companies Act, 2013, where Company does not pay the penalty imposed by the Adjudicating Officer or the Regional Director within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt of the copy of the order, 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.

21. Where an Officer of a Company who is in default does not pay the penalty within a period of ninety days from the date of the receipt of the copy of the order, such officer shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which shall not be less than twenty five thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both.

22. Therefore, in case of default in payment of penalty, prosecution will be filed under Section 454(8)(i) and (ii) of the Companies Act, 2013 at your own costs without any further notice.

23. Further the company and its officers are hereby direct that the penalty amount shall be remitted from their own sources through MCA 21 ports within 60 days from the date of receipt of order. The company need to file INC-28 as per the provisions of the Act, attaching copy of adjudication order along with payment

24. Appeal if any, against this order may be filed in writing with the Regional Director, Western Regional, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, within a period of sixty days from the date of receipt of this order, in Form ADJ setting forth the grounds of appeal and shall be accompanied by the certified copy of this order. (Section 454 of the Companies Act,2013 read with the Companies (Adjudicating of Penalties) Rules, 2014 as amended by Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Amendment Rules, 2019.

25. In terms of the provisions of sub-rule (9) of Rule 3 of Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Rules 2014 as amended by Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Amendment Rules, 2019, copy of this order is being sent to the Company and Noticee/s and also to Office of the Regional Director, Western Region, Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

B Mishra
Adjudication officer and Registrar of Companies
Maharashtra, Mumbai