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The Government has said that the Companies Act, 1956 does not provide for appointment of Independent Directors. But, as per clause 49 of the Listing Agreement, all the listed companies are required to appoint Independent Directors. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, the Minsiter for Corporate Affairs,
The government may empower independent directors and company secretaries to enforce corporate governance norms, having made compliance voluntary for enterprises. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), a statutory body set up by the government, has suggested a set of best practices that company secretaries on board of companies have to follow.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) have urged the government to lay down guidelines for independent directors, including their terms of appointment, responsibilities and tenure in the company.
The Companies Bill, 2009 has not proposed any upper cap on the number of independent directors, but, sub-clause (3) of clause 132 of the Companies Bill, 2009 provides that at least one-third of total directors shall be independent directors to be appointed in every listed company having certain amount of paid up capital to be prescribed by the Central Government.
With the aggressive disinvestment of PSUs being planned for the coming months, the government is likely to introduce a fixed time-frame during which the nomination of independent directors should be completed by state-run companies.
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has recommended to the Government that the maximum number of listed companies where one can be a director be restricted to seven. ICSI has also mooted capping the tenure of independent directors at six years. In its report on ‘Strengthening Corporate Governance Framework’ submitted to the Corporate Affairs Minister, Mr Salman Khursheed, ICSI suggested a clear demarcation of the roles and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board and that of the Managing Director/CEO.
A man is known by the company he keeps. But with the implementation of the Companies Bill 2009, a single person will constitute a Company, under the One Person Company (OPC) concept.As a structure for professionals, individual entrepreneurs, SMES and NGOs – the proposed Section 171 extends to Section 25 Companies as well – this is a godsend, as it insulates the shareholders personal assets from liability. But one wonders whether this Bill is the right platform or the timing is opportune. There have been too many writings on the Bill and its various dimensions. It is a critical piece of reform, which will be resisted and opposed by many.
While in most of the countries in the world, the top executives are trying to survive their jobs and positions and while this is the first time when maximum CEOs are hated by their shareholders, the independent Directors are trying to run away from their current position. One of the reports of Economic Times says that, since Satyam scandal and Nagarjuna case, “there are over 500 independent directors in India who have resigned from their respective positions on the Board citing reasons ranging from ill-health to work pressures”.
The government is examining a proposal seeking to split the compensation package of independent directors into fixed and variable components to ensure they play an active role in the affairs of companies. The variable component will be linked to the attendance at the board meetings, an official with the minsitry of corporate affairs told to a leading newspaper.
The maximum number of listed companies in which an individual can serve as a director should not be more than seven, proposed the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) to the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA). The proposal came in the light of ICSI view that a director needs to spend enough time to understand a company if he is to be involved in the decision-making process. At present, a person can hold the directorship of 15 listed companies.
