The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) vide its Notification Date appointed the 24th March 2021 for commencement of Section 23 and Section 45 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020.
(A) Vide Section 23 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 Central Government amends the sub-section (7) of Section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013 and replace the provisions as follows:-
“(7) If a company fails to comply with any of the requirements of this section, such company shall be liable to a penalty of one lakh rupees and in case of continuing failure, with a further penalty of five hundred rupees for each day after the first during which such failure continues, subject to a maximum of ten lakh rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of twenty-five thousand rupees and in case of continuing failure, with a further penalty of one hundred rupees for each day after the first during which such failure continues, subject to a maximum of two lakh rupees.”.
Section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013 deals with the Unpaid Dividend Account and sub-section (7) of section 124 provided for the penalty for the non-compliances of Section 124.
Earlier sub-section (7) of section 124 provides for fine of a minimum of Rs 5,00,000/- and maximum of Rs 25,00,000/- on the defaulting company and fine of minimum of Rs 1,00,000/- and maximum of Rs 5,00,000/- on the every officer of the company who is in default.
(B) Vide Section 45 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 Central Government amends the Section 247 of the Companies Act, 2013 as follows:-
In section 247 of the principal Act, in sub-section (3), for the words “punishable with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees”, the words “liable to a penalty of fifty thousand rupees” shall be substituted.
Section 247 of the Companies Act, 2013 deals with the Valuation by the Registered Valuers and after commencement of Section 45 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 fine in case of contravention by the Registered Valuers has been amended to Rs 50,000/- only from the earlier “not less than Rs 25,000/- but which may extend up to Rs 1,00,000/-.
Official Notification is as follows:-
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 24th March, 2021
S.O. 1303(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 (29 of 2020), the Central Government hereby appoints the 24th March, 2021 as the date on which the provisions of section 23 and section 45 of the said Act shall come into force.
[F. No. 1 /3 /2020-CL.I] K. V. R. MURTY, Jt. Secy.
