Banking Regulation Act

November 30, 2014

Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement

THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949³

(Act No. 10 of 1949)

[10th March, 1949]

(1) This Act may be called the Banking ⁴[Regulation] Act, 1949.

⁵[(2) It extends to the whole of India 6[* * *].]

(3) It shall come into force on such date7as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf.

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3. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1948, Pt. V, pp. 311 and 312, for Report of Select Committee, see Gazette of India, 1949, Pt. V, pp. 45 to 48.

Extended to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963 Section 2 and Schedule I w.e.f. 1-7-1965 and to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 11 of 1963, Section 3 and Schedule Nothing in this Acts (except section 34A) shall apply to the Industrial Development Bank of India vide Act 18 of 1964, Section 34.

4.Substituted by Act 23 of 1965, Section 11, for “Companies” w.e.f. 1-3-1966.

5.Substituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 2, for sub-section (2).

6.The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 62 of 1956, Section 2 and Schedule.

7.Came into force on 16th March, 1949; see Notification NO. F.4(46)-FI/49, dated 10th March, 1949, published in the Gazette of India, 1949, Pt. I, P. 326.

Section 2. Application of other laws not barred

The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not, save as hereunder expressly provided, in derogation of the ¹[Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], and any other law for the time being in force.

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1.Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1- 1957.

Section 3. Act to apply to co-operative societies in certain cases

¹[Act to apply to co-operative societies in certain cases. Nothing in this Act shall apply to. —

(a) a primary agricultural credit society;

(b) a co-operative land mortgage bank; and

(c) any other co-operative society, except in the manner and to the extent specified in Part V.]

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1. Substituted by Act 23 of 1956, Section 12, for the former Section 12, for the former section w.e.f. 1-3-1966.

Section 4. Power to suspend operation of Act

(1) The Central Government, if on a representation made by the Reserve Bank in this behalf it is satisfied that it is expedient so to do, may by notification in the Official Gazette suspend for such period, not exceeding sixty days, as may be specified in the notification, the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act, either generally or in relation to any specified banking company.

(2) In a case of special emergency, the Governor of the Reserve Bank, or in his absence a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank nominated by him in this behalf may, by order in writing, exercise the powers of the Central Government under sub-section (1) so however that the period of suspension shall not exceed thirty days, and where the Governor or the Deputy Governor, as the case may be, does so, he shall report the matter to the Central Government forthwith, and the order shall, as soon as may be, be published in the Gazette of India.

(3) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, extend from time to time the period of any suspension ordered under sub-section (1) or subsection (2) for such period, not exceeding sixty days at any one time, as it thinks fit so however that the total period does not exceed one year.

(4) A copy of any notification issued under sub-section (3) shall be laid on the table of ¹[Parliament] as soon as may be after it is issued.

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1. Substituted by the A. O. 1950, for “the Dominion Legislature”.

Section 5. Interpretation

¹[In this Act], unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, —

²[(a) “approved securities” means—

(i) securities in which a trustee may invest money under clause (a), clause (b), clause (bb), clause (c) or clause (d) of section 20 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882);

(ii) such of the securities authorised by the Central Government under clause (f) of section 20 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882), as may be prescribed;]

(b) “banking” means the accepting, for the purpose of lending or investment, of deposits of money from the public, repayable on demand or otherwise, and withdrawal by cheque, draft, order or otherwise;

(c) “banking company” means any company which transacts the business of banking ³[in India];

Explanation. — Any company which is engaged in the manufacture of goods or carries on any trade and which accepts deposits of money from the public merely for the purpose of financing its business as such manufacturer or trader shall not be deemed to transact the business of banking within the meaning of this clause;

⁴[(ca) “banking policy” means any policy which is specified from time to time by the Reserve Bank in the interest of the banking system or in the interest of monetary stability or sound economic growth, having due regard to the interests of the depositors, the volume of deposits and other resources of the bank and the need for equitable allocation and the efficient use of these deposits and resources;]

⁵[(cc) “branch” or “branch office” , in relation to a banking company, means any branch or branch office, whether called a pay office or sub-pay office or by any other name, at which deposits are received, cheques cashed or moneys lent, and for the purposes of section 35 includes any place of business where any other form of business referred to in sub-section (1) of section 6 is transacted;]

⁶[(d) “company” means any company as defined in section 3 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956); and includes a foreign company within the meaning of section 591 of that Act;)

⁷[(da) “corresponding new bank” means a corresponding new bank constituted under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970); or under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980);]

⁸[* * * * *]

(f) “demand liabilities” means liabilities which must be met on demand, and “time liabilities” means liabilities which are not demand liabilities;

⁹[(ff) “Deposit Insurance Corporation” means the Deposit Insurance Corporation established under section 3 of the Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, 1961 (47 of 1961);]

¹⁰[(ffa) “Development Bank” means the Industrial Development Bank of India established under section 3 of the Industrial Development Bank of India Act, 1964 (18 of 1964);

(ffb) “Exim Bank” means the Export-Import Bank of India established under section 3 of the Export-Import India Act, 1981 (28 of 1981);]

¹¹[(ffc) “Reconstruction Bank” means the Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India established under section 3 of the Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India Act, 1984 (62 of 1984);]

¹²[(ffd) “National Housing Bank” means the National Housing Bank established under section 3 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987;]

(g) “gold” includes gold in the form of coin, whether legal tender or not, or in the form of bullion or ingot, whether refined or not;

¹³[(gg) “managing agent” includes. —

(i) Secretaries and Treasurers;

(ii) Where the managing agent is a company, and director of such company, and any member thereof who holds substantial interest in such company;

(iii) Where the managing agent is a firm, any partner of such firm;]

¹⁴[(h) “managing director”, in relation to a banking company, means a director who, by virtue of an agreement with the banking company or of a resolution passed by the banking company in general meeting or by its Board of directors or, by virtue of its memorandum or articles of association, is entrusted with the management of the whole, or substantially the whole of the affairs of the company, and includes a director occupying the position of a managing director, by whatever name called:]

¹⁵[Provided that the managing director shall exercise his powers subject to the superintendence, control and direction of the Board of Directors;]

¹⁶[(ha) “National Bank” means the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development established under section 3 of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981;]

¹⁷[* * * * *]

(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

¹⁶[(ja) “regional rural bank” means a regional rural bank established under section 3 of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 (21 of 1976);]

¹⁷[* * * * *]

¹⁸[(1) “Reserve Bank” means the Reserve Bank of India constituted under section 3 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);]

¹⁷[* * * * *]

(n) “secured loan or advance” means a loan or advance made on the security of assets the market value of which is not at any time less than the amount of such loan or advance; and “unsecured loan or advance” means a loan or advance not so secured;

¹⁹[(ni) “Small Industries Bank” means the Small Industries Development Bank of India established under section 3 of the Small Industries Development Bank of India, 1989;]

²⁰[(na) “small-scale industrial concern” means an industrial concern in which the investment in plant and machinery is not in excess of seven and a half lakhs of rupees or such higher amount, not exceeding twenty lakhs of rupees, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, having regard to the trends in industrial development and other relevant factors;]

²¹[(nb) “Sponsor Bank” has the meaning assigned to it in the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 (21 of 1976);

(nc) “State Bank of India” means the State Bank of India constituted under section 3 of the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955);]

²²[(nd)] “subsidiary bank” has the meaning assigned to it in the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959;

²³[(ne)] ” substantial interest”. —

(i) in relation to a company, means the holding of a beneficial interest by an individual or his spouse or minor child, whether singly or taken together, in the shares thereof, the amount paid up on which exceeds five lakhs of rupees or ten percent of the paid-up capital of the company, whichever is less;

(ii) in relation to a firm, means the beneficial interest held therein by an individual or his spouse o r minor child, whether singly or taken together, which represents more than ten per cent of the total capital subscribed by all the partners of the said firm;]]

²⁴[(o) all other words and expressions used herein but not defined and defined in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.]

²⁵[* * * * *]

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1. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 6, for “(1) In this Act,” w.e.f. 1-2-1964

2. Clause (a) Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

3. Substituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in any State”.

4. Inserted By Act 58 of 1958, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

5. Inserted By Act 58 of 1959, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

6. Substituted by Act 58 of 1959 Section 2, for clause (d) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

7. Inserted By Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

8. Clause (e) omitted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 2.

9. Inserted By Act 47 of 1961, Section 51 and Schedule II, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-1-1962.

10. Inserted By Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

11. Inserted by Act 62 of 1984, Section 71 and Third Schedule w.e.f. 20-3-1985.

12. Inserted by Act 53 of 1987, Section 56 and Second Schedule w.e.f. 9-7-1988.

13. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

14. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 2, for clause (h) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.23Added by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

15. Added by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

16. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.

17. Clauses (i), (k) and (m) omitted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-5-1982.

18. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984

19. Inserted by Act 39 of 1989, Section 53 and Second Schedule, Pt. III w.e.f. 25-10-1989

20. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

21. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-2-1969

22. Clause (nb) re/lettered as Clause (nb) by Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984

23. Clause (nc) re/lettered as Clause (ne) by Act 1 of 1984, Section 13 w.e.f. 15-2-1984

24. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

25. Sub-section (2) omitted by the A.O. 1950

Section 5A. Act to override memorandum, articles, etc.

¹[Act to override memorandum, articles, etc. Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act. (a) the provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the memorandum or articles of a banking company, or in any agreement executed by it, or in any resolution passed by the banking company in general meeting or by its Board of Directors, whether the same be registered, executed or passed, as the case may be, before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1959 (33 of 1959); and

(b) any provision contained in the memorandum, articles, agreement or resolution aforesaid shall, to the extent to which it is repugnant to the provisions of this Act, become or be void, as the case may be.]

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1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 2 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Part II – Business of Banking Companies

Section 6. Forms of business in which banking companies may engage

(1) In addition to the business of banking, a banking company may engage in any one or more of the following forms of business, namely: —

(a) the borrowing, raising, or taking up of money; the lending or advancing of money either upon or without security; the drawing, making, accepting, discounting, buying, selling, collecting and dealing in bills of exchange, hoondees, promissory notes, coupons, drafts, bills of lading, railway receipts, warrants, debentures, certificates, scrips and other instruments and securities whether transferable or negotiable or not; the granting and issuing of letters of credit, traveller’s cheques and circular notes; the buying, selling and dealing in bullion and specie; the buying and selling of foreign exchange including foreign bank notes; the acquiring, holding, issuing on commission, underwriting and dealing in stock, funds, shares, debentures, debenture stock, bonds, obligations, securities and investments of all kinds; the purchasing and selling of bonds, scrips or other forms of securities on behalf of constituents or others, the negotiating of loans and advances; the receiving of all kinds of bonds, scrips or valuables on deposit or for safe custody or otherwise; the providing of safe deposit vaults; the collecting and transmitting of money and securities;

(b) acting as agents for any Government or local authority or any other person or persons; the carrying on of agency business of any description including the clearing and forwarding of goods, giving of receipts and discharges and otherwise acting as an attorney on behalf of customers, but excluding the business of a ¹[managing agent or secretary and treasurer] of a company;

(c) contracting for public and private loans and negotiating and issuing the same;

(d) the effecting, insuring, guaranteeing, underwriting, participating in managing and carrying out of any issue, public or private, of State, municipal or other loans or of shares, stock, debentures, or debenture stock of any company, corporation or association and the lending of money for the purpose of any such issue;

(e) carrying on and transacting every kind of guarantee and indemnity business;

(f) managing, selling and realising any property which may come into the possession of the company in satisfaction or part satisfaction of any of its claims;

(g) acquiring and holding and generally dealing with any property or any right, title or interest in any such property which may form the security or part of the security for any loans or advances or which may be connected with any such security;

(h) undertaking and executing trusts;

(i) undertaking the administration of estates as executor, trustee or otherwise;

(j) establishing and supporting or aiding in the establishment and support of associations, institutions, funds, trusts and conveniences calculated to benefit employees or ex-employees of the company or the dependents or connections of such persons; granting pensions and allowances and making payments towards insurance; subscribing to or guaranteeing moneys for charitable or benevolent objects or for any exhibition or for any public, general or useful object;

(k) the acquisition, construction, maintenance and alteration of any building or works necessary or convenient for the purposes of the company;

(l) selling, improving, managing, developing, exchanging, leasing, mortgaging, disposing of or turning into account or otherwise dealing with all or any part of the property and rights of the company;

(m) acquiring and undertaking the whole or any part of the business of any person or company, when such business is of a nature enumerated or described in this sub- section;

(n) doing all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the promotion or advancement of the business of the company;

(o) any other form of business which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify as a form of business in which it is lawful for a banking company to engage.

(2) No banking company shall engage in any form of business other than those referred to in sub-section (1).

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1. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 4, for “managing agent” w.e.f. 1-10-1959

Section 7. Use of words “bank”, “banker”, “banking” or “banking company”

¹[Use of words “bank”, “banker”, “banking” or “banking company”. (1) No company other than a banking company shall use as part of its name ²[or in connection with its business] any of the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking” and no company shall carry on the business of banking in India unless it uses as part of its name at least one of such words.

(2) No firm, individual or group of individuals shall, for the purpose of carrying on any business, use as part of its or his name any of the words “bank”, “banking” or “banking company”.

(3) Nothing in this section shall apply to. —

(a) a subsidiary of a banking company formed for one or more of the purposes mentioned in sub-section (1) of section 19, whose name indicates that it is a subsidiary of that banking company;

(b) any association of banks formed for the protection of their mutual interests and registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).]

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1. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 7, for the former section 7 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

2. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 14 w.e.f. 15-2-1984

Section 8. Prohibition of trading

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 6 or in any contract, no banking company shall directly or indirectly deal in the buying or selling or bartering of goods, except in connection with the realisation of security given to or held by it, or engage in any trade, or buy, sell or barter goods for others otherwise than in connection with bills of exchange received for collection or nego-tiation or with such of its business as is referred lo in clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 6:

¹[Provided that this section shall not apply to any such business as is specified in pursuance of clause (o) of sub-section (1) of section 6.

Explanation. — For the purposes of this section, “goods” means every kind of movable property, other than actionable claims, stocks, shares, money, bullion and specie, and all instruments referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 6.

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1. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 15 w.e.f. 15-2-194

Section 9. Disposal of non-banking assets

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 6, no banking company shall hold any immovable property howsoever acquired, except such as is required for its own use, for any period exceeding seven years from the acquisition thereof or from the commencement of this Act, whichever is later or any extension of such period as in this section provided, and such properly shall be disposed of within such period or extended period, as the case may be:

Provided that the banking company may, within the period of seven years as aforesaid deal or trade in any such property for the purpose of facilitating the disposal thereof:

Provided further that the Reserve Bank may in any particular case extend the aforesaid period of seven years by such period not exceeding five years where it is satisfied that such extension would be in the interests of the depositors of the banking company.

Section 10. Prohibition of employment of managing agents and restrictions on certain forms of employment

¹[Prohibition of employment of managing agents and restrictions on certain forms of employment. (1) No banking company —

(a) shall employ or be managed by a managing agent; or

(b) shall employ or continue the employment of any person—

(i) who is, or at any time has been, adjudicated insolvent, or has suspended payment or has compounded with his creditors, or who is, or has been, convicted by a criminal court of an offence involving moral turpitude; or

(ii) whose remuneration or part of whose remuneration takes the form of commission or of a share in the profits of the company:

²[Provided that nothing contained in this sub-clause shall apply to the payment by a banking company of—

(a) any bonus in pursuance of a settlement or award arrived at or made under any law relating to industrial disputes or in accordance with any scheme framed by such banking company or in accordance with the usual practice prevailing in banking business;

(b) any commission to any broker (including guarantee broker), cashier-contractor, clearing and forwarding agent, auctioneer or any other person, employed by the banking company under a contract otherwise than as a regular member of the staff of the company; or]

(iii) whose remuneration is, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, excessive; or

(c) shall be managed by any person—

³[(i) who is a director of any other company not being—

(a) a subsidiary of the banking company, or

(b) a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956):

Provided that the prohibition in this sub-clause shall not apply in respect of any such director for a temporary period not exceeding three months or such further period not exceeding nine months as the Reserve Bank may allow; or]

(ii) who is engaged in any other business or vocation; or

(iii) ⁴[whose term of office as a person managing the company is] for period exceeding five years at any one time:

⁵[Provided that the term of office of any such person may be renewed or extended by further periods not exceeding five years on each occasion subject to the condition that such renewal/extension shall not be sanctioned earlier than two years from the date on which it is to come into force:

Provided also that where the term of office of such person is for an indefinite period, such term, unless it otherwise comes to an end earlier, shall come to an end immediately on the expiry of five years from the date of his appointment or on the expiry of three months from the date of commencement of section 8 of the Banking Laws (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963 (55 of 1963), whichever is later:]

Provided further that nothing in this clause shall apply to a director, other than the managing director, of a banking company by reason only of his being such director.

Explanation. — For the purpose of sub-clause (iii) of clause (b), the expression “remuneration”, in relation to person employed or continued in employment, shall include salary, fees and perquisites but shall not include any allowances or other amounts paid to him for the purpose of reimbursing him in respect of the expense actually incurted by him in the performance of his duties.

(2) In forming its opinion under sub-clause (iii) of clause (b) of sub-section (1), the Reserve Bank may have regard among other matters to the following: —

(i) the financial condition and history of the banking company, its size and area of operation, its resources, the volume of its business, and the trend of its earning capacity;

(ii) the number of its branches or offices;

(iii) the qualifications, age and experience of the person concerned;

(iv) the remuneration paid to other persons employed by the banking company or to any person occupying a similar position in any other banking company similarly situated; and

(v) the interests of its depositors.

⁶[⁷[***].]

(6) Any decision or order of the Reserve Bank made under this section shall be final for all purposes.]

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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 6, for the proviso w.e.f. 1-10-1959

2. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 6 for sub-clause (i) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 6 for sub-clause (i) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

4. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 8, for certain words w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

5. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 8, for the first proviso w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

6. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 6, for sub-section (3) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

7. Sub-sections (3), (4) and (5) omitted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 8 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

Section 10A. Board of directors to include persons with professional or other experience

¹[Board of directors to include persons with professional or other experience. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, every banking company,

(a) in existence on the commencement of section 3 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1968 (58 of 1968), or

(b) which comes into existence thereafter,

shall comply with the requirements of this section:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to a banking company referred to in clause (a) for a period of three months from such commencement.

(2) Not less than fifty-one per cent, of the total number of members of the Board of directors of a banking company shall consist of persons, who—

(a) shall have special knowledge or practical experience in respect of one or more of the following matters, namely:—

(i) accountancy,

(ii) agriculture and rural economy,

(iii) banking,

(iv) co-operation,

(v) economics,

(vi) finance,

(vii) law,

(viii) small-scale industry,

(ix) any other matter the special knowledge of, and practical experience in, which would, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, be useful to the banking company:

Provided that out of the aforesaid number of directors, not less than two shall be persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of agriculture and rural economy, co-operation or small-scale industry; and

(b) shall not—

(1) have substantial interest in, or be connected with, whether as employee, manager or managing agent,—

(i) any company, not being a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or

(ii) any firm,

which carries on any trade, commerce or industry and which, in either case, is not a small-scale industrial concern, or

(2) be proprietors of any trading, commercial or industrial concern, not being a small-scale industrial concern.

²[(2A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or in any other law for the time being in force, —

(i) no director of a banking company, other than its chairman or whole-time director, by whatever name called, shall hold office continuously for a period exceeding eight years;

(ii) a chairman or other whole-time director of a banking company who has been removed from office as such chairman, or whole-time director, as the case may be, under the provisions of this Act shall also cease to be a director of the banking company and shall also not be eligible to be appointed as a director of such banking company, whether by election or co-option or otherwise, for a period of four years from the date of his ceasing to be the -chairman or whole-time director as the case may be.]

(3) If, in respect of any banking company the requirements, as laid down in subsection (2), are not fulfilled at any time, the Board of directors of such banking company shall re-constitute such Board so as to ensure that the said requirements are fulfilled.

(4) If, for the purpose of re-constituting the Board under sub-section (3), it is necessary to retire any director or directors, the Board may, by lots drawn in such manner as may be prescribed, decide which director or directors shall cease to hold office and such decision shall be binding on every director of the Board.

(5) Where the Reserve Bank is of opinion that the composition of the Board of directors of a banking company is such that it does not fulfil the requirements of subsection (2), it may, after giving to such banking company a reasonable opportunity of being heard, by an order in writing, direct the banking company to so re-constitute its Board of directors as to ensure that the said requirements are fulfilled and, if within two months from the date of receipt of that order, the banking company does not comply with the directions made by the Reserve Bank, that Bank may, after determining, by lots drawn in such manner as may be prescribed, the person who ought to be removed from the membership of the Board of directors, remove such person from the office of the director of banking company and with a view to complying with the provision of sub-section (2) appoint a suitable person as a member of the Board of directors in the place of the person so removed whereupon the person so appointed shall be deemed to have been duly elected by the banking company as its director.

(6) Every appointment, removal or reconstitution duly made, and every election duly held, under this section shall be final and shall not be called into question in any court.

(7) Every director elected or, as the case may be, appointed under this section shall hold office until the date up to which his predecessor would have held office, if the election had not been held, or, as the case may be, the appointment had not been made.

(8) No act or proceeding of the Board of directors of a banking company shall be invalid by reason only of any defect in the composition thereof or on the ground that it is subsequently discovered that any of its members did not fulfil the requirements of this section.

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1. Section 10A to 10D Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 3 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

2. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 16 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 10B. Banking company to be managed by whole time chairman

¹[(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or in any contract to the contrary, every banking company in existence on the commencement of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 1994 (20 of 1944), or which comes into existence thereafter shall have one of its directors, who may be appointed on a whole-time or a part-time basis, as chairman of its board of directors, and where he is appointed on a whole-time basis, as chairman of its board of directors, he shall be entrusted with the management of the whole of the affairs of the banking company :

Provided that the chairman shall exercise his powers subject to the superintendence, control and direction of the board of directors.

(1A) Where a chairman is appointed on a part-time basis, —

(i) such appointment shall be with the previous approval of the Reserve Bank and be subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify while giving such approval;

(ii) the management of the whole of the affairs of such banking company shall be entrusted to a managing director who shall exercise his powers subject to the superintendence, control and direction of the board of directors.]

(2) ²[Every chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis and every managing director] of a banking company shall be in the whole-time employment of such company and shall hold office for such period, not exceeding five years, as the board of directors may fix, but shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be eligible for re-election of reappointment:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be construed as prohibiting a chairman from being a director of a subsidiary of the banking company or a director of a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).

(3) Every person holding office on the commencement of section 3 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1968 (58 of 1968), as managing director of a banking company shall—

(a) if there is a chairman of its board of directors, vacate office on such commencement, or

(b) if there is no chairman of its board of directors, vacate office on the date on which the chairman of its board of directors is elected or appointed in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(4) ³[Every chairman who is appointed on a whole-time basis and every managing director of a banking company appointed under sub-section (1A)] shall be person who has special knowledge and practical experience of—

(a) the working of a banking company, or of the State Bank of India or any subsidiary bank or a financial institution, or

(b) financial, economic or business administration :

Provided that a person shall be disqualified for being a ³[chairman who is appointed on a whole time basis or a managing director], if be—

(a) is a director of any company other than a company referred to in the proviso to sub-section (2), or

(b) is a partner of any firm which carries on any trade, business or industry, or

(c) has substantial interest in any other company or firm, or

(d) is a director, manager, managing agent, partner or proprietor of any trading, commercial or industrial concern, or

(e) is engaged in any other business or vocation.

(5) ³[A chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of a banking company may, by writing, under his hand addressed to the company, resign his office, ⁴[* * *].

⁵[(5A) ³[A chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] whose term of office has come to an end, either by reason of his resignation or by reason of expiry of the period of his office, shall, subject to the approval of the Reserve Bank, continue in office until his successor assumes office.

(6) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 36AA where the Reserve Bank is of opinion that any person who, is, or has been elected to be, the ³[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] of a banking company is not a fit and proper person to hold such office, it may, after giving to such person and to the banking company a reasonable opportunity of being heard by order in writing, require the banking company to elect or appoint any other person as the ³[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] and if, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of such order, the banking company fails to elect or appoint a suitable person as the ³[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director], the Reserve Bank may, by order, remove the first-mentioned person from the office of the ⁶[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] of the banking company and appoint a suitable person in his place whereupon the person so appointed shall be deemed to have been duly elected or appointed, as the case may be, as the ⁶[chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] of such banking company and any person elected or ⁶[appointed as chairman on a whole-time basis or managing director] under this sub-section shall hold office for the residue of the period of office of the person in whose place he has been so elected or appointed.

(7) The banking company and any person against whom an order of removal is made under sub-section (6) may, within thirty days from the date of communication to it or to him of the order, prefer an appeal to the Central Government and the decision of the Central Government thereon, and subject thereto, the order made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (6), shall be final and shall not be called into question in any court.

(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Reserve Bank may, if in its opinion it is necessary in the public interest so to do, permit ⁶[the chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or the managing director] to undertake such part-time honorary work as is not likely to interfere with his duties as ⁶[such chairman or managing director].

(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where a person ⁶[appointed on a whole-time basis, as chairman of the board of directors or the managing director] dies or resigns or is by infirmity or otherwise rendered incapable of carrying out his duties or is absent on leave or otherwise in circumstances not involving the vacation of his office, the banking company may, with the approval of the Reserve Bank, make suitable arrangements for carrying out the ⁶[duties of chairman or managing director] for a total period not exceeding four months.

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1. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 2, for sub-section (1) w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 2, for certain words w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

3. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 2 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

4. Certain words omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 17 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

5. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 17 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

6. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 2 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

Section 10BB. Power of Reserve Bank to appoint [Chairman of the Board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of a banking company

¹[Power of Reserve Bank to appoint [Chairman of the Board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of a banking company. (1) Where the office, of the ²[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of a banking company is vacant, the Reserve Bank may, if it is of opinion that the continuation of such vacancy is likely to adversely affect the interests of the banking company, appoint a person eligible under sub-section (4) of section 10B to be so appointed, to be the ²[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] of the banking company and where the person so appointed is not a director of such banking company, he shall, so long as he holds the office of the ²[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director], be deemed to be director of the banking company.

(2) The ³[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-lime basis or a managing director] so appointed by the Reserve Bank shall be in the whole-time employment of the banking company and shall hold office for such period not exceeding three years, as the Reserve Bank may specify, but shall, subject to other provisions of this Act, be eligible for reappointment.

(3) The ³[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] so appointed by the Reserve Bank shall draw from the banking company such pay and allowances as the Reserve Bank may determine and may be removed from office only by the Reserve Bank.

(4) Save as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of section 10B shall, as far as may be, apply to the ³[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] appointed by the Reserve Bank under subsection (1) as they apply to a ³[chairman of the board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] appointed by the banking company.]

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1. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 18 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 3 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

3. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 3 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

Section 10C. Chairman and certain directors not to be required to hold qualification shares

¹[Chairman and certain directors not to be required to hold qualification shares. ²[Chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-lime basis or a managing director] of a banking company (by whomsoever appointed) and a director of a banking company (appointed by the Reserve Bank under section 10A) shall not be required to hold qualification shares in the banking company.]

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1. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 19 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 4 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

Section 10D. Provisions of sections 10A and 10B to override all other laws, contracts, etc.

Any appointment or removal of a ¹[director, chairman of the board of directors who is appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director] in pursuance of section IOA or section 10B ²[or section 10BB] shall have effect and any such person shall not be entitled to claim any compensation for the loss or termination of office, notwithstanding anything contained in any law or in any contract, memorandum or articles of association.]

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1. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, sec 5 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

2. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 20 w.e.f. 31-1-1984.

Section 11. Requirement as to minimum paid-up capital and reserves

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in ¹[section 149 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], no banking company in existence on the commencement of this Act, shall, after the expiry of three years from such commencement or of such further period not exceeding one year as the Reserve Bank, having regard to the interests of the depositors of the company, may think fit in any particular case to allow, carry on business ²[in India], and no other banking company shall after the commencement of this Act, commence or carry on business ²[in India] ³[unless it complies with such of the requirements of this section as are applicable to it].

⁴[(2) In the case of a banking company incorporated outside India—

(a) the aggregate value of its paid-up capital and reserves shall not be less than fifteen lakhs of rupees and if it has a place or places of business in the city of Bombay or Calcutta or both, twenty lakhs of rupees; and

(b) ⁵[the banking company shall deposit and keep deposited with the Reserve Bank either in cash or in the form of unencumbered approved securities, or partly in cash and partly in the form of such securities—

(i) an amount which shall not be less than the minimum required by clause (a); and

(ii) as soon as may be after the expiration of each ⁶[* * *] year, an amount calculated at twenty per cent of its profit for that year in respect of all business transacted through its branches in India, as disclosed in the profit and loss account prepared with reference to that year under section 29:]

Provided that any such banking company may at any time replace—

(i) any securities so deposited by cash or by any other unencumbered approved securities or partly by cash and partly by other such securities, so however, that the total amount deposited is not affected;

(ii) any cash so deposited by unencumbered approved securities of an equal value.]

⁷[(2A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Central Government may, on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank, and having regard to the adequacy of the amounts already deposited and kept deposited by a banking company under sub-section (2), in relation to its deposit liabilities in India, declare by order in writing that the provisions of sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (2) shall not apply to such banking company for such period as may be specified in the order.]

(3) In the case of any banking company to which the provisions of sub-section (2) do not apply, the aggregate value of its paid-up capital and reserves shall not be less than—

(i) if it has places of business in more than one State, five lakhs of rupees, and if any such place or places of business is or are situated in the city of Bombay or Calcutta or both, ten lakhs of rupees;

(ii) if it has all its places of business in one State none of which is situated in the city of Bombay or Calcutta, one lakh of rupees in respect of its principal place of business, plus ten thousand rupees in respect of each of its other places of business situated in the same district in which it has its principal place of business, plus twenty-five thousand rupees in respect of each place of business situated elsewhere in the State otherwise than in the same district:

Provided that no banking company to which this clause applies shall be required to have paid-up capital and reserves exceeding an aggregate value of five lakhs of rupees:

Provided further that no banking company to which this clause applies and which has only one place of business, shall be required to have paid-up capital and reserves exceeding an aggregate value of fifty thousand rupees:

⁸[Provided further that in the case of every banking company to which this clause applies and which commences banking business for the first time after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1962 (36 of 1962), the value of its paid-up capital shall not be less than five lakhs of rupees;]

(iii) if it has all its places of business in one State, one or more of which is or are situated in the city of Bombay or Calcutta, five lakhs of rupees, plus twenty-five thousand rupees in respect of each place of business situated outside the city of Bombay or Calcutta, as the case may be:

Provided that no banking company to which this clause applies shall be required to have paid-up capital and reserves exceeding an aggregate value of ten lakhs of rupees.

Explanation. — For the purposes of this sub-section, a place of business situated ⁹[in a State] other than that in which the principal place of business of the banking company is situated shall, if it is not more than twenty-five miles distant from such principal place of business, be deemed to be situated within the same State as such principal place of business.

(4) Any amount deposited and kept deposited with the Reserve Bank under ¹⁰[* * *] sub-section (2) by any banking company incorporated ¹¹[outside India] shall, in the event of the company ceasing for any reason to carry on banking business ¹²[in India], be an asset of the company on which the claims of all the creditors of the company ¹²[in India] shall be a first charge.

¹³[(5) For the purposes of this section, —

(a) “place of business” means any office, sub-office, sub-pay office and any place of business at which deposits are received, cheques cashed, or moneys lent;

(b) “value” means the real or exchangeable value, and not the nominal value which may be shown in the books of the banking company concerned.]

(6) If any dispute arises in computing the aggregate value of the paid-up capital and reserves of any banking company, a determination thereof by the Reserve Bank shall be final for the purposes of this section.

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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 103 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in any state”.

3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 7, for certain words w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

4. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 7, for sub-section (2) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

5. Subsituted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 2, for certain words.

6. The word “calendar” omitted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 7 w.e.f. 31-12-1988.

7. Inserted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 2.

8. Inserted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 2.

9. Subsituted by Act 62 of 1956, Section 2 and Schedule, for “in India”.

10. The words “the proviso to” omitted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 7 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

11. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “elsewhere than in a State”.

12. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in the States”.

13. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 7, for sub-section (5) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 12. Regulation of paid-up capital, subscribed capital and authorised capital and voting rights of shareholders

¹[Regulation of paid-up capital, subscribed capital and authorised capital and voting rights of shareholders. (1) No banking company shall carry on business in India, unless it satisfies the following conditions, namely:—

(i) that the subscribed capital of the company is not less than one-half of the authorised capital, and the paid-up capital is not less than one-half of the subscribed capital and that, if the capital is increased, it complies with the conditions prescribed in this clause within such period not exceeding two years as the Reserve Bank may allow;

(ii) that the capital of the company consists of ordinary shares only or of ordinary shares or equity shares and such preferential shares as may have been issued prior to the 1st day of July, 1944:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to any banking company incorporated before the 15th day of January, 1937.

[(2) No person holding shares in a banking company shall, in respect of any shares held by him, exercise voting rights ²[on poll] ³[in excess of ⁴(ten per cent)] of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the banking company.]

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or in any contract or instrument no suit or other proceeding shall be maintained against any person registered as the holder of a share in a banking company on the ground that the title to the said share vests in a person other than the registered holder :

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall bar a suit or other proceeding—

(a) by a transferee of the share on the ground that he has obtained from the registered holder a transfer of the share in accordance with any law relating to such transfer; or

(b) on behalf of a minor or a lunatic on the ground that the registered holder holds the share on behalf of the minor or lunatic.

(4) Every chairman, managing director or chief executive officer by whatever name called of a banking company shall furnish to the Reserve Bank through that banking company returns containing full particulars of the extent and value of his holding of shares, whether directly or indirectly, in the banking company and of any change in the extent of such holding or any variation in the rights attaching thereto and such other information relating to those shares as the Reserve Bank may, by order, require and in such form and at such time as may be specified in the order.]

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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 3, for section 12 w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 8 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

3. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 9, for “inexcess of five percent” w.e.f. 1-12-1964.

4. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, sSection 6 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

Section 12A. Election of new directors

¹[Election of new directors. (1) The Reserve Bank may, by order, require any banking company to call a general meeting of the shareholders of the company within such time, not less than two months from the date of the order, as may be specified in the order or within such further time as the Reserve Bank may allow in this behalf, to elect in accordance with the voting rights permissible under this Act fresh directors, and the banking company shall be bound to comply with the order.

(2) Every director elected under sub-section (1) shall hold office until the date up to which his predecessor would have held office, if the election had not been held.

(3) Any election duly held under this section shall not be called in question in any court.]

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1. Inserted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 4 w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

Section 13. Restriction on commission, brokerage, discount, etc. on sale of shares

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in ¹[sections 76 and 79 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], no banking company shall pay out directly or indirectly by way of commission, brokerage, discount or remuneration in any form in respect of any shares issued by it, any amount exceeding in the aggregate two and one-half per cent of the paid-up value of the said shares.

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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule I, for “section 105 and 105A of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

Section 14. Prohibition of charge on unpaid capital

No banking company shall create any charge upon any unpaid capital of the company, and any such charge shall be invalid.

Section 14A. Prohibition of floating charge on assets

¹[Prohibition of floating charge on assets. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 6, no banking company shall create a floating charge on the undertaking or any property of the company or any part thereof, unless the creation of such floating charge is certified in writing by the Reserve Bank as not being detrimental to the interests of the depositors of such company.

(2) Any such charge created without obtaining the certificate of the Reserve Bank shall be invalid.

(3) Any banking company aggrieved by the refusal of a certificate under subsection (1) may, within ninety days from the date on which such refusal is communicated to it, appeal to the Central Government.

(4)The decision of the Central Government where an appeal has been preferred to it under sub-section (3) or of the Reserve Bank where no such appeal has been preferred shall be final.]

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1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 9 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 15. Restrictions as to payment of dividend

¹[(1)] No banking company shall pay any dividend on its shares until all its capitalised expenses (including preliminary expenses, organisation expenses, share-selling commission, brokerage, amounts of losses incurred and any other item of expenditure not represented by tangible assets) have been completely written off.

²[(2)] Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sub-section (1) or in the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956), a banking company may pay dividends on its shares without writing off—

(i) the depreciation, if any, in the value of its investments in approved securities in any case where such depreciation has not actually been capitalised or otherwise accounted for as a loss;

(ii) the depreciation, if any, in the value of its investments in shares, debentures or bonds (other than approved securities) in any case where adequate provision for such depreciation has been made to the satisfaction of the auditor of the banking company;

(iii) the bad debts, if any, in any case where adequate provision for such debts has been made to the satisfaction of the auditor of the banking company.]

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1. Section 15 renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 33 of 1959, Section 10 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

2. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 10 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 16. Prohibition of common directors

¹[(Prohibition of common directors. ²[(1) No banking company incorporated in India shall have as a director in its Board of directors any person who is a director of any other banking company.

(1A) No banking company referred to in sub-section (1) shall have in its Board of directors, more than three directors who are directors of companies which among themselves are entitled to exercise voting rights in excess of twenty per cent of the total voting rights of all the shareholders to that banking company.]

(2) If immediately before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1956 (95 of 1956), any person holding office as a director of a banking company is also a director of companies which among themselves are entitled to exercise voting rights in excess of twenty percent of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the banking company, he shall, within such period from such commencement as the Reserve Bank may specify in this behalf-

(a) either resign his office as a director of the banking company; or

(b) choose such number of companies as among themselves are not entitled to exercise voting rights in excess of twenty per cent, of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the banking company as companies in which he wishes to continue to hold the office of a director and resign his office as a director in the other companies.]

³[(3) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to, or in relation to, any director appointed by the Reserve Bank.]

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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 5, for section 16 w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 7 w.e.f. 22-3-1994.

3. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 4 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

Section 17. Reserve Fund

¹[Reserve Fund. (1) Every banking company incorporated in India shall create a reserve fund and ²[* * *] shall, out of the balance of profit of each year as disclosed in the profit and loss account prepared under section 29 and before any dividend is declared, transfer to the reserve fund a sum equivalent to not less than twenty per cent of such profit.

³[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Central Government may, on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank and having regard to the adequacy of the paid-up capital and reserves of a banking company in relation to its deposit liabilities, declare by order in writing that the provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to the banking company for such period as may be specified in the order:

Provided that no such order shall be made unless, at the time it is made, the amount in the reserve fund under sub-section (1), together with the amount in the share premium account is not less than the paid-up capital of the banking company.]

(2) Where a banking company appropriates any sum or sums from the reserve fund or the share premium account, it shall, within twenty-one days from the date of such appropriation, report the fact to the Reserve Bank, explaining the circumstances relating to such appropriation:

Provided that the Reserve Bank may, in any particular case, extend the said period of twenty-one days by such period as it thinks fit or condone any delay in the making of such report.

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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 1, for section 17 and 18 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

2. Certain words omitted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 3.

3. Inserted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 3.

Section 18. Cash reserve

¹[Cash reserve. (1) Every banking company, not being a scheduled bank, shall maintain in India by way of cash reserve with itself or by way of balance in a current account with the Reserve Bank, or by way of net balance in current accounts or in one or more of the aforesaid ways, a sum equivalent to at least three per cent of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight and shall submit to the Reserve Bank before the twentieth day of every month a return showing the amount so held on alternate Fridays during a month with particulars of its demand and time liabilities in India on such Fridays or if any such Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), at the close of business on the preceding working day.

Explanation. —In this section, and in section 24, —

(a) “liabilities in India” shall not include—

(i) the paid-up capital or the reserves or any credit balance in the profit and loss account of the banking company;

(ii) any advance taken from the Reserve Bank or from the Development Bank or from the Exim Bank ²[or from the Reconstruction Bank] ³[or from the National Housing Bank] or from the National Bank ⁴[or from the Small Industries Bank] by the banking company;

(iii) in the case of a Regional Rural Bank, also any loan taken by such bank from its Sponsor Bank;

(b) “fortnight” shall mean the period from Saturday to the second following Friday, both days inclusive;

(c) “net balance in current accounts” shall, in relation to a banking company, mean the excess, if any, of the aggregate of the credit balances in current account maintained by that banking company with State Bank of India or a subsidiary bank or a corresponding new bank over the aggregate of the credit balances in current account held by the said banks with such banking company;

(d) for the purposes of computation of liabilities, the aggregate of the liabilities of a banking company to the State Bank of India, a subsidiary bank, a corresponding new bank, a regional rural bank, another banking company, a co-operative bank or any other financial institution notified by the Central Government in this behalf, shall be reduced by the aggregate of the liabilities of all such banks and institutions to the banking company;

(e) the expression “co-operative bank” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (cci) of section 56.

(2) The Reserve Bank may, for the purposes of this section and section 24, specify from time to time, with reference to any transaction or class of transactions, that such transaction or transactions shall be regarded as liability in India of a banking company and, if any question arises as to whether any transaction or class of transactions shall be regarded for the purposes of this section and section 24 as liability in India of a banking company, the decision of the Reserve Bank thereon shall be final.]

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1. Inserted by Act 62 of 1984, Section 71 and Third Schedule 20-3-1985.

2. Inserted by Act 62 of 1984, Section 71 and Third Schedule 20-3-1985

3. Inserted by Act 53 of 1987, Section 56 and Schedule w.e.f. 9-7-1988.

4. Inserted by Act 39 of 1989, Section 53 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 25-10-1989.

Section 19. Restriction on nature of subsidiary companies

¹[(1) A banking company shall not form any subsidiary company except a subsidiary company formed for one or more of the following purposes, namely: —

(a) the undertaking of any business which, under clauses (a) to (o) of subsection (3) of section 6, is permissible for a banking company to undertake, or

(b) with the previous permission in writing of the Reserve Bank, the carrying on of the business of banking exclusively outside India, or

(c) the undertaking of such other business, which the Reserve Bank may, with the prior approval of the Central Government, consider to be conducive to the spread of banking in India or to be other wise useful or necessary in the public interest.

Explanation. —For the purposes of section 8, a banking company shall not be deemed, by reason of its forming or having a subsidiary company, to be engaged indirectly in the business carried on by such subsidiary company.]

(2) Save as provided in sub-section (1), no banking company shall hold shares in any company, whether as pledgee, mortgagee or absolute owner, of an amount exceeding thirty per cent of the paid-up share capital of that company or thirty per cent of its own paid-up share capital and reserves, whichever is less:

Provided that any banking company which is on the date of the commencement of this Act holding any shares in contravention of the provisions of this sub-section shall not be liable to any penalty therefor if it reports the matter without delay to the Reserve Bank and if it brings its holding of shares into conformity with the said provisions within such period, not exceeding two years, as the Reserve Bank may think fit to allow.

(3) Save as provided in sub-section (1) and notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), a banking company shall not, after the expiry of one year from the date of the commencement of this Act, hold shares, whether as pledgee, mortagagee or absolute owner, in any company in the management of which any managing director or manager of the banking company is in any manner concerned or interested.

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1. Subsituted Act 1 of 1984, Section 22 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 20. Restrictions on loans and advances

¹[Restrictions on loans and advances. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 77 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), no banking company shall,—

(a) grant any loans or advances on the security of its own shares, or—

(b) enter into any commitment for granting any loan or advance to or on behalf of—

(i) any of its directors,

(ii) any firm in which any of its directors is interested as partner, manager, employee or guarantor, or

(iii) any company [not being a subsidiary of the banking company or a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or a Government company] of which ²[or the subsidiary or the holding company of which] any of the directors of the banking company is a director, managing agent, manager, employee or guarantor or in which he holds substantial interest, or

(iv) any individual in respect of whom any of its directors is a partner or guarantor.

(2) Where any loan or advance granted by a banking company is such that a commitment for granting it could not have been made if clause (b) of sub-section (1) had been in force on the date on which the loan or advance was made, or is granted by a banking company after the commencement of section 5 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1968 (58 of 1968), but in pursuance of a commitment entered into before such commencement, steps shall be taken to recover the amounts due to the banking company on account of the loan, or advance together with interest, if any, due thereon within the period stipulated at the time of the grant of the loan or advance, or where no such period has been stipulated, before the expiry of one year from the commencement of the said section 5:

Provided that the Reserve Bank may, in any case, on an application in writing made to it by the banking company in this behalf, extend the period for the recovery of the loan or advance until such date, not being a date beyond the period of three years from the commencement of the said section 5, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Reserve Bank may deem fit:

Provided further that this sub-section shall not apply if and when the director concerned vacates the office of the director of the banking company, whether by death, retirement, resignation or otherwise.

(3) No loan or advance, referred to in sub-section (2), or any part thereof shall be remitted without the previous approval of the Reserve Bank, and any remission without such approval shall be void and of no effect.

(4) Where any loan or advance referred to in sub-section (2), payable by any person, has not been repaid to the banking company within the period specified in that subsection, then, such person shall, if he is a director of such banking company on the date of the expiry of the said period, be deemed to have vacated his office as such on the said date.

Explanation. — In this section—

(a) “loans or advance” shall not include any transaction which the Reserve Bank may, having regard to the nature of the transaction, the period within which, and the manner and circumstances in which, any amount due on account of the transaction is likely to be realised, the interest of the depositors and other relevant considerations, specify by general or special order as not being a loan or advance for the purpose of this section;

(b) “director” include a member of any board or committee in India constituted by a banking company for the purpose of managing, or for the purpose of advising it in regard to the management of, all or any of its affairs.

(5) If any question arises whether any transaction is a loan or advance for the purposes of this section, it shall be referred to the Reserve Bank, whose decision thereon shall be final.]

———————

1. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 5, for section 20 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

2. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 5, for section 20 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

Section 20A. Restrictions on power to remit debts

¹[Restrictions on power to remit debts. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 293 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), a banking company shall not, except with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank, remit in whole or in part any debt due to it by—

(a) any of its directors, or

(b) any firm or company in which any of its directors is interested as director, partner, managing agent or guarantor, or

(c) any individual if any of its directors is his partner or guarantor.

(2) Any remission made in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be void and of no effect.]

———————

1. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 12 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

Section 21. Power of Reserve Bank to control advances by banking companies

(1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient in the public interest ¹[or in the interests of depositors] ²[ or banking policy] so to do, it may determine the policy in relation to advances to be followed by banking companies generally or by any banking company in particular, and when the policy has been so determined, all banking companies or the banking company concerned, as the case may be, shall be bound to follow the policy as so determined.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power vested in the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1) the Reserve Bank may give directions to banking companies, either generally or to any banking company or group of banking companies in particular, ³[as to—

(a) the purposes for which advances may or may not be made,

(b) the margins to be maintained in respect of secured advances,

(c) the maximum amount of advances or other financial accommodation which, having regard to the paid-up capital, reserves and deposits of a banking company and other relevant considerations, may be made by that banking company to any one company, firm, association of persons or individual,

(d) the maximum amount up to which, having regard to the considerations referred to in clause (c), guarantees may be given by a banking company on behalf of any one company, firm, association of persons or individual, and

(e) the rate of interest and other terms and conditions on which advances or other financial accommodation may be made or guarantees may be given.]

⁴[(3) Every banking company shall be bound to comply with any directions given to it under this section.]

———————

1. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 13 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

2. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 6 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

3. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 13, for certain words w.e.f. 1-2-1954.

4. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 13 w.e.f. 1-3-1964.

Section 21A. Rates of interest charged by banking companies not to be subject to scrutiny by courts

¹[Rates of interest charged by banking companies not to be subject to scrutiny by courts. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Usurious Loans Act, 1918 (10 of 1918), or any other law relating to indebtedness in force in any State, a transaction between a banking company and its debtor shall not be re-opened by any court on the ground that the rate of interest charged by the banking company in respect of such transaction is excessive.]

———————

1. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 24 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 22. Licensing of banking companies

¹[(1) Save as hereinafter provided, no company shall carry on banking business in India unless it holds a licence issued in that behalf by the Reserve Bank and any such licence may be issued subject of such conditions as the Reserve Bank may think fit to impose.]

(2) Every banking company in existence on the commencement of this Act, before the expiry of six months from such commencement, and every other company before commencing banking business ²[in India], shall apply in writing to the Reserve Bank for a licence under this section:

Provided that in the case of a banking company in existence on the commencement of this Act, nothing in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to prohibit the company from carrying on banking business until it is granted a licence in pursuance of ³is section] or is by notice in writing informed by the Reserve Bank that a licence cannot be granted to it:

Provided further that the Reserve Bank shall not give a notice as aforesaid to a banking company in existence on the commencement of this Act before the expiry of the three years referred to in sub-section (1) of section 11 or of such further period as the Reserve Bank may under that sub-section think fit to allow.

(3) Before granting any licence under this section, the Reserve Banking may require to be satisfied by an inspection of the books of the company or otherwise that ⁴[***] the following conditions are fulfilled, namely : —

⁵[(a) that the company is or will be in a position to pay its present or future depositors in full as their claims accrue;

(b) that the affairs of the company are not being, or are not likely to be, conducted in a manner deterimental to the interests of its present or future depositors;]

⁶[(c) that the general character of the proposed management of the company will not be prejudicial to the public interest or the interest of its depositors;

(d) that the company has adequate capital structure and earning prospects;

(e) that the public interest will be served by the grant of a licence to the company to carry on banking business in India;

(f) that having regard to the banking facilities available in the proposed principal area of operations of the company, the potential scope for expansion of banks already in existence in the area and other relevant factors the grant of the licence would not be prejudicial to the operation and consolidation of the banking system consistent with monetary stability and economic growth;

(g) any other condition, the fulfilment of which would, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, be necessary to ensure that the carrying on of banking business in India by the company will not be prejudicial to the public interest or the interests of the depositors.]

⁷[(3A) Before granting any licence under this section to a company incorporated outside India, the Reserve Bank may require to be satisfied by an inspection of the books of the company or otherwise that the conditions specified in sub-section (3) are fulfilled and that the carrying on of banking business by such company in India will be in the public interest and that the Government or law of the country in which it is incorporated does not discriminate in any way against banking companies registered in India and that the company complies with all the provisions of this Act applicable to banking companies incorporated outside India.]

⁸[(4) The Reserve Bank may cancel a licence granted to a banking company under this section —

(i) if the company ceases to carry on banking business in India; or

(ii) if the company at any time fails to comply with any of the conditions imposed upon it under sub-section (1); or

(iii) if at any time, any of the conditions referred to in sub-section (3) ⁷[and sub-section (3A)] is not fulfilled:

Provided that before cancelling a licence under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this sub-section on the ground that the banking company has failed to comply with or has failed to fulfil any of the conditions referred to therein, the Reserve Bank, unless it is of opinion that the delay will be prejudicial to the interests of the company’s depositors or the public, shall grant to the company on such terms as it may specify, an opportunity of taking the necessary steps for complying with or fulfilling such condition.

(5) Any banking company aggrieved by the decision of the Reserve Bank cancelling a licence under this section may, within thirty days from the date on which such decision is communicated to it, appeal to the Central Government.

(6) The decision of the Central Government where an appeal has been preferred to it under sub-section (5) or of the Reserve Bank where no such appeal has been preferred shall be final.]

———————

1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 13, for sub-section (1) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in any state”.

3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 13, for “sub-section” (2)” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

4. The words “all or any of” omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 25 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

5. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 13, for clauses (a) and (b) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

6. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 25, for clause ( c) w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

7. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 25 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

8. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 13, for sub-sections (4) and (5) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 23. Restrictions on opening of new, and transfer of existing, places of business

¹[Restrictions on opening of new, and transfer of existing, places of business. (1) Without obtaining the prior permission of the Reserve Bank—

(a) no banking company shall open a new place of business in India or change otherwise than within the same city, town or village, the location of an existing place of business situated in India; and

(b) no banking company incorporated in India shall open a new place of business outside India or change, otherwise than within the same city, town or village in any country or area outside India, the location of an existing place of business situated in that country or area:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to the opening for a period not exceeding one month of a temporary place of business within a city, town or village or the environs thereof within which the banking company already has a place of business, for the purpose of affording banking facilities to the public on the occasion of an exhibition, a conference or a mela or any other like occasion.

(2) Before granting any permission under this section, the Reserve Bank may require to be satisfied by an inspection under section 35 or otherwise as to the financial condition and history of the company, the general character of its management, the adequacy of its capital structure and earning prospects and that public interest will be served by the opening or, as the case may be, change of location, of the place of business.

(3) The Reserve Bank may grant permission under sub-section (1) subject to such conditions as it may think fit to impose either generally or with reference to any particular case.

(4) Where, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, a banking company has, at any time, failed to comply with any of the conditions imposed on it under this section, the Reserve Bank may, by order in writing and after affording reasonable opportunity to the banking company for showing cause against the action proposed to be taken against it, revoke any permission granted under this section.

²[(4A) Any regional rural bank requiring the permission of the Reserve Bank under this section shall forward its application to the Reserve Bank through the National Bank which shall give its comments on the merits of the application and send it to the Reserve Bank:

Provided that the regional rural bank shall also send an advance copy of the application directly to the Reserve Bank.]

(5) For the purpose of this section “place of business” includes any sub-office, pay office, subpay office and any place of business at which deposits are received, cheques cashed or moneys lent.]

———————

1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 14, for section 23 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

2. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.

Section 24. Maintenance of a percentage of assets

(1) After the expiry of two years from the commencement of this Act, every banking company shall maintain ¹[in India] in cash, gold or unencumbered approved securities, valued at a price not exceeding the current market price, an amount which shall not at the close of business on any day be less than 20 percent of the total of its ²[demand and time liabilities] ³[in India].

⁴[Explanation— For the purposes of this section, “unencumbered approved securities” of a banking company shall include its approved securities lodged with another institution for an advance or any other credit arrangement to the extent to which such securities have not been drawn against or availed of.]

⁵[(2) In computing the amount for the purposes of sub-section (1), the deposit required under sub-section (2) of section 11 to be made with the Reserve Bank by a banking company incorporated outside India and any balances maintained in India by a banking company in current account with the Reserve Bank or the State Bank of India or with any other bank which may be notified in this behalf by the Central Government, including in the case of a scheduled bank the balance required under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) to be so maintained, shall be deemed to be cash maintained in India.]

⁶[(2A)(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or in sub-section (2), after the expiry of two years from the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1962 (36 of 1962),—

(i) a scheduled bank, in addition to the average daily balance which it is, or may be, required to maintain under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), and

(ii) every other banking company, in addition to the cash reserve which it is required to maintain under section 18,

⁷[shall maintain in India,—

(A) in cash, or

(B) in gold valued at a price not exceeding the current market price or in unencumbered approved securities valued at a price determined in accordance with such one or more of, or combination of, the following methods of valuation, namely, valuation with reference to cost price, market price, book value or face value, as may be specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time,

an amount which shall not, at the close of business on any day, be less than twenty-five per cent or such other percentage not exceeding forty per cent, as the Reserve Bank may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India, as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight;]

⁸[(b) in computing the amount for the purposes of clause (a), —

(i) the deposit required under sub-section (2) of section 11 to be made with the Reserve Bank by a banking company incorporated outside India;

(ii) any cash or balances maintained in India by a banking company other than a scheduled bank with itself or with the Reserve Bank or by way of net balance in current account in excess of the aggregate of the cash or balance or net balance required to be maintained under section 18;

(iii) any balances maintained by a scheduled bank with the Reserve Bank in excess of the balance required to be maintained by it under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);

(iv) the net balance in current accounts maintained in India by a scheduled bank;

(v) any balances maintained by a Regional Rural Bank in call or fixed deposit with its Sponsor Bank, shall be deemed to be cash maintained in India].

⁹[Explanation. — For the purpose of clause (a) of this sub-section, the market price of an approved security shall be the price as on the date of the issue of the notification or as on any earlier or later date as may be notified from time to time by the Reserve Bank in respect of any class or classes of securities.

¹⁰[(2B) The Reserve Bank may, by notification in the Official Gazette, vary the percentage referred to in sub-section (2A) in respect of a Regional Rural Bank ¹¹[***].]

¹²[(3) For the purpose of ensuring compliance with the provisions of this section, every banking company shall, not later than twenty days after the end of the month to which it relates, furnish to the Reserve Bank in the prescribed form and manner a monthly return showing particulars of its assets maintained in accordance with this section, and its demand and time liabilities in India at the close of business on each alternate Friday during the month, or if any such Friday is a public holiday, at the close of business on the preceding working day:

Provided that every Regional Rural Bank shall also furnish a copy of the said return to the National Bank.]

(4)(a) If on any alternate Friday or, if such Friday is a public holiday, on the preceding working day, the amount maintained by a banking company at the close of business on that day falls below the minimum prescribed by or under clause (a) of sub-section (2A) such banking company shall be liable to pay to the Reserve Bank in respect of that day’s default, penal interest for that day at the rate of three per cent per annum above the bank rate on the amount by which the amount actually maintained falls short of the prescribed minimum on that day; and

(b) If the default occurs again on the next succeeding alternate Friday, or, if such Friday is a public holiday, on the preceding working day, and continues on succeeding alternate Fridays or preceding working days, as the case may be, the rate of penal interest shall be increased to a rate of five per cent per annum above the bank rate on each such shortfall in respect of that alternate Friday and each succeeding alternate Friday or preceding working day, if such Friday is a public holiday, in which the default continues.

(5)(a) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3), the Reserve Bank may require a banking company to furnish to it a return in the form and manner specified by it showing particulars of its assets maintained in accordance with this section and its demand and time liabilities in India, as at the close of business on each day of a month; and

(b) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (4), on the failure of a banking company to maintain as on any day, the amount so required to be maintained by or under clause (a) of sub-section (2A) the Reserve Bank may, in respect of such default, require the banking company to pay penal interest for that day as provided in clause (a) of sub-section (4) and if the default continues on the next succeeding working day, the penal interest may be increased as provided in clause (b) of sub-section (4) for the concerned days.

(6)(a) The penalty payable under sub-section (4) and sub-section (5) shall be paid within a period of fourteen days from the date on which a notice issued by the Reserve Bank demanding payment of the same is served on the banking company and in the event of failure of the banking company to pay the same within such period, the penalty may be levied by a direction of the principal civil court having jurisdiction in the area where an office of the defaulting banking company is situated, such direction to be made only upon an application made by the Reserve Bank in this behalf to the court; and

(b) When the court makes a direction under clause (a), it shall issue a certificate specifying the sum payable by the banking company and every such certificate shall be enforceable in the same manner as if it were a decree made by the court in a suit.

(7) When under the provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (4), penal interest at the increased rate of five per cent, above the bank rate has become payable by a banking company, if thereafter the amount required to be maintained on the next succeeding alternate Friday, or if such Friday is a public holiday, the next preceding working day, is still below the prescribed minimum, every director, manager or secretary of the banking company, who is knowingly and wilfully a party to the default, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees and with a further fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for each subsequent alternate Friday or the preceding working day, as the case may be, on which the default continues.

(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, if the Reserve Bank is satisfied, on an application in writing by the defaulting banking company, that the banking company had sufficient cause for its failure to comply with the provisions of clause (a) of sub-section (2A), the Reserve Bank may not demand the payment of the penal interest.

Explanation. — In this section, the expression “public holiday” means a day which is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881)].

———————

1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 15 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

2. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 26, for “time and demand liabilities” w.e.f. 29-3-1985.

3. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in the States”.

4. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 15, for the former Explanation w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

5. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 15, for sub-section (2) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

6. Inserted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 6.

7. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 26, for certain words and figures w.e.f. 29-3-1985.

8. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 26, for clause (b) w.e.f. 29-9-1985.

9. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984 Section 26 w.e.f. 29-3-1985.

10. Inserted by Act 21 of 1976, Section 33 w.e.f. 26-9-1975.

11. Certain words omitted by Act I of 1984, Section 26 w.e.f. 29-3-1985.

12. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 26, for sub-section (3) w.e.f. 29-3-1985.

Section 25. Assets in India

¹[(1) The assets in India of every banking company at the close of business on the last Friday of every quarter or, if that Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), at the close of the business on the preceding working day, shall not be less than seventy-five percent of its demand and time liabilities in India.

(2) Every banking company shall, within one month from the end of every quarter, submit to the Reserve Bank a return in the prescribed form and manner of the assets and liabilities referred to in sub-section (1) as at the close of business on the last Friday of the previous quarter, or, if that Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881) at the close of business on the preceding working day:]

²[Provided that every regional rural bank shall also furnish a copy of the said return to the National Bank.]

For the purposes of this section, —

³[(a) “assets in India” shall be deemed to include export bills drawn in, and import bills drawn on and payable in India and expressed in such currencies as the Reserve Bank may from time to time approve in this behalf and also such securities as the Reserve Bank may approve in this behalf notwithstanding that all or any of the said bills or securities are held outside India;]

⁴[(b) “liabilities in India” shall not include the paid-up capital or the reserves or any crredit balance in the profit and loss account of the banking company;]

⁵[(c)] “quarter” means the period of three months ending on the last day of March, June, September or December.

———————

1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 16, for sub-sections (1) and (2) w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

2. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 10-5-1982.

3. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 7, for clause (a).

4. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 16 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

5. Clause (b) relettered as clause (c) by Act 33 of 1959, Section 16 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 26. Return of unclaimed deposits

Every banking company shall, within thirty days after the close of each calendar year, submit a return in the prescribed form and manner to the Reserve Bank as at the end of such calendar year of all accounts ¹[in India] which have not been operated upon for ten years ²[* * *]:

Provided that in the case of money deposited for a fixed period the said term of ten years shall be reckoned from the date of the expiry of such fixed period:

³[Provided further that every regional rural bank shall also furnish a copy of the said return to the National Bank.]

———————

1. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in a States”.

2. Certain words omitted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 14 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

3. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.

Section 27. Monthly returns and power to call for other returns and information

(I) Every banking company shall, before me close of the month succeeding that to which it relates, submit to the Reserve Bank a return in the prescribed form and manner showing its assets and liabilities [in India] as at the close of business on the last Friday of every month or if that Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), at the close of business on the preceding working day.

²[(2) The Reserve Bank may at any time direct a banking company to furnish it within such time as may be specified by the Reserve Bank, with such statements and information relating to the business or affairs of the banking company (including any business or affairs with which such banking company is concerned) as the Reserve Bank may consider necessary or expedient to obtain for the purposes of this Act, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power may call for information every half-year regarding ³[the investments of a banking company and the classification of its advances in respect of industry, commerce and agriculture].]

¹[(3). Every regional rural bank shall submit a copy of the return which it submits to the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1) also to the National Bank and the powers exercisable by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2) may also be exercised by the National Bank in relation to regional rural banks.]

———————

1. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.

2. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 6, for sub-section (2) w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 17, for certain words w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 28. Power to publish information

¹[Power to publish information. The Reserve Bank or the National Bank, or both, if they consider it in the public interest so to do, may publish any information obtained by them under this Act in such consolidated form as they think fit.]

———————

1. Subsituted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-5-1982.

Section 29. Accounts and balance-sheet

(1) At the expiration of each calendar year ¹[or at the expiration of a period of twelve months ending with such date² as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf,] every banking company incorporated 95[in India], in respect of all business transacted by it, and every banking company incorporated ³[outside India], in respect of all business transacted through its branches ⁴[in India], shall prepare with reference to ⁵[that year or period, as the case may be,] a balance-sheet and profit and loss account as on the last working day of ⁶[that year or the period, as the case may be] in the Forms set out in the Third Schedule or as near thereto as circumstances admit:

⁷[Provided that with a view to facilitating the transition from one period, of accounting to another period of-accounting under this sub-section, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions as it considers necessary or expedient for the preparation of, or for other matters relating to, the balance sheet or profit and loss account in respect of the concerned year or period, as the case may be.]

(2) The balance-sheet and profit and loss account shall be signed—

(a) in the case of a banking company incorporated ⁴[in India], by the manager or the principal officer of the company and where there are more than three directors of the company, by at least three of those directors, or where there are not more than three directors, by all the directors, and

(b) in the case of a banking company incorporated ³[outside India] by the manager or agent of the principal office of the company ⁴[in India].

(3) Notwithstanding that the balance-sheet of a banking company is under subsection (I) required to be prepared in a form other than the form ⁸[set out in Part I -of Schedule VI to the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the requirements of that relating to the balance-sheet and profit and loss account of a company shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with this Act, apply to the balance-sheet or profit and loss account, as the case may be, of a banking company.

⁹[(3A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sub-section (3) of section 210 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the period to which the profit and loss account relates shall, in the case of a banking company, be the period ending with the last working day of the year immediately preceding the year in which the annual general meeting is held.]

¹⁰[Explanation. —In sub-section (3A), “year” means the year or, as the case may be, the period referred to in sub-section (1).]

(4) The Central Government, after giving not less than three months’ notice of its mention so to do by a notification in the Official Gazette, may from time to time by a like notification amend the Form set out in the Third Schedule.

———————

101. Inserted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8 w.e.f. 30-12-1988.

102. 31st day of March (pecified by Central Government Vide S.O. 86 (E), dated 29 th January, 1992), published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Pt. II, Section 3(ii) NO. 77, dated 29th January, 1992.

103. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “ourside the States”.

104. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in a State”.

105. Subsituted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8, for “that year” w.e.f. 30-12-1988.

106. Subsituted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8, for “the year” w.e.f. 30-12-1988.

107. Subsituted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8, for “the year” w.e.f. 30-12-1988.

108. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “marked F in the Third Schedule to the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

109. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 27 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

110. Inserted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 8 w.e.f. 30-12-1988.

Section 30. Audit

¹[(1) The balance-sheet and profit and loss account prepared in accordance with section 29 shall be audited by a person duly qualified under any law for the time being in force to be an auditor of companies.]

²[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or in any contract to the contrary, every banking shall, before appointing re-appointing or removing any auditor or auditors, obtain the previous approval of the Reserve Bank.

(1B) Without prejudice to anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or any other law for the time being in force, where the Reserve Bank is of opinion that it is necessary in the public interest or in the interest of the banking company or its depositors so to do, ³[it may at any time by order direct that a special audit of the banking company’s accounts, for any such transaction or class of transactions or for such period or periods as may be specified in the order, shall be conducted and may by the same or a different order either appoint a person duly qualified under any law for the time being in force to be an auditor of companies or direct the auditor of the banking company himself to conduct such special audit] and the auditor shall comply with such directions and make a report of such audit to the Reserve Bank and forward a copy thereof to the company.

(1C) The expenses of, or incidental to ³[the special audit] specified in the order made by the Reserve Bank shall be borne by the banking company.]

(2) The auditor shall have the powers of, exercise the functions vested in, and discharge the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties imposed on, auditors of companies by ⁴[section 227 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), ⁵[,and auditors, if any, appointed by the law establishing, constituting or forming the banking company concerned.]

(3) In addition to the matters which under the aforesaid Act the auditor is required to state in his report, he shall, in the case of a banking company incorporated ⁶[in India], state in his report,—

(a) whether or not the information and explanation required by him have been found to be satisfactory;

(b) whether or not the transactions of the company which have come to his notice have been within the powers of the company;

(c) whether or not the returns received from branch offices of the company have been found adequate for the purposes of his audit;

(d) whether the profit and loss account shows a true balance ⁷[of profit or loss] for the period covered by such account;

(e) any other matter which he considers should be brought to the notice of the shareholders of the company.

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1. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 8, for sub-section (1) w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

2. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 8 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

3. Subsituted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 9, for certain words w.e.f. 30-12-1988.

4. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 8 for “section 145 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

5. Inserted by Act 66 of 1988, Section 9, for certain words w.e.f. 30-12-1988.

6. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in a State.”

7. Subsituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 15, for “of profit and loss”.

Section 31. Submission of returns

The accounts and balance-sheet referred to in section 29 together with the auditor’s report shall be published in the prescribed manner and three copies thereof shall be furnished as returns to the Reserve Bank within three months from the end of the period to which they refer:

Provided that the Reserve Bank may in any case extend the said period of three months for the furnishing of such returns by a further period not exceeding three months:

¹[Provided further that a regional rural bank shall furnish such returns also to the National Bank.]

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1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 8 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

Section 32. Copies of balance-sheets and accounts to be sent to registrar

¹[(1) Where a banking company in any year furnishes its accounts and balance-sheet in accordance with the provisions of section 31, it shall at the same time send to the registrar three copies of such accounts and balance-sheet and of the auditor’s report, and where such copies are so sent, it shall not be necessary to file with the registrar, in the case of a public company, copies of the accounts and balance-sheet and of the auditor’s report, and, in the case of a private company, copies of the balance-sheet and of the auditor’s report as required by sub-section (1) of section 220 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956); and the copies so sent shall be chargeable with the same fee and shall be dealt with in all respects as if they were filed in accordance with that section.]

(2) When in pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 27 the Reserve Bank requires any additional statement or information in connection with the balance-sheet and accounts furnished under section 31, the banking company shall, when supplying such statement or information, send a copy thereof to the registrar.

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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 19 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 33. Display of audited balance-sheet by companies incorporated outside India

Every banking company incorporated ¹[outside India] shall, not later than the first Monday in August of any year in which it carries on business, display in a conspicuous place in its principal office and in every branch office ²[in India] a copy of its last audited balance-sheet and profit and loss account prepared under section 29, and shall keep the copy so displayed until replaced by a copy of the subsequent balance-sheet and profit and loss account so prepared, and every such banking company shall display in like manner copies of its complete audited balance-sheet and profit and loss account relating to its banking business as soon as they are available, and shall keep the copies so displayed until copies of such subsequent accounts are available.

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1. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “outside the States”.

2. Subsituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 3, for “in a State”.

Section 34. Accounting provisions of this Act not retrospective

Nothing in this Act shall apply to the preparation of accounts by a banking company and the audit and submission thereof in respect of any accounting year which has expired prior to the commencement of this Act, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Act, such accounts shall be prepared, audited and submitted in accordance with the law in force immediately before the commencement of this Act.

Section 34A. Production of documents of confidential nature

¹[Production of documents of confidential nature. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 11 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), or any other law for the time being in force, no banking company shall, in any proceeding under the said Act or in any appeal or other proceeding arising therefrom or connected therewith, be compelled by any authority before which such proceeding is pending to produce, or give inspection of, any of its books of account or other document or furnish or disclose any statement or information, when the banking company claims that such document, statement or information is of a confidential nature and that the production or inspection of such document or the furnishing or disclosure of such statement or information would involve disclosure of information relating to—

(a) any reserves not shown as such in its published balance-sheet; or

(b) any particulars not shown therein in respect of provisions made for bad and doubtful debts and other usual or necessary provisions.

(2) If, in any such proceeding in relation to any banking company other than the Reserve Bank of India, any question arises as to whether any amount out of the reserves or provisions referred to in sub-section (1) should be taken into account by the authority before which such proceeding is pending, the authority may, if it so thinks fit, refer the question to the Reserve Bank and the Reserve Bank shall, after taking into account principles of sound banking and all relevant circumstances concerning the banking company, furnish to the authority a certificate stating that the authority shall not take into account any amount as such reserves and provisions of the banking company or may take them into account only to the extent of the amount specified by it in the certificate, and the certificate of the Reserve Bank on such question shall be final and shall not be called in question in any such proceeding.

²[(3) For the purposes of this section “banking company” includes the Reserve Bank, the Development Bank, the Exim Bank, ³[the Reconstruction Bank], ⁴[the National Housing Bank], the National Bank, ⁵[the Small Industries Bank] the State Bank of India, a corresponding new bank, a regional rural bank and a subsidiary bank.]

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1. Inserted by Act 23 of 1960, Section 2.

2. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 28, for sub-section (3) w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

3. Inserted by Act 62 of 1984, Section 71 and Third Schedule w.e.f. 20-3-1985.

4. Inserted by Act 53 of 1987, Section 56 and Second Schedule w.e.f. 9-7-1988.

5. Inserted by Act 39 of 1989, Section 53 and Second Schedule, Part III, w.e.f. 25-10-1989.

Section 35. Inspection

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in ¹[section 235 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the Reserve Bank at any time may, and on being directed so to do by the Central Government shall, cause an inspection to be made by one or more of its officers of any banking company and its books and accounts; and the Reserve Bank shall supply to the banking company a copy of its report on such inspection.

²[(1A) (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law for the time being in force and without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Reserve Bank, at any time, may also cause a scrutiny to be made by any one or more of its officers, of the affairs of any banking company and its books and accounts; and

(b) a copy of the report of the scrutiny shall be furnished to the banking company if the banking company makes a request for the same or if any adverse action is contemplated against the banking company on the basis of the scrutiny.]

(2) It shall be the duty of every director or other officer ³[or employee] of the banking company to produce to any officer making an inspection under sub-section (1) [or a scrutiny under sub-section (1A)] all such books, accounts and other documents in his custody or power and to furnish him with any statements and information relating to the affairs of the banking company as the said officer may require of him within such time as the said officer may specify.

(3) Any person making an inspection under sub-section (1) ⁴[for a scrutiny under sub-section (1A)] may examine on oath any director or other officer ³[or employee] of the banking company in relation to its business, and may administer an oath accordingly.

(4) The Reserve Bank shall, if it has been directed by the Central Government to cause an inspection to be made, and may, in any other case, report to the Central Government on any inspection ⁴[or scrutiny] made under this section, and the Central Government, if it is of opinion after considering the report that the affairs of the banking company are being conducted to the detriment of the interests of its depositors, may, after giving such opportunity to the banking company to make a representation in connection with the report as, in the opinion of the Central Government, seems reasonable, by order in writing—

(a) prohibit the banking company from receiving fresh deposits;

(b) direct the Reserve Bank to apply under section 38 for the winding up of the banking company:

Provided that the Central Government may defer, for such period as it may think fit, the passing of an order under this sub-section, or cancel or modify any such order, upon such terms and conditions as it may think fit to impose.

(5) The Central Government may, after giving reasonable notice to the banking company, publish the report submitted by the Reserve Bank or such portion thereof as may appear necessary.

⁵[Explanation. —For the purpose of this section, the expression “banking company” shall include—

(i) in the case of a banking company incorporated outside India, all its branches in India; and

(ii) in the case of a banking company incorporated in India—

(a) all its subsidiaries formed for the purpose of carrying on the business of banking exclusively outside India; and

(b) all its branches whether situated in India or outside India.]

⁶[(6) The powers exercisable by the Reserve Bank under this section in relation to regional rural banks may (without prejudice to the exercise of such powers by the Reserve Bank in relation to any regional rural bank whenever it considers necessary so to do) be exercised by the National Sank in relation to the regional rural banks, and accordingly, sub-sections (1) to (5) shall apply in relation to regional rural banks as if every reference therein to the Reserve Bank included also a reference to the National Bank.]

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1. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 138 of the Indian companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 29 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

3. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 17 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

4. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 29 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

5. Added Act 33 of 1959 Section 20 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

6. Inserted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and Second Schedule, Pt. II. W.e.f. 1-5-1982.

Section 35A. Power of the Reserve Bank to give directions

¹[Power of the Reserve Bank to give directions. (1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that—

(a) in the ²[public interest]; or

³[(aa) in the interest of banking policy; or]

(b) to prevent the affairs of any banking company being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the depositors or in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the banking company; or

(c) to secure the proper management of any banking company generally,

it is necessary to issue directions to banking companies generally or to any banking company in particular, it may, from time to time, issue such directions as it deems fit, and the banking companies or the banking company, as the case may be, shall be bound to comply with such directions.

(2) The Reserve Bank may, on representation made to it or on its own motion, modify or cancel any direction issued under sub-section (1), and in so modifying or cancelling any direction may impose such conditions as it thinks fit, subject to which the modification or cancellation shall have effect.

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1. Subsituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 2, for “national interest”.

2. Subsituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 2, for “national interest”.

3. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 10 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

Section 35B. Amendments of provisions relating to appointments of managing directors, etc., to be subject to previous approval of the Reserve Bank

(1) In the case of a banking company—

(a) no amendment of any provision relating to ¹[the maximum permissible number of directors or] the ²[appointment or re-appointment or termination of appointment or remuneration of a chairman, a] ³[managing director or any other director, whole-time or otherwise] or of a manager or a chief executive officer by whatever name called, whether that provision be contained in the company’s memorandum or articles of association, or in an agreement entered into by it, or in any resolution passed by the company in general meeting or by its Board of directors shall have effect unless approved by the Reserve Bank;

⁴[(b) no appointment or re-appointment or termination of appointment of a chairman, a managing or whole-time director, manager or chief executive officer by whatever name called, shall have effect unless such appointment, re-appointment or termination of appointment is made with the previous approval of the Reserve Bank.]

⁵[Explanation. —For the purpose of this sub-section, any provision conferring any benefit or providing any amenity or perquisite, in whatever form, whether during or after the termination of the term of office ⁶[of the chairman or the manager] or the chief executive officer by whatever name called or the managing director, or any other director, whole-time or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a provision relating to his remuneration.]

(2) Nothing contained in sections ⁷[268 and 269, the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 309, sections 310 and 311, the proviso to section 387, and section 388] (in so far as section 388 makes the ⁸[provisions of sections 269, 310] and 311 apply in relation to the manager of a company) of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), shall ⁹[apply to any matter in respect of which the approval of the Reserve Bank has to be obtained under sub-section (1)].

¹⁰[(2A) Nothing contained in section 198 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) shall apply to a banking company and the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 309 and of section 387 of that Act shall, in so far as they are applicable to a banking company, have effect as if no reference had been made in the said provisions to section 198 of that Act.]

(3) No act done by a person ¹¹[as chairman or a managing or whole-time director] or a director not liable to retire by rotation or a manager or a chief executive officer by whatever name called, shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it is subsequently discovered that his ¹²[appointment or reappointment] had not taken effect by reason of any of the provisions of this Act; but nothing in this sub-section shall be construed as rendering valid any act done by such person after his ¹³[appointment or reappointment] has been shown to the banking company not to have had effect.]

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1. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 30 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

2. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for “appointment or reappointment or renuneration of a” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

3. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 21, for “managing or whole-time director or of a director no liable to retire by rotation” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

4. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for clause (b) w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

5. Added by Act 33 of 1959, Section 21 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

6. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for “of the manager” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

7. Subsituted by Act 36 of 1962, Section 7, for “268, 269, 310, 311 and 388”.

8. Subsituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 30 for “provisions of sections 310” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

9. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 21, for certain words w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

10. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 30 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

11. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 12, for “as a managing or whole-time director.

12. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for “appointment” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

13. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 11, for “appointment” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

Section 36. Further powers and functions of Reserve Banks

(1) The Reserve Bank may—

(a) caution or prohibit banking companies or any banking company in particular against entering into any particular transaction or class of transactions, and generally give advice to any banking company;

(b) on a request by the companies concerned and subject to the provision of section ¹[44A], assist, as intermediary or otherwise, in proposals for the amalgamation of such banking companies;

(c) give assistance to any banking company by means of the grant of a loan or advance to it underclause (3) of sub-section (1) of section 18 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);

²[(d)³[at any time, if it is satisfied that in the public interest or in me interest of banking policy or for preventing the affairs of the banking company being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the banking company or its depositors it is necessary so to do,] by order in writing and on such terms and conditions as may be specified therein—

(i) require the banking company to call a meeting of its directors for the purpose of considering any matter relating to or arising out of the affairs of the banking company; or require an officer of the banking company to discuss any such matter with an officer of the Reserve Bank;

(ii) depute one or more of its officers to which the proceedings at any meeting of the Board of directors of the banking company or of any committee or of any other body constituted by it; require the banking company to give an opportunity to the officers so deputed to be heard at such meetings and also require such officers to send a report of such proceedings to the Reserve Bank;

(iii) require the Board of directors of the banking company or any committee or any other body constituted by it to give in writing to any officer specified by the Reserve Bank in this behalf at his usual address all notices of, and other communications relating to, any meeting of the Board, committee or other body constituted by it;

(iv) appoint one or more of its officers to observe the manner in which the affairs of the banking company or of its offices or branches are being conducted and make a report thereon;

(v) require the banking company to make, within such time as may be specified in the order, such changes in the management as the Reserve Bank may consider necessary ⁴[***].]

(2) The Reserve Bank shall make an annual report to the Central Government on the trend and progress of banking in the country, with particular reference to its activities under clause (2) of section 17 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), including in such report its suggestions, if any, for the strengthening of banking business throughout the country.

(3) The Reserve Bank may appoint such staff at such places as it considers necessary for the scrutiny of the returns, statements and information furnished by banking companies under this Act, and generally to ensure the efficient performance of its functions under this Act.

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1. Subsituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 22 for “45” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

2. Subsituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 8, for clause (d) w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

3. Subsituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 12, for certain words w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

4. Certain words omitted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 12 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

Section 36 A. Certain provisions of the Act not to apply to certain banking companies

¹[Certain provisions of the Act not to apply to certain banking companies. (1) The provisions of section II, sub-section (1) of section 12, and sections 17, 18, 24 and 25 shall not apply to a banking company—

(a) which, whether before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1959 (33 of 1959), has been refused a licence under section 22, or prohibited from accepting fresh deposits by a compromise, arrangement or scheme sanctioned by a court or by any order made in any proceeding relating to such compromise, arrangement or scheme, or prohibited from accepting deposits by virtue of any alteration made in its memorandum; or

(b) whose licence has been cancelled under section 22, whether before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1959 (33 of 1959).

(2) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that any such banking company as is referred to in sub-section (1) has repaid, or has made adequate provision for repaying all deposits accepted by the banking company, either in full or to the maximum extent possible, the Reserve Bank may, by notice published in the Official Gazette, notify that the banking company has ceased to be a banking company within the meaning of this Act, and thereupon all the provisions of this Act applicable to such banking company shall cease to apply to it, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such notice.]

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1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 23 w.e.f. 1-10-1969.

Part II A – Control over Management

Section 36 AA. Power of Reserve Bank to remove managerial and other persons from office

¹[PART IIA: CONTROL OVER MANAGEMENT

(1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that in the public interest or for preventing the affairs of a banking company being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the depositors or for securing the proper management of any banking company it is necessary so to do, the Reserve Bank may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, remove from office, with effect from such date as may be specified in the order, ²[any chairman, director,] chief executive officer (by whatever name called) or other officer or employee of the banking company.

(2) No order under sub-section (1) shall be made ³[unless the chairman, director] or chief executive officer or other officer or employee concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of making a representation to the Reserve Bank against the proposed order:

Provided that if, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, any delay would be detrimental to the interests of the banking company or its depositors, the Reserve Bank may, at the time of giving the opportunity aforesaid or at any time thereafter, by order direct that, pending the consideration of the representation aforesaid, if any, ⁴[the chairman or, as the case may be, director or chief executive officer] or other officer or employee, shall not, with effect from the date of such order—

(a) ⁵[act as such chairman or director] or chief executive officer or other officer or employee of the banking company;

(b) in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned with, or take part in the management of, the banking company.

(3)(a) Any person against whom an order of removal has been made under subsection (1) may, within thirty days from the date of communication to him of the order, prefer an appeal to the Central Government.

(b) The decision of the Central Government on such appeal, and subject thereto, the order made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (I), shall be final and shall not be called into question in any court.

(4) Where any order is made in respect of ⁶[a chairman, director] or chief executive officer or other officer or employee of a banking company under sub-section (1), he shall cease to be ⁷[a chairman or, as the case may be, a director,] chief executive officer or other officer or employee of the banking company and shall not, in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned with, or take part in the management of, any banking company for such period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order.

(5) If any person in respect of whom an order is made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1) or under the proviso to sub-section (2) contravenes the provisions of this section, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees for each day during which such contravention continues.

(6) Where an order under sub-section (1) has been made, the Reserve Bank may, by order in writing, appoint a suitable person in place of ⁸[the chairman or director], or chief executive officer or other officer or employee who has been removed from his office under that sub-section, with effect from such date as may be specified in the order.

(7) Any person appointed as ⁹[chairman, director or chief executive officer] or other officer or employee under this section shall, —

(a) hold office during the pleasure of the Reserve Bank and subject thereto for a period not exceeding three years or such further periods not exceeding three years at a time as the Reserve Bank may specify;

(b) not incur any obligation or liability by reason only of his being a ⁹[chairman, director or chief executive officer] or other officer or employee or for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in the execution of the duties of his office or in relation thereto.

(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law or in any contract, memorandum or articles of association, on the removal of a person from office under this section, that person shall not be entitled to claim any compensation for the loss or termination of office.

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1. Part IIA (Sections 36AA to 36AC) Indicated by Act 55 of 1963, Section 18 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

2. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “any director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

3. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “unless the director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

4. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “the director or, as the case may be, chief executive officer” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

5. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “act as such director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

6. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “a director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

7. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “a director or as the case may be” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

8. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “the director” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

9. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 13, for “director or chief executive officer” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

Section 36 AAA. Supersession of Board of directors of a multi-State co-operative bank

¹[Supersession of Board of directors of a multi-State co-operative bank. (1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that in the public interest or for preventing the affairs of a multi-State co-operative bank being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of the depositors of the multi-State co-operative bank or for securing the proper management of the multi-State co-operative bank, it is necessary so to do, the Reserve Bank may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, supersede the Board of directors of such multi-State co-operative bank for a period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order, which may be extended from time to time, so, however, that total period shall not exceed five years.

(2) The Reserve Bank may, on supersession of the Board of directors of the multi-State co-operative bank under sub-section (1) appoint an administrator for such period as it may determine.

(3) The Reserve Bank may issue such directions to the Administrator as it may deem appropriate and the Administrator shall be bound to follow such directions.

(4) Upon making the order of supersession of the Board of directors of a multi-State co-operative bank, -

(a) The Chairman, managing director and other directors as from the date of supersession of the Board shall vacate their offices as such;

(b) All the powers, functions and duties which may, by or under the provisions of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 or this Act or any other law for the time being in force, be exercised and discharged by or on behalf of the Board of directors of such a multi-State Co-operative bank or by a resolution passed in general meeting of such co-operative bank, shall, until the Board of directors of such co-operative bank is reconstituted, be exercised and discharged by the Administrator appointed by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2):

Provided that the power exercised by the Administrator shall be valid not withstanding that such power is exercisable by a resolution passed in the general meeting of such multi-State co-operative bank.

(5) (a) The Reserve Bank may constitute a committee of three or more persons who have experience in law, finance, banking, administration or accountancy to assist the Administrator in discharge of his duties.

(b) The committee shall meet at such times and places and observe such rules of procedure as may be specified by the Reserve Bank.

(6) The salary and allowances to the Administrator and the members of the committee constituted by the Reserve Bank shall be such as may be specified by the Reserve Bank and may be payable by the concerned multi-State co-operative bank.

(7) On and before expiration of period of supersession of the Board of directors as specified in the order issued under sub-section (1), the Administrator of the multi-State co-operative bank shall call the general meeting of the society to elect new directors.

(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or in any other contract, or bye-laws of a multi-State co-operative bank, no person shall be entitled to claim any compensation for the loss or termination of his office.

(9) The Administrator appointed under sub-section (2) shall vacate office immediately after the board of directors of the multi-State co-operative society has been constituted. ]

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1. Inserted by Act 24 of 2004.

Section 36 AAB. Order of winding up of multi-State co-operative bank to be final in certain cases

¹[Order of winding up of multi-State co-operative bank to be final in certain cases. Where a multi-State co-operative bank, being an eligible co-operative bank, has been registered under section 13A of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961, as an insured bank, and subsequently-

(a) in pursuance of a scheme prepared with the previous approval of the Reserve Bank under section 18 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, an order sanctioning a scheme of compromise and arrangement or reorganisation or reconstruction has been made; or

(b) on requisition by the Reserve Bank, an order for winding up of the multi-State co-operative bank has been made under section 87 of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002; or

(c) an order for the supersession of the Board the appointment of an administrator therefor has been made under section 36AAA,

Such order for sanctioning the scheme of compromise and arrangement or reorganisation or reconstruction under clause (a) or the winding up of the mult-State Co-operative Bank under clause (b) or any order for the supersession of the Board and the appointment of an administrator under clause (c) shall not be liable to be called in question in any manner.]

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1. Inserted by Act 24 0f 2004.

Section 36 AAC. Reimbursement to Deposit Insurance Corporation by liquidator or transferee bank

¹[Reimbursement to Deposit Insurance Corporation by liquidator or transferee bank. Where a multi-State co-operative bank, being an insured bank within the meaning of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961, is wound up and the Deposit Insurance Corporation has become liable to the depositors’ of the insured bank under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of section 16 of the Act, the Deposit Insurance Corporation shall be reimbursed by the liquidator or such other person in the circumstances, to the extent and in the manner provided in section 21 of the Act.

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1. Inserted by Act 24 of 2004.

Section 36 AB. Power of Reserve Bank to appoint additional directors

(1) If the Reserve Bank is of ¹[opinion that in the interest of banking policy or in the public interest or] in the interests of the banking company or its depositors it is necessary so to do, it may, from time to time by order in writing, appoint, with effect from such date as may be specified in the order, one or more persons to hold office as additional directors of the banking company:

²[***]

(2) Any person appointed as additional director in pursuance of this section—

(a) shall hold office during the pleasure of the Reserve Bank and subject thereto for a period not exceeding three years or such further periods not exceeding three years at a time as the Reserve Bank may specify;

(b) shall not incur any obligation or liability by reason only of his being a director or for any thing done or omitted to be done in good faith in the execution of the duties of his office or in relation thereto; and

(c) shall not be required to hold qualification-shares in the banking company.

(3) For the purpose of reckoning any proportion of the total number of directors of the banking company, any additional director appointed under this section shall not be taken into account.

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1. Substituted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 14, for “opinion that” w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

2. Proviso omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 31 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 36 AC. Part IIA to override other laws

Any appointment or removal of a director, chief executive officer or other officer or employee in pursuance of section 36AA or section 36AB shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or any other law for the time being in force or in any contract or any other instrument.]

Part II B – Prohibition of Certain Activities in Relation to Banking Companies

Section 36 AD. Punishments for certain activities in relation to banking companies

¹[PART IIB: PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES IN RELATION TO BANKING COMPANIES

(1) No person shall—

(a) obstruct any person from lawfully entering or leaving any office or place of business of a banking company or from carrying on any business there, or

(b) hold, within the office or place of business of any banking company, any demonstration which is violent or which prevents, or is calculated to prevent, the transaction of normal business by the banking company, or

(c) act in any manner calculated to undermine the confidence of the depositors in the banking company.

(2) Whoever contravenes any provision of sub-section (1) without any reasonable excuse shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

²[(3) [*****] <![endif]>

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1. Parts IIB and IIC (sections 36 AD to 36 AJ) Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 15 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

2. Text omitted by Act ——— Previous text was “For the purposes of this section “banking company” includes the Reserve Bank, the Development Bank, the Exim Bank, [the Reconstruction Bank] [the National Housing Bank] the National Bank, [the Small Industries Bank] the State Bank of India, a corresponding new bank, a regional rural bank and a subsidiary bank”

Part II C – Acquisition of the Undertakings of Banking Companies in Certain Cases

Section 36 AE. Power of Central Government to acquire undertakings of banking companies in certain cases

(1) If, upon receipt of a report from the Reserve Bank, the Central Government is satisfied that a banking company—

(a) has, no more than one occasion, failed to comply with the directions given to it in writing under section 21 or section 35A, in so far as such directions relate to banking policy, or

(b) is being managed in a manner detrimental to the interests of its depositors, and that—

(i) in the interests of the depositors of such banking company, or

(ii) in the interest of banking policy, or

(iii) for the better provision of credit generally or of credit to any particular section of the community or in any particular area,

it is necessary to acquire the undertaking of such banking company, the Central Government may, after such consultation with the Reserve Bank as it thinks fit, by notified order, acquire the undertaking of such company (hereinafter referred to as the acquired bank) with effect from such date as may be specified in this behalf by the Central Government (hereinafter referred to as the appointed day):

Provided that no undertaking of any banking company shall be so acquired unless such banking company has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed action.

Explanation. — In this Part, —

(a) “notified order” means an order published in the Official Gazette;

(b) “undertaking”, in relation to a banking company incorporated outside India, means the undertaking of the company in India.

(2) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Part, on the appointed day, the undertaking of the acquired bank and all the assets and liabilities of the acquired bank shall stand transferred to, and vest in, the Central Government.

(3) The undertaking of the acquired bank and its assets and liabilities shall be deemed to include all rights, powers, authorities and privileges and all property, whether movable or immovable, including, in particular, cash balances, reserve funds, investments, deposits and all other interests and rights in, or arising out of, such property as may be in the possession of or held by, the acquired bank immediately before the appointed day and all books, accounts and documents relating thereto, and shall also be deemed to include all debts, liabilities and obligations, of whatever kind, then existing of the acquired bank.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that the undertaking of the acquired bank and its assets and liabilities should, instead of vesting in the Central Government, or continuing to so vest, vest in a company established under any scheme made under this Part or in any corporation (hereinafter in this Part and in the Fifth Schedule referred to as the transferee bank) that Government may, by order, direct that the said undertaking,

including the assets and liabilities thereof, shall vest in the transferee bank either on the publication of the notified order or on such other date as may be specified in this behalf by the Central Government.

(5) Where the undertaking of the acquired bank and the assets and liabilities thereof vest in the transferee bank under sub-section (4), the transferee bank, shall, on and from the date of such vesting, be deemed to have become the transferee of the acquired bank and all the rights and liabilities in relation to the acquired bank shall, on and from the date of such vesting, be deemed to have been the rights and liabilities of the transferee bank.

(6) Unless otherwise expressly provided by or under this Part, all contracts, deeds, bonds, agreements, powers of attorney, grants of legal representation and other instruments of whatever nature subsisting or having effect immediately before the appointed day and to which the acquired bank is a party or which are in favour of the acquired bank shall be of as full force and effect against or in favour of the Central Government, or as the case may be, of the transferee bank, and may be enforced or acted upon as fully and effectually as if in the place of the acquired bank the Central Government or the transferee bank had been a party thereto or as if they had been issued in favour of the Central Government or the transferee bank, as the case may be.

(7) If, on the appointed day, any suit, appeal or other proceeding of whatever nature is pending by or against the acquired bank, the same shall not abate, be discontinued or be, in any way, prejudicially affected by reason of the transfer of the undertaking of the acquired bank or of anything contained in this Part, but the suit, appeal or other proceeding may be continued, prosecuted and enforced by or against the Central Government or the transferee bank as the case may be.

Section 36 AF. Power of the Central Government to make scheme

(1) The Central Government may, after consultation with the Reserve Bank, make a scheme for carrying out the purposes of this Part in relation to any acquired bank.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the said scheme may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: —

(a) the corporation, or the company incorporated for the purpose, to which the undertaking including the property, assets and liabilities of the acquired bank may be transferred, and the capital, constitution, name and office thereof;

(b) the constitution of the first Board of management (by whatever name called) of the transferee bank, and all such matters in connection therewith or incidental thereto as the Central Government may consider to be necessary or expedient;

(c) the continuance of the services of all the employees of the acquired bank (excepting such of them as, not being workmen within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947(14 of 1947), are specifically mentioned in the scheme] in the Central Government or in the transferee bank, as the case may be, on the same terms and conditions so far as may be, as are specified in clauses (i) and (j) of sub-section (5) of section 45;

(d) the continuance of the right of any person who, on the appointed day, is entitled to or is in receipt of, a pension or other superannuation or compassionate allowance or benefit, from the acquired bank or any provident, pension or other fund or any authority administering such fund, to be paid by, and to receive from, the Central Government or the transferee bank, as the case may be, or any provident, pension or other fund or any authority administering such fund, the same pension, allowance or benefit so long as he observes the conditions on which the pension, allowance or benefit was granted, and if any question arises whether he has so observed such conditions, the question shall be determined by the Central Government and the decision of the Central Government thereon shall be final;

(e) the manner of payment of the compensation payable in accordance with the provisions of this Part to the shareholders of the acquired bank, or where the acquired bank is a banking company incorporated outside India, to the acquired bank in full satisfaction of their, or as the case may be, its claims;

(f) the provision, if any, for completing the effectual transfer to the Central Government or the transferee bank of any asset or any liability which forms part of the undertaking of the acquired bank in any country outside India;

(g) such incidental, consequential and supplemental matters as may be necessary to secure that the transfer of the business, property, assets and liabilities of the acquired bank to the Central Government or transferee bank, as the case may be, is effectual and complete.

(3) The Central Government may, after consultation with the Reserve Bank, by notification in the Official Gazette, add to, amend or vary any scheme made under this section.

(4) Every scheme made under this section shall be published in the Official Gazette.

(5) Copies of every scheme made under this section shall be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as may be after it is made.

(6) The provisions of this Part and of any scheme made there under shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provisions of this Act or in any other law or any agreement, award or other instrument for the time being in force.

(7) Every scheme made under this section shall be binding on the Central Government or, as the case may be, on the transferee bank and also on all members, creditors, depositors and employees of the acquired bank and of the transferee bank and on any other person having any right, liability, power or function in relation to, or in connection with, the acquired bank or the transferee bank, as the case may be.

Section 36 AG. Compensation to be given to shareholders of the acquired bank

(I) Every person who, immediately before the appointed day, is registered as a holder of shares in the acquired bank or, when the acquired bank is a banking company incorporated outside India, the acquired bank, shall be given by the Central Government, or the transferee bank, as the case may be, such compensation in respect of the transfer of the undertaking of the acquired bank as it determined in accordance with the principles contained in the Fifth Schedule.

(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall affect the rights inter se between the holder of any share in the acquired bank and any other person who may have any interest in such shares and such other person shall be entitled to enforce his interest against the compensation awarded to the holder of such share, but not against the Central Government, or the transferee bank.

(3) The amount of compensation to be given in accordance with the principles contained in the Fifth Schedule shall be determined in the first instance by the Central Government, or the transferee bank, as the case may be, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, and shall be offered by it to all those to whom compensation is payable under sub-section (1) in full satisfaction thereof.

(4) If the amount of compensation offered in terms of sub-section (3) is not acceptable to any person to whom the compensation is payable, such person may, before such date as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette, request the Central Government in writing, to have the matter referred to the Tribunal constituted under section 36AH.

(5) If, before the date notified under sub-section (4), the Central Government receives requests, in terms of that sub-section, from not less than one-fourth in number of the shareholders holding not less than one-fourth in value of the paid-up share capital of the acquired bank, or, where the acquired bank is a banking company incorporated outside India, from the acquired bank, the Central Government shall have the matter referred to the Tribunal for decision.

(6) If, before the date notified under sub-section (4), the Central Government does not receive requests as provided in that sub-section, the amount of compensation offered ‘ under sub-section (3), and where a reference has been made to the Tribunal, the amount determined by it, shall be the compensation payable under sub-section (!) and shall be final and binding on all parties concerned.

Section 36 AH. Constitution of the Tribunal

(1) The Central Government may, for the purpose of this Part, constitute a Tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other members.

(2) The Chairman shall be a person who is, or has been, a Judge of a High Court or of the Supreme Court, and, of the two other members, one shall be a person, who, in the opinion of the Central Government, has had experience of commercial banking and the other shall be a person who is a chartered accountant within the meaning of the Chartered Accountants’ Act, 1949 (38 of 1949).

(3) If, for any reason, a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chairman or any other member of the Tribunal, the Central Government may fill the vacancy by appointing another person thereto in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2), and any proceeding may be continued before the Tribunal, so constituted, from the stage at which the vacancy occurred.

(4) The Tribunal may, for the purpose of determining any compensation payable under this part, choose one or more persons having special knowledge or experience of any relevant matter to assist it in the determination of such compensation.

Section 36 AI. Tribunal to have powers of a civil court

(1) The Tribunal shall have the powers of a civil court, while trying a suit, under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely :—

(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;

(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;

(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;

(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), or in any other law for the time being in force, the Tribunal shall not compel the Central Government or the Reserve Bank, —

(a) to produce any books of account or other documents which the Central Government, or the Reserve Bank, claims to be of a confidential nature;

(b) to make any such books or documents part of the record of the proceedings before the Tribunal; or

(c) to give inspection of any such books or documents to any party before it or to any other person.

Section 36 AJ. Procedure of the Tribunal

(1) The Tribunal shall have power to regulate its own procedure.

(2) The Tribunal may hold the whole or any part of its inquiry in camera

(3) Any clerical or arithmetical error in any order of the Tribunal or any error arising therein from any accidental slip or omission may, at any time, be corrected by the Tribunal either of its own motion or on the application of any of the parties.]

Part III – Suspension of Business and Winding up of Banking Companies

Section 36 B. High Court defined

¹[²[High Court defined. In this Part and in Part IIIA “High Court”, in relation to a banking company, means the High Court exercising jurisdiction in the place where the registered office of the banking company is situated or, in the case of a banking company incorporated outside India, where its principal place of business in India is situated.]]

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1. Inserted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 3.

2. Section 36A renumbered as section 36B by Act 33 of 1959, Section 24 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 37. Suspension of business

(1) The ¹[High Court] may on the application of a banking company which is temporarily unable to meet its obligations make an order (a copy of which it shall cause to be forwarded to the Reserve Bank) staying the commencement or continuance of all actions and proceedings against the company for a fixed period of time on such terms and conditions as it shall think fit and proper, and may from time to time extend the period so however that the total period of moratorium shall not exceed six months.

(2) No such application shall be maintainable unless it is accompanied by a report of the Reserve Bank indicating that in the opinion of the Reserve Bank the banking company will be able to pay its debts if the application is granted:

Provided that the ¹[High Court] may, for sufficient reasons, grant relief under this section even if the application is not accompanied by such report, and where such relief is granted, the 3[High Court] shall call for a report from the Reserve Bank on the affairs of the banking company on receipt of which it may either rescind any order already passed or pass such further orders thereon as may be just and proper in the circumstances.

²[(3) When an application is made under sub-section (1), the High Court may appoint a special officer who shall forthwith take into his custody or under his control all the assets, books, documents, effects and actionable claims to which the banking company is or appears to be entitled and shall also exercise such other powers as the High Court may deem fit to confer on him, having regard to the interests of the depositors of the banking company.]

³[(4) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied that the affairs of a banking company in respect of which an order under sub-section (1) has been made, are being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the depositors, it may make an application to the High Court for the winding up of the company, and where any such application is made, the High Court shall not make any order extending the period for which the commencement or continuance of all actions and proceedings against the company were stayed under that sub-section.]

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1. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 4, for “Court”.

2. Inserted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 5.

3. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 25 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 38. Winding up by High Court

¹[Winding up by High Court. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 391, section 392, section 433 and section 583 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), but without prejudice to its powers under sub-section (1) of section 37 of this Act, the High Court shall order the winding up of a banking company—

(a) if the banking company is unable to pay its debts; or

(b) if an application for its winding up has been made by the Reserve Bank under section 37 or this section.

(2) The Reserve Bank shall make an application under this section for the winding up of a banking company if it is directed so to do by an order under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 35.

(3) The Reserve Bank may make an application under this section for the winding up of a banking company—

(a) if the banking company—

(i) has failed to comply with the requirements specified in section 11; or

(ii) has by reason of the provisions of section 22 become disentitled to carry on banking business in India; or

(iii) has been prohibited from receiving fresh deposits by an order under clause (a) of sub-section (4) of section 35 or under clause (b) of sub-section (3A) of section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934); or

(iv) having failed to comply with any requirement of this Act other than the requirements laid in section 11, has continued such failure, or, having contravened any provision of this Act continued such contravention beyond such period or periods as may be specified in that behalf by the Reserve Bank from time to time, after notice in writing of such failure or contravention has been conveyed to the banking company; or

(b) if in the opinion of the Reserve Bank—

(i) a compromise or arrangement sanctioned by a court in respect of the banking company cannot be worked satisfactorily with or without modifications; or

(ii) the returns, statements or information furnished to it under or in pursuance of the provisions of this Act disclose that the banking company is unable to pay its debts; or

(iii) the continuance of the banking company is prejudicial to the interests of its depositors.

(4) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in section 434 of the Companies Act, 1956 (I of 1956) a banking company shall be deemed to be unable to pay its debts if it has refused to meet any lawful demand made at any of its offices or branches within two working days, if such demand is made at a place where there is an office, branch or agency of the Reserve Bank, or within five working days, if such demand is made elsewhere, and if the Reserve Bank certifies in writing that the banking company is unable to pay its debts.

(5) A copy of every application made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1) shall be sent by the Reserve Bank to the registrar.]

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1. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 26, for the former section w.e.f. 1-10-1954.

Section 38 A. Court liquidator

¹[Court liquidator. (1) There shall be attached to every High Court a Court liquidator to be appointed by the Central Government for the purpose of conducting all proceedings for the winding up of banking companies and performing such other duties in reference thereto as the High Court may impose.

²[***]

(4) Where having regard to the number of banking companies wound up and other circumstances of the case, the Central Government is of opinion that it is not necessary or expedient to attach for the time being a Court liquidator to a High Court, it may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that this section shall not have effect in relation to that High Court.]

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1. Inserted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 6.

2. Sub-sections (2) and (3) omitted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule w.e.f. 14-1-1957

Section 39. Reserve Bank to be official liquidator

¹[Reserve Bank to be official liquidator. ²[(1)] Notwithstanding anything contained in section 38A of this Act or in section 448 or section 449 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956), where in any proceeding for the winding up by the High Court of a banking company, an application is made by the Reserve Bank in this behalf, the Reserve Bank, the State Bank of India or any other bank notified by the Central Government in this behalf or any individual, as stated in such application shall be appointed as the official liquidator of the banking company in such proceeding and the liquidator, if any, functioning in such proceeding shall vacate office upon such appointment.]

³[(2) Subject to such directions as may be made by the High Court, the remuneration of the official liquidator appointed under this section, the cost and expenses of this establishment and the cost and expenses of the winding up shall be met out of the assets of the banking company which is being wound up, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force, no fees shall be payable to the Central Government, out of the assets of the banking company.]

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1. Section 39 has successively been amended by Act 52 of 1953, sections. 4 and 7; Act 23 of 1955, Section 53 and Schedule IV; Act 79 of 1956, Section 43 and Schedule II; Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule; Act 33 of 1959, Section 27 and Act 37 of 1960, Section 2. to read as above.

2. Section 39 renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 58 of 1968, Section 16 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

3. Inserted by Act 58 of 1969, Section 16 with retrospective effect.

Section 39 A. Application of Companies Act to liquidators

¹[Application of Companies Act to liquidators. (1) All the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), relating to a liquidator, in so far as they are not inconsistent with this Act, shall apply to or in relation to a liquidator appointed under section 38A or section 39.

(2) Any reference to the “official liquidator” in this Part and Part IIIA shall be construed as including a reference to any liquidator of a banking company.]

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1. Inserted by 33 of 1959, Section 28 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 40. Stay of proceedings

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in ¹[section 466 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the ²[High Court] shall not make any order staying the proceedings in relation to the winding up of a banking company, unless the 2[High Court] is satisfied that an arrangement has been made whereby the company can pay its depositors in full as their claims accrue.

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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule for “Section 173 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Substituted by Act 42 of 1953, Section 4, for “Court”.

Section 41. Preliminary report by official liquidator

¹[Preliminary report by official liquidator. Notwithstanding anything to for the contrary contained in section 455 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), where a winding up order has been made in respect of a banking company whether before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 1960 (37 of 1960), the official liquidator shall submit a preliminary report to the High Court within two months from the date of the winding up order or where the winding up order has been made before such commencement, within two months from such commencement, giving the information required by that section so far as it is available to him and also stating the amount of assets of the banking company in cash which are in his custody or under his control on the date of the report and the amount of its assets which are likely to be collected in cash before the expiry of that period of two months in order that such assets may be applied speedily towards the making of preferential payments under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956, and in the discharge, as far as possible, of the liabilities and obligations of the banking company to its depositors and other creditors in accordance with the provisions hereinafter contained; and the official liquidator shall make for the purposes aforesaid every endeavour to collect in cash as such of the assets of the banking company as practicable.

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1. Substituted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 3, for section 41.

Section 41 A. Notice to preferential claimants and secured and unsecured creditors

Within fifteen days from the date of the winding up order of a banking company or where the winding up order has been made before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 1960 (37 of 1960), within one month from such commencement, the official liquidator shall, for the purpose of making an estimate of the debts and liabilities of the banking company (other that its liabilities and obligations to its depositors), by notice served in such manner as the Reserve Bank may direct, call upon—

(a) every claimant entitled to preferential payment under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956), and

(b) every secured and every unsecured creditor,

to send to the official liquidator within one month from the date of the service of the notice a statement of the amount claimed by him.

(2) Every notice under sub-section (1) sent to a claimant having a claim under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), shall state that if a statement of the claim is not sent to the official liquidator before the expiry of the period of one month from the date of the service, the claim shall not be treated as a claim entitled to be paid under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956, in priority to all other debts but shall be treated as an ordinary debt due by the banking company.

(3) Every notice under sub-section (1) sent to a secured creditor shall require him to value his security before the expiry of the period of one month from the date of the service of the notice and shall state that if a statement of the claim together with the valuation of the security is not sent to the official liquidator before the expiry of the said period, then, the official liquidator shall himself value the security and such valuation shall be binding on the creditor.

(4) If a claimant fails of comply with the notice sent to him under sub-section (1), his claim will not be entitled to be paid under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), in priority to all other debts but shall be treated as an ordinary debt due by the banking company; and if a secured creditor fails to comply with the notice sent to him under sub-section (1), the official liquidator shall himself value the security and such valuation shall be binding on the creditor.]

Section 42. Power to dispense with meetings of creditors, etc.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in ¹[²[section 460] of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the ³[High Court] may, in the proceedings for winding up a banking company, dispense with any meetings of creditors or contributories ⁴[***] if it considers that no object will be secured thereby sufficient to justify the delay and expense.

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1. Substituted by Act. 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “sections 178A and 183 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984 Section 33, for “sections 460, 464 and 465” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

3. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953 Section 4, for “Court”.

4. The words “or with the appointment of a committee of inspection” omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 33 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 43. Booked depositors’ credits to be deemed proved

¹[Booked depositors’ credits to be deemed proved. In any proceeding for the winding up of a banking company, every depositor of the banking company shall be deemed to have filed his claim for the amount shown in the books of the banking company as standing to his credit and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in ²[section 474 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the High Court shall presume such claims to have been proved, unless the official liquidator shows that there is reason for doubting its correctness.]

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1. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 8, for section 43.

2. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 191 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

Section 43 A. Preferential payments to depositors

¹[Preferential payments to depositors. (1) In every proceeding for the winding up of a banking company where a winding up order has been made, whether before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 1960, (37 of 1960) within three months from the date of the winding up order or where the winding up order has been made before such commencement, within three months therefrom, the preferential payments referred to in section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), in respect of which statements of claims have been sent within one month from the date of the service of the notice referred to in section 41 A, shall be made by the official liquidator or adequate provision for such payments shall be made by him.

(2) After the preferential payments as aforesaid have been made or adequate provision has been made in respect thereof, there shall be paid within the aforesaid period of three months—

(a) in the first place to every depositor in the savings bank account of the banking company a sum of two hundred and fifty rupees or the balance at his credit, whichever is less; and thereafter;

(b) in the next place, to every other depositor of the banking company a sum of two hundred and fifty rupees or the balance at his credit, whichever is less,

in priority to all other debts from out of the remaining assets of the banking company available for payment to general creditors:

Provided that the sum total of the amounts paid under clause (a) and clause (b) to any one person who in his own name (and not jointly with any other person) is a depositor in (he savings bank account of the banking company and also a depositor in any other account, shall not exceed the sum of two hundred and fifty rupees.

(3) Where within the aforesaid period of three months full payment cannot be made of the amounts required to be paid under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (2) with the assets in cash, the official liquidator shall pay within that period to every depositor under clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b) of that sub-section on a pro rata basis so much of the amount due to the depositor under that clause as the official liquidator is able to pay with those assets; and shall pay the rest of that amount to every such depositor as and when sufficient assets are collected by the official liquidator in cash.

(4) After payments have been made first to depositors in the savings bank account and then to the other depositors in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the remaining assets of the banking company available for payment to general creditors shall be utilised for payment on a pro rata basis of the debts of the general creditors and of the further sums, if any, due to the depositors; and after making adequate provision for payment on a pro rata basis as aforesaid of the debts of the general creditors, the official liquidator shall, as and when the assets of the company are collected in cash, make payment on a pro rata basis as aforesaid, of the further sums, if any, which may remain due to the depositors referred to in clause (a) and clause (b) of sub-section (2).

(5) In order to enable the official liquidator to have in his custody or under his control in cash as much of the assets of the banking company as possible, the securities given to every secured creditor may be redeemed by the official liquidator—

(a) where the amount due to the creditor is more than the value of the securities as assessed by him or, as the case may be, as assessed by the official liquidator, on payment of such value; and

(b) where the amount due to the creditor is equal to or less than the value of the securities as so assessed, on payment of the amount due:

Provided that where the official liquidator is not satisfied with the valuation made by the creditor, he may apply to the High Court for making a valuation,

(6) When any claimant, creditor or depositor to whom any payment is to be made in accordance with ²[the provisions of this section], cannot be found or is not readily traceable, adequate provision shall be made by the official liquidator for such payment.

(7) For the purposes of this section, the payments specified in each of the following clauses shall be treated as payments of a different class, namely: —

(a) payments to preferential claimants under section 530 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);

(b) payments under clause (a) of sub-section (2) to the depositors in the savings bank account;

(c) payments under clause (b) of sub-section (2) to the other depositors;

(d) payments to the general creditors and payments to the depositors in addition to those specified in clause (a) and clause (b) of sub-section (2).

(8) The payments of each different class specified in sub-section (7) shall rank equally among themselves and be paid in full unless the assets are insufficient to meet them, in which case they shall abate in equal proportion.]]

³[(9) Nothing contained in sub-sections (2), (3), (4), (7) and (8) shall apply to a banking company in respect of the depositors of which the Deposit Insurance Corporation is liable under section 16 of the Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, 1961, (47 of 1961).

(10) After preferential payments referred to in sub-section (1) have been made or adequate provision has been made in respect thereof, the remaining assets of the banking company referred to in sub-section (9) available for payment to general creditors shall be utilised for payment on pro rata basis of the debts of the general creditors and of the sums due to the depositors:

Provided (hat where any amount in respect of any deposit is to be paid by the liquidator to the Deposit Insurance Corporation under section 21 of the Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, 1961 (47 of 1961), only the balance, if any, left after making the said payment shall be payable to the depositor.]

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1. Substituted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 4, for section 43A.

2. Substituted by Act 47 of 1961, Section 51 and Schedule II, Pt. II, for “the foregoing provisions” w.e.f. 1-1- 1962.

3. Inserted by Act 47 of 1961, Section 51 and Schedule II, Pt. II w.e.f. 1-1-1962

Section 44. Powers of High Court in voluntary winding up

¹[Powers of High Court in voluntary winding up. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 484 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), no banking company may be voluntarily wound up unless the Reserve Bank certifies in writing that the company is able to pay in full all its debts to its creditors as they accrue.

(2) The High Court may, in any case where a banking company is being wound up voluntarily, make an order that the voluntary winding up shall continue, but subject to the supervision of the court.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sections 441 and 521 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the High Court may of its own motion and shall on the application of the Reserve Bank, order the winding up of a banking company by the High Court in any of the following cases, namely: —

(a) where the banking company is being wound up voluntarily and at any stage during the voluntary winding up proceedings the company is not able to meet its debts as they accrue; or

(b) where the banking company is being wound up voluntarily or is being wound up subject to the supervision of the court and the High Court is satisfied that the voluntary winding up or winding up subject to the supervision of the court cannot be continued without detriment to the interests of the depositors.]

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1. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 30, for the former section w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 44 A. Procedure for amalgamation of banking companies

¹[Procedure for amalgamation of banking companies. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no banking company shall be amalgamated with another banking company, unless a scheme containing the terms of such amalgamation has been placed in draft before the shareholders of each of the banking companies concerned separately, and approved by a resolution passed by a majority in number representing two-thirds in value of the shareholders of each of the said companies, present either in person or by proxy at a meeting called for the purpose.

(2) Notice of every such meeting as is referred to in sub-section (1) shall be given to every shareholder of each of the banking companies concerned in accordance with the relevant articles of association indicating the time, place and object of the meeting, and shall also be published atleast once a week for three consecutive weeks in not less than two newspapers which circulate in the locality or localities where the registered offices of the banking companies concerned are situated, one of such newspapers being in a language commonly understood in the locality or localities.

(3) Any shareholder, who has voted against the scheme of amalgamation at the meeting or has given notice in writing at or prior to the meeting of the company concerned or to the presiding officer of the meeting that he dissents from the scheme of amalgamation, shall be entitled, in the event of the scheme being sanctioned by the Reserve Bank, to claim from the banking company concerned, in respect of the shares held by him in that company, their value as determined by the Reserve Bank when sanctioning the scheme and such determination by the Reserve Bank as to the value of the shares (o be paid to the dissenting shareholder shall be final for all purposes.

(4) If the scheme of amalgamation is approved by the requisite majority of shareholders in accordance with the provisions of this section, it shall be submitted to the Reserve Bank for sanction and shall, if sanctioned by the Reserve Bank by an order in writing passed in this behalf, be binding on the banking companies concerned and also on all the shareholders thereof.

²[***]

(6) On the sanctioning of a scheme of amalgamation by the Reserve Bank, the properly of the amalgamated banking company shall, by virtue of the order of sanction, be transferred to and vest in, and the liabilities of the said company shall, by virtue of the said order be transferred to, and become the liabilities of, the banking company which under the scheme of amalgamation is to acquire the business of the amalgamated banking company, subject in all cases to ³[the provisions of the scheme as sanctioned.]

⁴[(6A) Where a scheme of amalgamation is sanctioned by the Reserve Bank under the provisions of this section, the Reserve Bank may, by a further order in writing, direct that on such date as may be specified therein the banking company (hereinafter in this section referred to as the amalgamated banking company) which by reason of the amalgamation will cease to function, shall stand dissolved and any such direction shall take effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law.

(6B) Where the Reserve Bank directs a dissolution of the amalgamated banking company, it shall transmit a copy of the order directing such dissolution to the Registrar before whom the banking company has been registered and on receipt of such order the Registrar shall strike off the name of the company.

(6C) An order under sub-section (4) whether made before or after the commencement of section 19 of the Banking Laws (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963 (55 of 1963) shall be conclusive evidence that all the requirements of this section relating to amalgamation have been complied with, and a copy of the said order certified in writing by an officer of the Reserve Bank to be a true copy of such order and a copy of the scheme certified in the tike manner to be a true copy thereof shall, in all legal proceedings (whether in appeal or otherwise and whether instituted before or after the commencement of the said section 19), be admitted as evidence to the same extent as the original order and the original scheme.]

⁵[(7) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall affect the power of the Central Government to provide for the amalgamation of two or more banking companies ⁶[***] under section 396 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956):

Provided that no such power shall be exercised by the Central Government except after consultation with the Reserve Bank.]

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1. Inserted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 8.

2. Sub-section (5) omitted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 19 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

3. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 19, for “the terms of the order sanctioning the scheme” w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

4. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 19 w.e.f. 1-12-1964.

5. Inserted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 5.

6. The words “in national interest” omitted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 3.

Section 44 B. Restriction on compromise or arrangement between banking company and creditors

¹[²[Restriction on compromise or arrangement between banking company and creditors. ³[(1)] Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no ⁴[High Court] shall sanction a compromise or arrangement between a banking company and its creditors or any class of them or between such company and its members or any class of them ⁵[or sanction any modification in any such compromise or arrangement unless the compromise or arrangement or modification, as the case may be,] is certified by the Reserve Bank ⁶[in writing as not being incapable of being worked and as not being detrimental to the interests of the depositors of such banking company.]

⁷[(2) Where an application under ⁸[section 39 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], is made in respect of a banking company, the High Court may direct the Reserve Bank to make an inquiry in relation to the affairs of the banking company and the conduct of its directors and when such direction is given, the Reserve Bank shall make such inquiry and submit its report to the High Court.]

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1. Substituted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 9, for section 45 (now renumbered as section 44B).

2. Section 45 renumbered as section 44B by Act 37 of 1960, Section 6.

3. Section 45 (now renumbered as section 44B) renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 52 of 1953, Section 9.

4. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 4, for “Court”.

5. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 20, for “unless the compromise or arrangement” w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

6. Substituted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 9, for “as not being detrimental to the interests of the depositors of such company.”

7. Inserted by Act 52 of 1953, Section 9.

8. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 153 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913) “w..e.f. 14-1-1957.

Section 45. Power of Reserve Bank to apply to Central Government for suspension of business by a banking company and to prepare scheme of reconstitution of amalgamation

¹[Power of Reserve Bank to apply to Central Government for suspension of business by a banking company and to prepare scheme of reconstitution of amalgamation. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this Part or in any other law or ²[any agreement or other instrument], for the time being in force, where it appears to the Reserve Bank that there is good reason so to do, the Reserve Bank may apply to the Central Government for an order of moratorium in respect of ³[a banking company].

(2) The Central Government, after considering the application made by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (1), may make an order of moratorium staying the commencement or continuance of all actions and proceedings against the company for a fixed period of time on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit and proper and may from time to time extend the period so however that the total period of moratorium shall not exceed six months.

(3) Except as otherwise provided by any directions given by the Central Government in the order made by it under sub-section (2) or at any time thereafter the banking company shall not during the period of moratorium make any payment to any depositors or discharge any liabilities or obligations to any other creditors.

⁴[(4) During the period of moratorium, if the Reserve Bank is satisfied that—

(a) in the public interest; or

(b) in the interests of the depositors; or

(c) in order to secure the proper management of the banking company; or

(d) in the interests of the banking system of the country as a whole,

it is necessary so to do, the Reserve Bank may prepare a scheme—

(i) for the reconstruction of the banking company, or

(ii) for the amalgamation of the banking company with any other banking institution (in this section referred to as “the transferee bank”).

(5) The scheme aforesaid may contain provisions for all or any of the following matters, namely:

(a) the constitution, name and registered office, the capital, assets, powers, rights, interests, authorities and privileges, the liabilities, duties and obligations of the banking company on its reconstruction or as the case may be, of the transferee bank;

(b) in the case of amalgamation of the banking company, the transfer to the transferee bank of the business, properties, assets and liabilities of the banking company on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the scheme;

(c) any change in the Board of directors, or the appointment of a new Board of directors, of the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, of the transferee bank and the authority of whom, the manner in which, and the other terms and conditions on which, such change or appointment shall be made and in the case of appointment of a new Board of directors or of any director the period for which such appointment shall be made;

(d) the alteration of the memorandum and articles of association of the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, of the transferee bank for the purpose of altering the capital thereof or for such other purposes as may be necessary to give effect to the reconstruction or amalgamation;

(e) subject to the provisions of the scheme, the continuation by or against the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, the transferee bank, of any actions or proceedings pending against the banking company immediately before the date of the order of moratorium;

(f) the reduction of the interest or rights which the members, depositors and other creditors have in or against the banking company before its reconstruction or amalgamation to such extent as the Reserve Bank considers necessary in the public interest or in the interest of the members, depositors and other creditors or for the maintenance of the business of the banking company;

(g) the payment in cash or otherwise to depositors and other creditors in full satisfaction of their claim –

(i) in respect of their interest or rights in or against the banking company before its reconstruction or amalgamation; or

(ii) where their interest or rights aforesaid in or against the banking company has or have been reduced under clause (f), in respect of such interest or rights as so reduced;

(h) the allotment to the members of the banking company for shares held by them therein before its reconstruction or amalgamation [whether their interest in such shares has been reduced under clause (f) or not], of shares in the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, in the transferee bank and where any members claim payment in cash and not allotment of shares, or where it is not possible to allot shares to any members, the payment in cash to those members in full satisfaction of their claim—

(i) in respect of their interest in shares in the banking company before its reconstruction or amalgamation; or

(ii) where such interest has been reduced under clause (f) in respect of their interest in shares as so reduced;

(i) the continuance of the services of all the employees of the banking company (excepting such of them as not being workmen within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), are specifically mentioned in the scheme) in the banking company itself on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, in the transferee bank at the same remuneration and on the same terms and conditions of service, which they were getting, or as the case may be, by which they were being governed, immediately before the date of the order of moratorium:

Provided that the scheme shall contain a provision that—

(i) the banking company shall pay or grant not later than the expiry of the period of three years from the date on which the scheme is sanctioned by the Central Government, to the said employees the same remuneration and the same terms and conditions of service 5[as are, at the time of such payment or grant, applicable] to employees of corresponding rank or status of a comparable banking company to be determined for this purpose by the Reserve Bank (whose determination in this respect shall be final);

(ii) the transferee bank shall pay or grant not later than the expiry of the aforesaid period of three years, to the said employees the same remuner-ation and the same terms and conditions of service⁵[as are, at the time of such payment or grant, applicable] to the other employees corresponding rank or status of the transferee bank subject to the qualifications and experience of the said employees being the same as or equivalent to those of such other employees of the transferee bank:

Provided further that if in any case under clause (ii) of the first proviso any doubt or difference as to whether the qualification and experience of any of the said employees are the same as or equivalent to the qualifications and experience of the other employees of corresponding rank or status of the transferee bank ⁶[the doubt or difference shall be referred, before the expiry of a period of three years from the date of the payment or grant mentioned in that clause,] to the Reserve Bank whose decision thereon shall be final;

(j) notwithstanding anything contained in clause (i) where any of the employees of the banking company not being workmen within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), are specifically mentioned in the scheme under clause (i) or where any employees of the banking company have by notice in writing given to the banking company, or, as the case may be, the transferee bank at any time before the expiry of the one month next following the date on which the scheme is sanctioned by the Central Government, intimated their intention of not becoming employees of the banking company on its reconstruction or, as the case may be, of the transferee bank, the payment to such employees of compensation, if any, to which they are entitled under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and such pension, gratuity, provident fund and other retirement benefits ordinarily admissible to them under the rules or authorisations of the banking company immediately before the date of the order of moratorium;

(k) any other terms and conditions for the reconstruction or amalgamation of the banking company;

(l) such incidental, consequential and supplemental matters as are necessary to secure that the reconstruction or amalgamation shall be fully and effectively carried out.

(6)(a) A copy of the scheme prepared by the Reserve Bank shall be sent in draft to the banking company and also to the transferee bank and any other banking company concerned in the amalgamation, for suggestions and objections, if any, within such period as the Reserve Bank may specify for this purpose.

(b) The Reserve Bank may make such modifications, if any, in the draft scheme as it may consider necessary in the light of the suggestions and objections received from the banking company and also from the transferee bank, and any other banking company concerned in the amalgamation and from any members, depositors or other creditors of each of those companies and the transferee bank.

(7) The scheme shall thereafter be placed before the Central Government for its sanction and the Central Government may sanction the scheme without any modifications or with such modifications as it may consider necessary, and the scheme as sanctioned by the Central Government shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may specify in this behalf:

Provided that different dates may be specified for different provisions of the scheme.

⁷[(7A) The sanction accorded by the Central Government under sub-section (7), whether before or after the commencement of section 21 of the Banking Laws (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963 (55 of 1963) shall be conclusive evidence that all that requirements of this section relating to reconstruction, or, as the case may be, amalgamation have been complied with and a copy of the sanctioned scheme certified in writing by an officer of the Central Government to be a true copy thereof, shall, in all legal proceedings (whether in appeal or otherwise and whether instituted before or after the commencement of the said section 21), be admitted as evidence to the same extent . as the original scheme.]

(8) On and from the date of the coming into operation of the scheme or any provision thereof, the scheme or such provision shall be binding on the banking company, or, as the case may be, on the transferee bank and any other banking company concerned in the amalgamation and also on all the members, depositors and other creditors and employees of each of those companies and of the transferee bank, and on any other person having any right or liability in relation to any of those companies or the transferee bank ⁸[including the trustees or other persons managing, or connected in any other manner with, any provident fund or other fund maintained by any of those companies or the transferee bank].

(9)⁹[On and from the date of the coming into operation or, or as the case may be, the date specified in this behalf in, the scheme], the properties and assets of the banking company shall, by virtue of and to the extent provided in the scheme, stand transferred to, and vest in, and the liabilities of the banking company shall, by virtue of and to the extent provided in the scheme, stand transferred to, and become the liabilities of the transferee bank.

(10) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of the scheme, the Central Government may by order do anything not inconsistent with such provisions which appears to it necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty.

(11) Copies of the scheme or of any order made under sub-section (10) shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament, as soon as may be, after the scheme has been sanctioned by the Central Government, or, as the case may be, the order has been made.

(12) Where the scheme is a scheme for amalgamation of the banking company, any business acquired by the transferee bank under the scheme or under any provision thereof shall, after the coming into operation of the scheme or such provision, be carried on by the transferee bank in accordance with the law governing the transferee bank, subject to such modifications in that law or such exemptions of the transferee bank from the operation of any provisions thereof as the Central Government on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make for the purpose of giving full effect to the scheme:

Provided that no such modification or exemption shall be made so as to have effect for a period of more than seven years from the date of the acquisition of such business.

(13) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the amalgamation with a banking institution by a single scheme of several banking companies in respect of each of which an order of moratorium has been made under this section.

(14) The provisions of this section and of any scheme made under it shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provisions of this Act or in any other law or any agreement, award or other instrument for the time being in force.

(15) In this section, “banking institution” means any banking company and includes the Stale Bank of India or ¹⁰[a subsidiary bank or a corresponding new bank].

¹¹[Explanation. —References in this section of the terms and conditions of service as applicable to an employee shall not be construed as extending to the rank and status of such employee.]

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1. Inserted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 6.

2. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 4, for “any agreement”.

3. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 4, for “the banking company”.

4. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 4, for sub-sections (4) to (9).

5. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 for “as are applicable” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

6. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 for “the doubt or difference shall be referred” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

7. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 21 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

8. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

9. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

10. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

11. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 34 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Part III A – Special Provisions for Speedy Disposal of Winding up Proceedings

Section 45 A. Part III A to override other laws

¹[PART IIIA: SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR SPEEDY DISPOSAL OF WINDING UP PROCEEDINGS

The provisions of this Part and the rules made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the ²[Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)] or the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), or the ³[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or any other law for the time being in force or any Instrument having effect by virtue of any such law; but the provisions of any such law or Instrument Insofar as the same are not varied by, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Part or rules made thereunder shall apply to all proceedings under this Part.

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1. Substituted by Act 53 of 1953 of 1953, Section 10, fro the former Part IIIA which was Inserted by Act 20 of 1950, Section 10.

2. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, “Indian Companies Act 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

3. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 35 for “Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 45 B. Power of High Court to decide all claims in respect of banking companies

The High Court shall, save as otherwise expressly provided in section 45C, have exclusive jurisdiction to entertain and decide any claim made by or against a banking company which is being wound up (including claims by or against any of its branches in India) or any application made under ¹[section 391 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)] by or in respect of a banking company or any question of priorities or any other question whatsoever, whether of law or fad, which may relate to or arise in the course of the winding up of a banking company, whether such claim or question has arisen or arises or such application has been made or is made before or after the date of the order for the winding up of the banking company or before or after the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953).

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1. Substituted by act 1 of 1984, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 153 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

Section 45 C. Transfer of pending proceedings

(1) Where a winding up order is made or has been made in respect of a banking company, no suit or other legal proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in respect of which the High Court has jurisdiction under this Act and which is pending in any other court immediately before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953), or the date of the order for the winding up of the banking company, whichever is later, shall be proceeded with except in the manner hereinafter provided.

(2) The official liquidator shall, within three months from the date of the winding up order or the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953), whichever is later, or such further time as the High Court may allow, submit to the High Court a report containing a list of all such pending proceedings together with particulars thereof.

(3) On receipt of a report under sub-section (2), the High Court may, if it so thinks fit, give the parties concerned an opportunity to show cause why the proceedings should not be transferred to itself and after making an inquiry in such manner as may be provided by rules made under section 45U, it shall make such order as it deems fit transferring to itself all or such of the pending proceedings as may be specified in the order and such proceedings shall thereafter be disposed of by the High Court.

(4) If any proceedings pending in a court is not so transferred to the High Court under sub-section (3), such proceeding shall be continued in the court in which the proceeding was pending.

(5) Nothing in this section shall apply to any proceeding pending in appeal before the Supreme Court or a High Court.

Section 45 D. Settlement of list of debtors

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law for the time being in force, the High Court may settle in the manner hereinafter provided a list of debtors of a banking company which is being wound up.

(2) Subject to any rules that may be made under section 52, the official liquidator shall, within six months from the date of the winding up order or the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953), whichever is later, from time to time, file to the High Court lists of debtors containing such particulars as are specified in the Fourth Schedule:

Provided that such lists may, with the leave of the High Court, be filed after the expiry of the said period of six months.

(3) On receipt of any list under sub-section (2), the High Court shall, wherever necessary, cause notices to be issued on all persons affected and after making an inquiry in such manner as may be provided by rules made under section 45U, it shall make an order settling the list of debtors:

Provided that nothing in this section shall debar the High Court from settling any such list in part as against such of the persons whose debts have been settled without settling the debts of all the persons placed on the list.

(4) At the time of the settlement of any such list, the High Court shall pass an order for the payment of the amount due by each debtor and make such further orders as may be necessary in respect of the relief claimed, including reliefs against any guarantor or in respect of the realisation of any security.

(5) Every such order shall, subject to the provisions for appeal, be final and binding for all purposes as between the banking company on the one hand and the person against whom the order is passed all persons claiming through or under him on the other hand, and shall be deemed to be a decree in a suit.

(6) In respect of every such order, the High Court shall issue a certificate specifying clearly the reliefs granted and the names and descriptions of the parties against whom such reliefs have been granted, the amount of costs awarded and by whom, and out of what funds and in what proportions, such costs are to be paid; and every such certificate shall be deemed to be a certified copy of the decree for all purposes including execution.

(7) At the time of settling the list of debtors or at any other time prior or subsequent thereto, the High Court shall have power to pass any order in respect of a debtor on the application of the official liquidator for the realisation, management, protection, preservation or sale of any property given as security to the banking company and to give such powers to the official liquidator to carry out the aforesaid directions as the High Court thinks fit.

(8) The High Court shall have power to sanction a compromise in respect of any debt and to order the payment of any debt by Instalments.

(9) In any case in which any such list is settled ex parte as against any person, such person may, within thirty days from the date of the order settling the list, apply to the High Court for an order to vary such list, so far as it concerns him, and if the High Court is satisfied that he was prevented by any sufficient cause from appearing on the date fixed for the settlement of such list and that he has a good defence to the claim of the banking company on merits, the High Court may vary the list and pass such orders in relation thereto as it thinks fit:

Provided that the High Court may, if it so thinks fit, entertain the application after the expiry of the said period of thirty days.

(10) Nothing in this section shall—

(a) apply to a debt which has been secured by a mortgage of immovable property, if a third party has any interest in such immovable property; or

(b) prejudice the rights of the official liquidator to recover any debt due to a banking company under any other law for the time being in force.

Section 45 E. Special provisions to make calls on contributories

Notwithstanding that the list of the contributories has not been settled under ¹[section 467 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], the High Court may, if it appears to it necessary or expedient so to do, at any time after making a winding up order, make a call on and order payment thereof by any contributory under sub-section (1) of ²[section 470 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], if such contributory has been placed on the list of contributories by the official liquidator and has not appeared to dispute his liability.

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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 184 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 187 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

Section 45 F. Documents of banking company to be evidence

(1) Entries in the books of account or other documents of a banking company which is being wound up shall be admitted in evidence in all ¹[legal proceedings]; and all such entries may be proved either by the production of the books of account or other documents of the banking company containing such entries or by the production of a copy of the entries, certified by the official liquidator under his signature and stating that it is a true copy of the original entries and that such original entries are contained in the books of account or other documents of the banking company in his possession.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), all such entries in the books of account or other documents of a banking company shall, as against the directors, ²[officers and other employees] of the banking company in respect of which the winding up order has been made ³[***], by prima facie evidence of the truth of all matters purporting to be therein recorded.

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1. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 22, for “proceedings by or against the banking company” w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

2. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 22 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

3. Certain words omitted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 22 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

Section 45 G. Public examination of directors and auditors

(1) Where an order has been made for the winding up of a banking company, the official liquidator shall submit a report whether in his opinion any loss has been caused to the banking company since its formation by any act or omission (whether or not a fraud has been committed by such ‘ act or omission) of any person in the promotion or formation of the banking company or of any director or auditor of the banking company.

(2) If, on consideration of the report submitted under sub-section(1), the High Court is of opinion that any person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the banking company or has been a director or an auditor of the banking company should be publicly examined, it should hold a public sitting on a date to be appointed for that purpose and direct that such person, director or auditor shall attend there at and shall be publicly examined as to the promotion or formation or the conduct of the business of the banking company, or as to his conduct and dealings, Insofar as they relate to the affairs of the banking company:

Provided that no such person shall be publicly examined unless he has been given an opportunity to show cause why he should not be so examined.

(3) The official liquidator shall take part in the examination and for that purpose may, if specially authorized by the High Court in that behalf, employ such legal assistance as may be sanctioned by the High Court.

(4) Any creditor or contributory may also take part in the examination either personally or by any person entitled to appear before the High Court.

(5) The High Court may put such questions to the person examined as it thinks fit.

(6) The person examined shall be examined on oath and shall answer all such questions as the High Court may put or allow to be put to him.

(7) A person ordered to be examined under this section may, at his own cost, employ any person entitled to appear before the High Court who shall be at liberty to put to him such questions as the High Court may deem just for the purpose of enabling him to explain or qualify any answer given by him:

Provided that if he is, in the opinion of the High Court, exculpated from any charges made or suggested against him, the High Court may allow him such costs in its discretion as it may deem fit.

(8) Notes of the examination shall be taken down in writing, and shall be read over to or by, and signed by, the person examined and may thereafter be used in evidence against him in any proceeding, civil or criminal, and shall be open to the Inspection of any creditor or contributory at all reasonable limes.

(9) Where on such examination, the High Court, is of opinion (whether a fraud has been committed or not)—

(a) that a person, who has been a director of the banking company, is not fit to be a director of a company, or

(b) that a person, who has been an auditor of the banking company or a partner of a firm acting as such auditor, is not fit to act as an auditor of a company or to be a partner of a firm acting as such auditor,

the High Court may make an order that person shall not, without the leave of the High Court, be a director of, or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned or take part in the management of an company or, as the case may be, act as an auditor of, or be a partner of firm acting as auditors of any company for such period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order.

Section 45 H. Special provisions for assessing damages against delinquent directors, etc.

(1) Where an application is made to the High Court under ¹[section 543 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)], against any promoter, director, manager, liquidator or officer of a banking company for repayment or restoration of any money or property and the applicant makes out a prima facie case against such person, the High Court shall make an order against such person to repay and restore the money or property unless he proves that he is not liable to make the repayment or restoration either wholly or in part:

Provided that where such an order is made jointly against two or more such persons, they shall be jointly and severally liable to make the repayment or restoration of the money or property.

(2) Where an application is made, to the High Court under ¹[section 543 of the Companies Act, 1956 (I of 1956)], and the High Court has reason to believe that a property belongs to any promoter, director, manager, liquidator or officer of the banking company, whether the property stands in the name of such person or any other person at an ostensible owner, then the High Court may, at any time, whether before or after making an order under sub-section (1), direct the attachment of such property, or such portion thereof, as it thinks fit and the property so attached shall remain subject to attachment unless the ostensible owner can prove to the satisfaction of the High Court that he is the real owner and the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), relating to attachment of property shall, as far as may be, apply to such attachment,

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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 235 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

Section 45 I. Duty of directors and officers of banking company to assist in the realisation or property

Every director or other officer of a banking company which is being wound up shall give such assistance to the official liquidator as he may reasonably require in connection with the realisation and distribution of the property of the banking company.

Section 45 J. Special provisions for punishing offences in relation to banking companies being wound up

(1) The High Court may, if it thinks fit, take cognizance of and try in a summary way and offence alleged to have been committed by any person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the banking company which is being wound , up or by any director, manager or officer thereof:

Provided that the offence is one punished under this Act or under the 1[Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)].

(2) When trying any such offence as aforesaid, the High Court may also try any other offence not referred to in sub-section (1) which is an offence with which the accused may, under the ²[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], be charged at the same trial.

(3) In any case tried summarily under sub-section (1), the High Court—

(a) need not summon any witness, if it is satisfied that the evidence of such witness will not be material;

(b) shall not be bound to adjourn a trial for any purpose unless such adjournment is, in the opinion of the High Court, necessary in the interests of justice;

(c) shall, before passing any sentence, record judgment embodying the substance of the evidence and also the particulars specified in section 263 of the ²[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], so far as that section may be applicable,

and nothing contained in sub-section (2) of section 262 of the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], shall apply to any such trial.

(4) All offences in relation to winding up alleged to have been committed by any person specified in sub-section (1) which are punishable under this Act or under the ¹[Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)], and which are not tried in a summary way under ‘ sub-section (1) shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in that Act or the ²[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], or in any other law for the time being in force, be taken cognizance of and tried by a Judge of the High Court other than the Judge for the time being dealing with the proceedings for the winding up of the banking company.

(5) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the ³[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], the High Court may take cognizance of any offence under this section, without the accused being committed to it for trial ⁴[***].

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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “Indian Companies Act. 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 35, for “Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

3. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 35, for “Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

4. Certain words omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 35 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 45 K. Power of High court to enforce schemes of arrangements, etc.

[Rep. by the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1959, Section 31 (w.e.f. 1-10-1959).]

Section 45 L. Public examination of directors and auditors, etc., in respect of a banking company under schemes of arrangement

(1) Where an application for sanction a compromise or arrangement in respect of a banking company is made under ¹[section 39] of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], or where such sanction has been given and the High Court is of opinion, whether on a report of the Reserve Bank or otherwise, that any ‘ person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the banking company or has been a director or auditor of the banking company should be publicly examined, it may direct such examination of such person and the provisions of section 45G shall, as far as may be, apply to the banking company as they apply to a banking company which is being wound up.

(2) Where a compromise or arrangement is sanctioned under ¹[section 391 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], in respect of a banking company, the provisions of ²[section 543 of the said Act] and of section 45H of this Act shall, as far as may be, apply to the banking company as they apply to a banking company which is being wound up as if the order sanctioning the compromise or arrangement were an order for the winding up of the banking company.

³[(3) Where ⁴[a scheme of reconstruction or amalgamation of a banking company] has been sanctioned by the Central Government under section 45 and the Central Government is of opinion that any person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the banking company or has been a director or auditor of the banking company should be publicly examined, that Government may apply to the High Court for the examination of such person and if on such examination the High Court finds (whether a fraud has been committed or not) that person is not fit to be a director of a company or to act as an auditor of a company or to be a partner of a firm acting as such auditors, the Central Government shall make an order that that person shall not, without the leave of the Central Government, be a director of, or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned or take part in the management of any company or, as the case may be, act as an auditor of, or be a partner of a firm acting as auditors of, any company for such period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order.

(4) Where ⁵[a scheme of reconstruction or amalgamation of a banking company] has been sanctioned by the Central Government under section 45, the provisions of section 543 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), and of section 45H of this Act shall, as far as may be, apply to the banking company as they apply to a banking company which is being wound up as if the order sanctioning the scheme of reconstruction or amalgamation, as the case may be, were an order for the winding up of the banking company; and any reference in the said section 543 to the application of the official liquidator shall be construed as a reference to the application of the Central Government.]

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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1965, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 153 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 235 of the said Act” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

3. Inserted by Act 37 of 1960, Section 7.

4. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 5, for certain words.

5. Substituted by Act 7 of 1961, Section 5, for certain words.

Section 45 M. Special provisions for banking companies working under schemes of arrangement at the commencement of the Amendment Act

Where any compromise or arrangement sanctioned in respect of a banking company under ¹[section 391 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)] is being worked at the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953) the High Court may, if it so thinks fit, on the application of such banking company, —

(a) excuse any delay in carrying out any of the provisions of the compromise or arrangement; or

(b) allow the banking company to settle the list of its debtors in accordance with the provisions of section 45D and in such a case, the provisions of the said section shall, as far as may be, apply to the banking company as they apply to a banking company which is being wound up as if the order sanctioning the compromise or arrangement were an order for the winding up of the banking company.

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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 153 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-5-1957.

Section 45 N. Appeals

(1) An Appeal shall lie from any order or decision of the High Court in a civil proceeding under this Act when the amount or value of the subject-matter of the claim exceeds five thousand rupees.

(2) The High Court may by rules provide for an appeal against any order made under section 45J and the conditions subject to which any such appeal would lie.

(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1) and sub-section (2 )and notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, every order or decision of the High Court shall be final and binding for all purposes as between the banking company on the one hand, and all persons who are parties thereto and all persons claiming through or under them or any of them, on the other hand.

Section 45 O. Special period of limitation

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908) or in any other law for the time being in force, in computing the period of limitation prescribed for a suit or application by a banking company which is being wound up, the period commencing from the date of the presentation of the petition for the winding up of the banking company shall be excluded.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 (9 of 1908) or ¹[section 543 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)] or in any other law for the time being in force, there shall be no period of limitation for the recovery of arrears of calls from any director of a banking company which is being wound up or for the enforcement by the banking company against any of its directors of any claim based on a contract, express or implied; and in respect of all other claims by the banking company against its directors, the period of limitation shall be twelve years from the date of the accrual of such claims ²[or five years from the date of the first appointment of the liquidator, whichever is longer].

(3) The provisions of this section, Insofar as they relate to banking companies being wound up, shall also apply to a banking company in respect of which a petition for the winding up has been presented before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953).

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1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 14 and Schedule, for “section 235 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” w.e.f. 14-5-1957.

2. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 32 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 45 P. Reserve Bank to tender advice in winding up proceeding

Where in any proceeding for the winding up of a banking company in which any person other than the Reserve Bank has been appointed as the official liquidator and the High Court has directed the official liquidator to obtain the advice of the Reserve Bank on any matter (which it is hereby empowered to do), it shall be lawful for the Reserve Bank to examine the record of any such proceeding and tender such advice on the matter as it may think fit.

Section 45 Q. Power to Inspect

(1) The Reserve Bank shall, on being directed so to do by the Central Government or by the High Court, cause an Inspection to be made by one or more of its officers of a banking company which is being wound up and its books and accounts.

(2) On such Inspection, the Reserve Bank shall submit its report to the Central Government and the High Court.

(3) If the Central Government, on consideration of the report of the Reserve Bank, is of opinion that there has been a substantial irregularity in the winding up proceedings, it may bring such irregularity to the notice of the High Court for such action as the High Court may think fit.

(4) On receipt of the report of the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2) or on any irregularity being brought to its notice by the Central Government under sub-section (3), the High Court may, if it deems fit, after giving notice to and hearing the Central Government in regard to the report, give such directions as it may consider necessary.

Section 45 R. Power to call for returns and information

The Reserve Bank may, at any time by a notice in writing, require the liquidator of a banking company to furnish it, within such time as may be specified in the notice or such further time as the Reserve Bank may allow, any statement or information relating to or connected with the winding up of the banking company; and it shall be the duty of every liquidator to comply with such requirements.

Explanation. —For the purposes of this section and section 45Q, a banking company working under a compromise or arrangement but prohibited from receiving fresh deposits, shall, as far as may be, deemed to be banking company which is being wound up.

Section 45 S. Chief Presidency Magistrate and District Magistrate to assist official liquidator in taking charge of property of banking company being wound up

(1) For the purpose of enabling the official liquidator or the special officer appointed under sub-section (3) of section 37 to take into his custody or under his control, all property, effects and actionable claims to which a banking company ¹[***] is or appears to be entitled, the official liquidator or the special officer, as the case may be, may request in writing the ²[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate], within whose jurisdiction any property, books of accounts or other documents of such banking company may be situate or be found, to take possession thereof, and the ²[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate], as the case may be, shall, on such request being made to him, —

³[(a)take possession of such property, books of accounts or other documents, and

(b) forward them to the official liquidator or the special officer.]

⁴[(2) Where any such property and effects are in the possession of the ²[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate], as the case may be, such Magistrate shall, on request in writing being made to him by the official liquidator or the special officer referred to in sub-section (1), sell such property and effects and forward the net proceeds of the sole to the official liquidator or the special officer:

Provided that such sale shall, as far as practicable, be effected by public auction.

(3) For the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of sub-section (1), the 2[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate] may take or cause to be taken such steps and use of cause to be used such fore as may, in his opinion, be necessary.

(4) No act of the ²[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate] done in pursuance of this section shall be called in question in any court or before any authority.]

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1. Certain words omitted by Act 55 of 1963 Section 13 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

2. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 36 for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

3. Substituted by Act 53 of 1963, Section 23 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

4. Substituted by Act 53 of 1963, Section 23 for sub-section (2) w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

Section 45 T. Enforcement of orders and decisions of High Court

(1) All orders made in any civil proceeding by a High Court may be enforced in the same manner in which decrees of such court made in any suit pending therein may be enforced.

(2)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908(5 of 1908), a liquidator may apply for the execution of a decree by a court, other than the one which made it on production of a certificate granted under subsection (6) of section 45D and on his certifying to such other court in writing the amount remaining due or relief remaining unenforced under the decree.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), any amount found due to the banking company by an order or decision of the High Court, may, with the leave of the High Court, be recovered ¹[by the liquidator in the same manner as an arrear of land revenue and for the purpose of such recovery the liquidator may forward to the Collector within whose jurisdiction the property of the person against whom any order or decision of the High Court has been made is situate, a certificate under his signature specifying the amount so due and the person by whom it is payable].

²[(4) On receipt of a certificate under sub-section (3), the Collector shall proceed to recover from such person the amount specified therein as if it were an arrear of land revenue:

Provided that without prejudice to any other powers of the Collector, he shall, for the purposes of recovering the said amount, have all the powers which, under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), a civil court has for the purpose of the recovery of an amount due under a decree.]

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1. Substituted by Act 53 of 1963, Section 24 for “in the same manner as on arrear of land revenue” w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

2. Inserted by Act 53 of 1963, Section 24 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

Section 45 U. Power of High Court to make rules

The High Court may make rules consistent with this Act and the rules made under section 52 prescribing—

(a) the manner in which inquiries and proceedings under Part III or Part IIIA may be held;

(b) the offences which may be tried summarily;

(c) the authority to which, and the conditions subject to which, appeals may be preferred and the manner in which such appeals may be filed and heard;

(d) any other matter for which provision has to be made for enabling the High Court to effectively exercise its functions under this Act.

Section 45 V. References to directors, etc., shall be construed as including references to past directors, etc.

For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that any reference in this Part to a director, manager, liquidator, officer or auditor of a banking company shall be construed as including a reference to any past or present director, manager, liquidator, officer or auditor of the banking company.

Section 45 W. Part II not to apply to banking companies being wound up

Nothing contained in Part II shall apply to a banking company which is being wound up.

Section 45 X. Validation of certain proceedings

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 45B or any other provision of this Part or in section 11 of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1950 (20 of 1950), no proceeding held, judgment delivered or decree or order made before the commencement of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Act, 1953 (52 of 1953), by any court other than the High Court in respect of any matter over which the High Court has jurisdiction under this Act shall be invalid or be deemed ever to have been invalid merely by reason of the fact that such proceeding, judgment, decree or order was held, delivered or made by a court other man the High Court.]

Part III B – Provisions Relating to Certain Operations of Banking Companies

Section 45 Y. Power of Central Government to make rules for the preservation of records

The Central Government may, after consultation with the Reserve Bank and by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules specifying the periods for which—

(a) a banking company shall preserve its books, accounts and other documents; and

(b) a banking company shall preserve and keep with itself different instruments paid by it.

Section 45 Z. Return of paid instruments to customers

(1) Where a banking company is required by its customer to return to him a paid instrument before the expiry of the period specified by rules made under section 45 Y, the banking company shall not return the instrument except after making and keeping in its possession a true copy of all relevant parts of such instrument, such copy being made by a mechanical or other process which in itself ensures the accuracy of the copy.

(2) The banking company shall be entitled to recover from the customer the cost of making such copies of the instrument.

Explanation. —In this section, “customer” includes a Government department and a corporation incorporated by or under any law.

Section 45 ZA. Nomination for payment of depositors’ money

(1) Where a deposit is held by a banking company to the credit of one or more persons, the depositor or, as the case may be, all the depositors together, may nominate, in the prescribed manner, one person to whom in the event of the death of the sole depositor or the death of all the depositors, the amount of deposit may be returned by the banking company.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any disposition, whether testamentary or otherwise, in respect of such deposit, where a nomination made in the prescribed manner purports to confer on any person the right to receive the amount of deposit from the banking company, the nominee shall, on the death of the sole depositor or, as the case may be, on the death of all the depositors, become entitled to all the rights of the sole depositor or, as the case may be, of the depositors, in relation to such deposit to the exclusion of all other persons, unless the nomination is varied or cancelled in the prescribed manner.

(3) Where the nominee is a minor, it shall be lawful for the depositor making the nomination to appoint in the prescribed manner any person to receive the amount of deposit in the event of his death during the minority of the nominee.

(4) Payment by a banking company in accordance with the provisions of this section shall constitute a full discharge to the banking company of its liability in respect of the deposit:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall affect the right or claim which any person may have against the person to whom any payment is made under this section.

Section 45 ZB. Notice of claims of other persons regarding deposits not receivable

No notice of the claim of any person, other than the person or persons in whose name a deposit is held by a banking company, shall be receivable by the banking company, nor shall the banking company be bound by any such notice though even expressly given to it:

Provided that where any decree, order, certificate or other authority from a court of competent jurisdiction relating to such deposit is produced before a banking company, the banking company shall take due note of such decree, order, certificate or other authority.

Section 45 ZC. Nomination for return of articles kept in safe custody with banking company

(1) Where any person leaves any article in safe custody with a banking company, such person may nominate, in the prescribed manner, on person to whom, in the event of the death of the person leaving the article in safe custody, such article may be returned by the banking company.

(2) Where the nominee is a minor, it shall be lawful for the person making the nomination to appoint in the prescribed manner any person to receive the article deposited in the event of his death during the minority of the nominee.

(3) The banking company shall, before returning any articles under this section to the nominee or the person appointed under sub-section (2), prepare, in such manner as may be directed by the Reserve Bank from time to time, an inventory of the said articles which shall be signed by such nominee or person and shall deliver a copy of the inventory so prepared to such nominee or person.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any disposition, whether testamentary or otherwise, in respect of such article, where a nomination made in the prescribed manner purports to confer on any person the right to receive the article from the banking company, the nominee shall, on the death of the person leaving the article in safe custody, become entitled to the return of the article to the exclusion of all other persons, unless the nomination is varied or cancelled in the prescribed manner:

Provided that nothing contained in this section shall affect the right or claim which any person may have against the person to whom the article is returned in pursuance of this sub-section.

Section 45 ZD. Notice of claims of other persons regarding articles not receivable

No notice of the claim of any person, other than the person or persons in whose name any article is held by a banking company in safe custody, shall be receivable by the banking company, nor shall the banking company be bound by any such notice even though expressly given to it:

Provided that where any decree, order, certificate or other authority from a court of competent jurisdiction relating to such article is produced before a banking company, the banking company shall take due note of such decree, order, certificate or other authority.

Section 45 ZE. Release of contents of safety lockers

(1) Where an individual is the sole hirer of a locker from a banking company, whether such locker is located in the safe deposit vault of such banking company or elsewhere, such individual may nominate one person to whom, in the event of the death of such individual, the banking company may give access to the locker and liberty to remove the contents of the locker.

(2) Where any such locker is hired from a banking company by two or more individuals jointly and under the contract of hire, the locker is to be operated under the joint signatures of two or more of such hirers, such hirers may nominate one or more persons to whom, in the event of the death of such joint hirer or hirers, the banking company may give, jointly with the surviving joint hirer or joint hirers, as the case may be, access to the locker and liberty to remove the contents of such locker.

(3) Every nomination under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be made in the prescribed manner

(4) The banking company shall, before permitting the removal of the contents of any locker by any nominee or jointly by any nominee and survivors as aforesaid, prepare, in such manner as may be directed by the Reserve Bank from time to time, an inventory of the contents of the locker which shall be signed by such nominee or jointly by such nominee and survivors and shall deliver a copy of the inventory so prepared to such nominee or nominee and survivors.

(5) On the removal of the contents of any locker by any nominee or jointly by any nominee and survivors as aforesaid, the liability of the banking company in relation to the contents of the locker shall stand discharged.

(6) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against a banking company for any damage caused or likely to be caused, for allowing access to any locker, and liberty to remove the contents of such locker, in pursuance of the provisions of subsection (1) or sub-section (2) as the case may be.

Section 45 ZF. Notice of claims of oilier persons regarding safety lockers not receivable

No notice of the claim of any person, other than hirer or hirers of a locker, shall be receivable by a banking company nor shall the banking company be bound by any such notice even though expressly given to it:

Provided that where any decree, order, certificate or other authority from a court of competent jurisdiction relating to the locker or its contents is produced before the banking company, the banking company shall take due note of such decree, order, certificate or other authority.]

Part IV – Miscellaneous

Section 46. Penalties

(1) Whoever in any return, balance-sheet or other document ¹[or in any information required or furnished] by or under or for the purposes of any provision of this Act, wilfully makes a statement which is false in any material particular, knowing it to be false, or wilfully omits to make a material statement, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

(2) If any person fails to produce any book, account or other document or to furnish any statement or information which under sub-section (2) of section 35 it is his duty to produce or furnish, or to answer any question relating to the business of a banking company which is asked by ²[an officer making an inspection or scrutiny under that section.] he shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to ³[two thousand rupees] in respect of each offence, and if he persists in such refusal, to a further fine which may extend to 4[one hundred rupees] for every day during which the offence continues.

(3) If any deposits are received by a banking company in contravention of an order under clause (a)of sub-section (4) of section 35, every director or other officer of the banking company, unless he proves that the contravention took place without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent it shall be deemed to be guilty of such contravention and shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to twice the amount of the deposits so received.

⁵[⁶[⁷[(4) If any other provision of this Act is contravened or if any default is made in—

(i) complying with any requirement of this Act or of any order, rule or direction made or condition imposed thereunder, or

(ii) carrying out the terms of, or the obligations under, a scheme sanctioned under sub-section (7) of section 45,

by any person, such person shall be punishable with fine which may extend to ⁸[fifty thousand rupees or twice the amount involved in such contravention or default where such amount is quantifiable, whichever is more, and where a contravention or default is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to two thousand and five hundred rupees] for every day, during which the contravention or default continues.]

(5) Where a contravention or default has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the contravention or default was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company, for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the contravention or default and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act if he proves that the contravention or default was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the contravention or default.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), where a contravention or default has been committed by a company, and it is proved that the same was committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any gross negligence on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that contravention or default and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Explanation. —For the purposes of this section, —

(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals, and

(b) “direction”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.]

⁹[***]

——————–

1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 9, for “required” w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 38, for “an officer making an imspection under that section” w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

3. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 33, for “five hundred rupees” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

4. Substituted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 33, for “fifty rupees” w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

5. Sub-sections (4) Substituted by Act 33 of 1959 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

6. Sub-section (4), (5) and (6) Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, sec 25, for sub-section (4) w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

7. Substituted-section (4) Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, sec .38 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

8. Substituted by Act20 of 1994, Section 8 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

9. Original sub-section (5) omitted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 33 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

Section 46 A. Chairman, director, etc., to be public servants for the purposes of Chapter IX of the Indian Penal Code

¹[Chairman, director, etc., to be public servants for the purposes of Chapter IX of the Indian Penal Code. ²[Every Chairman who is appointed on a whole-time basis, managing director, director, auditor] liquidator, manager and any other employee of a banking company shall be deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of Chapter IX of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).]

——————–

1. Inserted by Act 95 of 1956, Section10 w.e.f.

2. Substituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 9 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

Section 47. Cognizance of offences

No court shall take a cognizance of any offence punishable under ¹[sub-section (5)of section 36AA or] section 46 except upon complaint in writing made by an officer of ²[the Reserve Bank or, as the case may be, the National Bank] generally or specially authorised in writing in this behalf by ³[the Reserve Bank, or as the case may be, the National Bank] and ⁴[no court other than that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or any court superior thereto] shall try any such offence.

——————–

1. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 26 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

2. Substituted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and second Schedule, Pt. II, for “the Reserve Bank”

3. Substituted by Act 61 of 1981, Section 61 and second Schedule, Pt. II, for “the Reserve Bank”

4. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 39, for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 47 A. Power of Reserve Bank to impose penalty

¹[Power of Reserve Bank to impose penalty. (1)Notwithstanding anything contained in section 46, if a contravention or default of the nature referred to in subsection (3) or sub-section (4) of section 46, as the case may be, is made by a banking company, then, the Reserve Bank may impose on such banking company—

(a) where the contravention is of the nature referred to in sub-section (3) of section 46, a penalty not exceeding twice the amount of the deposits in respect of which such contravention was made;

(b) where the contravention or default is of the nature referred to in sub-section (4) of section 46, a penalty not exceeding ²[five lakh rupees or twice the amount involved in such contravention or default where such amount is quantifiable, whichever is more, and where such the contravention or default is a continuing one, a further penalty which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees] for every day, after the first, during which the contravention of default continues.

³[(2) For the purpose of adjudging the penalty under sub-section (1), the Reserve Bank shall serve notice on the banking company requiring it to show cause why the amount specified in the notice should not be imposed and a reasonable opportunity of being heard shall also be given to such banking company.]

(4) No complaint shall be filed against any banking company in any court of law in respect of any contravention or default in respect of which any penalty has been imposed by the Reserve Bank under this section.

(5) Any penalty imposed by the Reserve Bank under this section shall be payable within a period of fourteen days from the date on which notice issued by the Reserve Bank demanding payment of the sum is served on the banking company and in the event of failure of the banking company to pay the sum within such period, may be levied on a direction made by the principal civil court having jurisdiction in the area where the registered office of the banking company is situated; or, in the case of a banking company incorporated outside India, where its principal place of business in India is situated:

Provided that no such direction shall be made except on an application made to the court by the Reserve Bank or any officer authorised by that Bank in this behalf.

(6) The court which makes a direction under sub-section (5) shall issue a certificate specifying the sum payable by the banking company and every such certificate shall be enforceable in the same manner as if it were a decree made by the court in a civil suit.

(7) Where any complaint has been filed against any banking company in any court in respect of the contravention or default of the nature referred to in sub-section (3) or, as the case may be, sub-section (4) of section 46, then, no proceedings for the imposition of any penalty on the banking company shall be taken under this section.]

——————–

1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 17 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

2. Substituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 10 w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

3. Substituted by Act 20 of 1994, Section 10, for sub-sections (2) and (3) w.e.f. 31-1-1994.

Section 48. Application of fines

A court imposing any fine under this Act may direct that the whole or any part thereof shall be applied in or towards payment of the costs of the proceedings, or in or towards the rewarding of the person on whose information the fine is recovered.

Section 49. Special provisions for private banking companies

The exemptions, whether express or implied, in favour of a private company in ¹[sections 90, 165, 182, 204 and 255, clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (1) of section 293 and sections 300, 388A and 416 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)], shall not operate in favour of a private company which is a banking company.

——————-

1. The words and figures “sections. 17, 77, 83B, 86H, 91B and 91D and sub-section (5) of section 144 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” have successively been amended by Act 95 of 1956, Section 11, Act 33 of 1959, Section 34 and Act 55 of 1963, Section 27 to read as above.

Section 49 A. Restriction on acceptance of deposits withdrawable by cheque

¹[Restriction on acceptance of deposits withdrawable by cheque. No person other than a banking company, the Reserve Bank, the State Bank of India or any other ²[banking institution, firm or other person notified by the Central Government in this behalf on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank] shall accept from the public deposits of money withdrawable by cheque:

Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to any savings bank scheme run by the Government.

——————-

1. Inserted by Act 33 of 1959, Section 35 w.e.f. 1-10-1959.

2. Substituted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 28, for certain words w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

Section 49 B. Change of name by a banking company

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 21 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the Central Government shall not signify its approval to the change of name of any banking company unless the Reserve Bank certifies in writing that it has no objection to such change.

Section 49 C. Alteration of memorandum of a banking company

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), no application for the confirmation of the alteration of the memorandum of a banking company shall be maintainable unless the Reserve Bank certifies that there is no objection to such alteration.]

Section 50. Certain claims for compensation barred

No person shall have any right, whether in contract or otherwise, to any compensation for any loss incurred by reason of the operation of any of the provisions ¹[contained in sections 10, 12A, 16, 35A, 35B, ²[36, 43A and 45] or by reason of the compliance by a banking company with any order or direction given to it under this Act].

———————

1. Substituted by Act 95 of 1956, Section 12, for certain words w.e.f. 14-1-1957.

2. Substituted by act 37 of 1960, Section 8, for “and 36”.

Section 51. Application of certain provisions to the State Bank of India and other notified banks

¹[Application of certain provisions to the State Bank of India and other notified banks. ²[(1)] Without prejudice to the provisions of the State Bank of India Act, 1955(23 of 1955) or any other enactment, the provisions of sections 10, 13 to 15, 17, ³[19 to 21A, 23 to 28, 29] excluding sub-section (3) ⁴[sub-section (1B), (1C) and (2) of sections 30, 31,] 34, 35, 35A, 36 [excluding clause(a) of sub-section(1)] 45Y to 45ZF, 46 to 48] 50, 52 and 53 shall also apply; so far as may be, to and in relation to the State Bank of India ⁵[or any corresponding new bank or a Regional Rural Bank or any subsidiary bank] as they apply to and in relation to banking companies:

⁶[Provided that—

(a) nothing contained in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 10 shall apply to the chairman of the State Bank of India or to a ⁷[managing director] of any subsidiary bank insofar as the said clause precludes him from being a director of, or holding an office in, any institution approved by the Reserve Bank;

⁸[(b) nothing contained in sub-clause (iii) of clause (b) of sub-section (!) of section 20 shall apply to any bank referred to in sub-section (1), insofar as the said sub-clause (iii) of clause (b) precludes that bank from entering into any commitment for granting any loan or advance to or on behalf of a company (not being a Government company) in which not less than forty per cent of the paid-up capital is held (whether singly or taken together) by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank or a corporation owned by that bank; and

(c) nothing contained in section 46 or in section 47A shall apply to, —

(i) an officer of the Central Government or the Reserve Bank, nominated or appointed as director of the State Bank of India or any corresponding new bank or a Regional Rural Bank or any subsidiary bank or a banking company; or

(ii) an officer of the State Bank of India or a corresponding new bank or a Regional Rural Bank or a subsidiary bank nominated or appointed as director of any of the said banks (not being the bank of which he is an officer) or of a banking company.;]

⁹[***]

¹⁰[(2) References to a banking company in any rule or direction relating to any provision of this Act referred to in sub-section (1) shall, except where such rule or direction provides otherwise, be construed as referring also to the State Bank of India, a corresponding new bank, a Regional Rural Bank and a subsidiary bank.]

———————

1. Substituted by Act 79 of 1956, Section 43 and ScheduleII, for section 51 w.e.f. 22-10-1956.

2. Section 51 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

3. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40, for certain words and figures w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

4. Substituted by Act 66 of 16988, Section 10, for “31”w.e.f. 30-12-1988.

5. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40, for certain words w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

6. Substituted by Act 38 of 1959, Section 64 and Schedule III, for the proviso w.e.f. 10-9-1959.

7. Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40, for “general manager w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

8. Clauses (b) and (c) Substituted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

9. Explanation omitted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 18 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

10. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 40 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 52. Power of Central Government to make rules

(1) The Central Government may, after consultation with the Reserve Bank, make rules to provide for all matters for which provision is necessary or expedient for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act and all such rules shall be published in the Official Gazette.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for the details to be included in the returns required by (his Act and the manner in which such returns shall be submitted 1[and the form in which the official liquidator may file lists of debtors to the court having jurisdiction under Part III or Part IIIA and the particulars which such lists may contain and any other matter which has to be, or may be, prescribed].

²[***]

¹[(4) The Central Government may by rules made under this section annul, alter or add to, all or any of the provisions of the Fourth Schedule.]

³[(5) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.]

———————

1. Added by Act 52 of 1953, Section 11.

2. Sub-section (3) omitted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 4 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

3. Inserted by Act 1 of 1984, Section 41 w.e.f. 15-2-1984.

Section 53. Power to exempt in certain cases

The Central Government may, on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank, declare, by notification in the Official Gazette, that any or all of the provisions of this Act shall not apply to any banking company ¹[or institution] or to any class of banking companies either generally or for such period as may be specified.

———————

1. Inserted by Act 55 of 1963, Section 29 w.e.f. 1-2-1964.

Section 54. Protection of action taken under Act

(1) No suit or other legal proceeding shall be lie against the Central Government, the Reserve Bank or any officer for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act.

(2) Save as otherwise expressly provided by or under this Act, no suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government, the Reserve Bank or any officer for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act.

Section 55. Amendment of Act 2 of 1934

The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 shall be amended in the manner specified in the fourth column of the First Schedule, and the amendments to section 18 thereof as specified in the said Schedule shall be deemed to have had effect on and from the 20th day of September, 1947.

Section 55 A. Power to remove difficulties

¹[Power to remove difficulties. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order, as occasion requires, do anything (not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act) which appears to it to be necessary for the purpose of removing the difficulty:

Provided that no such power shall be exercised after the expiry of a period of three years from the commencement of section 20 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1968 (58 of 1968).]

——————–

1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 20 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

Part V – Application of the Act to Co-Operative Banks

Section 56. Act to apply to co-operative societies subject to modifications

The provisions of this Act, as in force for the time being, shall apply to, or in relation to, cooperative societies as they apply to, or in relation to banking companies subject to the following modifications, namely:—

(a) throughout this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(i) references to a “banking company” or “the company” or “such company” shall be construed as references to a co-operative bank;

(ii) reference to “commencement of this Act” shall be construed as reference to commencement of the Banking Laws(Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965);

(b) in section 2, the words and figures “the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) and” shall be omitted;

(c) in section 5,—

1[(i) after clause (cc), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:—

(cci) “Co-operative bank” means a state co-operative bank, a central co-operative bank and a primary co- operative bank;

(ccii) “co-operative credit society” means a co-operative society, the primary object of which is to provide financial accommodation to its members and includes a co-operative land mortgage bank;

36(cciia) “co-operative society” means a society registered or deemed to have been registered under any Central Act for the time being in force relating to the multi-State Co-operative Societies, or any other Central or State law relating to Co-operative Societies for the time being in force;';

(cciii) “director” in relation to a co-operative society, includes a member of any committee or body for the time being vested with the management of the affairs of that society;

37(cciiia) “multi-State co-operative bank” means a multi-State co-operative society which is a primary co-operative bank;

38(cciiib) “multi-State co-operative society” means a multi-State co-operative society registered as such under any Central Act for the time being in force relating to the multi-State co-operative societies but does not include a national co-operative society and a federal co-operative;';

(cciv) “primary agricultural credit society” means a co-operative society,—

(1) the primary object or principal business of which is to provide financial accommodation to its members for agricultural purposes or for purposes connected with agricultural activities (including the marketing of crops); and

(2) the bye-laws of which do not permit admission of any other co-operative society as member:

Provided that this sub-clause shall not apply to the admission of a co-operative bank as a member by reason of such co-operative bank subscribing to the share capital of such co-operative society out of funds provided by the State Government for the purpose;

(ccv) “primary co-operative bank” means a co-operative society, other than a primary agricultural credit society,-

(1) the primary object or principal business of which is the transaction of banking business;

(2) the paid-up share capital and reserves of which are not less than one lakh of rupees; and

(3) the bye-laws of which do not permit admission of any other co-operative society as a member:

Provided that this sub-clause shall not apply to the admission of a co-operative bank as a member by reason of such co-operative bank subscribing to the share capital of such co-operative society out of funds provided by the State Government for the purpose;

(ccvi) “primary credit society” means a co-operative society, other than a primary agricultural credit society,—

(1) the primary object or principal business of which is the transaction of banking business;

(2) the paid-up share capital and reserves of which are less than one lakh of rupees; and

(3) the bye-laws of which do not permit admission of any other co-operative society as a member;

Provided that this sub-clause shall not apply to the admission of a co-operative bank as a member by reason of such co-operative bank subscribing to the share capital of such co-operative society out of funds provided by the State Government for the purpose.

Explanation. —If any dispute arises as to the primary object or principal business of any co-operative society referred to in clauses (cciv), (ccv) and (ccvi), a determination thereof by the Reserve Bank shall be final;

(ccvii) “central co-operative bank”, “39[***]”, “primary rural credit society” and “state co-operative bank” shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981;]

2[(ii) clauses (ff), (h) and (nb) shall be omitted;]

(d) for section 5A, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—

“5A. Act to override bye-laws, etc.—(1) The provisions of 3[this Act] shall have effect, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the bye-laws of a co-operative society, or in any agreement executed by it, or in any resolution passed by it in general meeting, or by its Board of Directors or other body entrusted with the management of its affairs, whether the same be registered, executed or passed; as the case may be before or after the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies Act, 1965 (23 of 1965).

(2) Any provision contained in the bye-laws, agreement or resolution aforesaid shall, to the extent to which it is repugnant to the provisions of 2[this Act,] become or be void, as the case may be.”;

(e) in section 6, in sub-section (1),—

(i) in clause (b), the words, “but excluding the business of a managing agent or secretary and treasurer of company” shall be omitted;

(ii) in clause (d), after the word “company”, the words “co-operative society” shall be inserted;

(iii) in clause (m), after the word “company”, the words “or co-operative society” shall be inserted;

4[(f) for section 7, the following section shall be substituted, namely: —

“7. Use of words “bank”, “banker” or “banking”. —(1)No co-operative society other than a co-operative bank shall use as part of its name or in connection with its business any of the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking”, and no co-operative society shall carry on the business of banking in India unless it uses as part of its name at least of such words.

(2) Nothing in this section apply to—

(a) a primary credit society, or

(b) a co-operative society formed for the protection of the mutual interest of co-operative banks or co-operative land mortgage banks, or

(c) any co-operative society, not being a primary credit society, formed by the employees of—

(i) a banking company or the State Bank of India or a corresponding new bank or a subsidiary bank of such banking company, State Bank of India or a corresponding new bank, or

(ii) a co-operative bank or a primary credit society or a co-operative land mortgage bank, insofar as the word “bank”, “banker” or “banking” appears as part of the name of the employer bank, or as the case may be, of the bank whose subsidiary the employer bank is.”];

5[(fi) in section 8, for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:

“Provided that this section shall not apply—

(a) to any such business as aforesaid which was in the course of being transacted on the commencement of clause (iii) of section 42 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1983, so, however, that the said business shall be completed before the expiry of one year from such commencement; or

(b) to any business as is specified in pursuance of clause (o) of sub-section (1) of section 6;”;

(fii) in section 9, for the second proviso, the following provisos shall be substituted, namely:—

“Provided further that in the case of a primary credit society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after the commencement of clause (iii) of section 42 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 1983, the period of seven years shall commence from the day it so becomes a primary co-operative bank:

Provided also that the Reserve Bank may, in any particular case, extend the aforesaid period of seven years by such period as it may consider necessary where it is satisfied that such extension would be in the interests of the depositors of the co-operative bank.”];

(g) 6[sections 10, 10A, 7[10B, 10BB, 10C], and 10D] shall be omitted;

(h) for section 11, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—

“11. Requirement as to minimum paid-up capital and reserves. — (1) Notwithstanding any law relating to co-operative societies for the time being in force, no co-operative bank shall commence or carry on the business of banking in India unless the aggregate value of its paid-up capital and reserves is not less than one lakh of rupees:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to—

(a) any such bank which is carrying on such business at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), for a period of three years from such commencement; or

(b) to a primary credit society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after such commencement, for a period of two years from the date it so becomes a primary co-operative bank or for such further period not exceeding one year, the Reserve Bank, having regard to the interests of the depositors of the primary co-operative bank, may think fit in any particular case to allow.

(2) For the purpose of this section, “value” means the real or exchangeable value and not the nominal value which may be shown in the books of the co-operative bank concerned.

(3) If any dispute arises in computing the aggregate value of the paid-up capital and reserves of any co-operative bank, a determination thereof by the Reserve Bank shall be final for the purposes of this section;]

(i) sections 12, !2A, 13 and 15 to 17 shall be omitted;

6[(j)) For section 18, the following section shall be substituted, namely: —

18. Cash reserve. —(1) Every co-operative bank, not being a State cooperative bank for the time being included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (hereinafter referred to as a “scheduled State Co-operative Bank”), shall maintain in India by way of cash reserve with itself or by way of balance in a current account with the Reserve Bank or the State co-operative bank of the State concerned or by way of net balance in current accounts, or, in the case of a primary co-operative bank, with the central cooperative bank of the district concerned, or in one or more of the aforesaid ways, a sum equivalent to at least three per cent of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India, as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight and shall submit to the Reserve Bank before the fifteenth day of every month a return showing the amount so held on alternate Fridays during a month with particulars of its demand and time liabilities in India on such Fridays or if any such Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881) at the close of business on the preceding working day.

Explanation. —In this section and in section 24—

(a) “liabilities in India” shall not include—

(i) the paid-up capital or the reserves or any credit balance in the profit and loss account of the co-operative bank;

(ii) any advance taken from a State Government, the Reserve Bank, the Development Bank, the Exim Bank, 7[the Reconstruction Bank,] 8[the National Housing Bank] the National Bank 9[the Small Industries Bank] or from the National Co-operative Development Corporation established under section 3 of the National Co-operative Development Corporation Act, 1962 (26 of 1962), by the bank;

(iii) in the case of a State or Central co-operative bank, also any deposit of money with it representing the reserves fund or any part thereof maintained with it by any other co-operative society within its area of operation, and in the case a Central co-operative bank, also an advance taken by it from the State co-operative bank of the State concerned;

(iv) in the case of a primary co-operative bank, also any advance taken by it from the State co-operative bank of the State concerned or the Central cooperative bank of the district concerned;

(v) in the case of any co-operative bank, which has granted an advance against any balance maintained with it, such balance to the extent of the amount outstanding in respect of such advance; and

(vi) in the case of any co-operative bank, the amount of any advance or other credit arrangement drawn and availed of against approved securities;

(b) “fortnight” shall mean the period from Saturday to the second following Friday, both days inclusive;

(c) “net balance in current accounts” shall, in relation to a co-operative bank, mean the excess, if any, of the aggregate of the credit balances in current account maintained by that co-operative bank with the State Bank of India or a subsidiary bank or a corresponding new bank, over the aggregate of the credit balances in current accounts held by the said banks with such co-operative bank;

(d) for the purpose of computation of liabilities, the aggregate of the liabilities of a co-operative bank to the State Bank of India, a subsidiary bank, a corresponding new bank, a Regional Rural bank, a banking company or any other financial institution notified by the Central Government in this behalf shall be reduced by the aggregate of the liabilities of all such banks and institutions to the cooperative bank;

(e) any cash with a co-operative bank or any balance held by a co-operative bank with another bank, shall not, to the extent such cash or such balances represents the balance in, or investment of, Agricultural Credit Stabilisation Fund of such co-operative bank, be deemed to be cash maintained in India.

(2) The Reserve Bank may, for the purposes of this section and section 24, specify from time to time, with reference to any transaction or class of transactions, that such transaction or transactions shall be regarded as liability in India of a co-operative bank, and, if any question arises to whether any transaction or class of transactions shall be regarded for the purposes of this section and section24, as liability in India of a co-operative bank, the decision of the Reserve Bank thereon, shall be final.”];

(k) for section 19, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—

“19. Restriction on holding shares in other co-operative societies. —No co-operative bank shall hold shares in any other co-operative society except to such extent and subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify in that behalf:

Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to—

(i) shares acquired through funds provided by the State Government for that purpose;

(ii) in the case of a Central co-operative bank, the holding of shares in the State co-operative bank to which it is affiliated;

(iii) in the case of a primary co-operative bank, the holding of shares in the Central co-perative bank to which it is affiliated or in the State cooperative bank of the State in which it is registered:

Provided further that where any shares are held by a co-operative bank in contravention of this section at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), the co-operative bank shall without delay report the matter to the Reserve Bank and shall, notwithstanding anything contained in this section, be entitled to hold the shares for such period and on such conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify”

10[(1) for section 20 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely:

“20. Restrictions on loans and advances. — (1) No co-operative bank shall—

(a) make any loans or advances on the security of its own shares; or

(b) grant unsecured loans or advances—

(i) to any of its directors; or

(ii) to firms or private companies in which any of its directors is interested as partner of managing agent or guarantor or to individuals in cases where any of its directors is a guarantor; or

(iii) to any company in which the chairman of the Board of directors of the co-operative bank (where the appointment of a chairman is for a fixed term) is interested as its managing agent, or where there is no managing agent, as its chairman or managing director:

Provided that nothing in clause (b) shall apply to the grant of unsecured loans or advances—

(a) made by a co-operative bank—

(i) against bills for supplies or services made or rendered to government or bills of exchange arising out of bona fide commercial or trade transactions, or

(ii) in respect whereof trust-receipts are furnished to the co-operative bank;

(b) made by a primary co-operative bank to any of its directors or to any other person within such limits and on such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Reserve Bank in this behalf.

(2) Every co-operative bank shall, before the close of the month succeeding that to which the return relates, submit to the Reserve Bank a return in the prescribed form and manner showing all unsecured loans and advances granted by it to companies in cases [other than those in which the co-operative bank is prohibited under sub-section (1) to make unsecured loans and advances] in which any of its directors is interested as director or managing agent or guarantor.

(3) If, on examination of any return submitted under sub-section (2), it appears to the Reserve Bank that any loans or advances referred to in that subsection are being granted to the detriment of the interests of the depositors of the co-operative bank, the Reserve Bank may, by order in writing prohibit the co-operative bank from granting any such further loans or advances or impose such restrictions on the grant thereof as it thinks fit, and may by like order direct the co-operative bank to secure the re-payment of such loans or advance within such time as may be specified in the order”;

11[(m) in section 20A, in sub-section (1). —

(i) the words and figures “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 293 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956),” shall be omitted;

(ii) in clause (a), for the words “any of its directors”, the words “any of its past or present directors” shall be substituted;]

(n) in section 21, in sub-section (2), in clauses (c) and (d), for the words “any one company, firm, association of persons or individuals”, the words “any one party” shall be substituted;

(o) in section 22,—

(i) for sub-sections(1) and (2) the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:—

“(1) Save as hereinafter provided, no co-operative society shall carry on banking business in India unless—

(a) it is a primary credit society, or

(b) it is a co-operative bank and holds a licence issued in that behalf by the Reserve Bank, to such conditions, if any, as the Reserve Bank may deem fit to impose:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a co-operative society, not being a primary credit society or a co-operative bank carrying on banking business at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), for a period of one year from such commencement.

12[(2) Every co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965) shall before the expiry of three months from the commencement, every co-operative bank which comes into existence as a result of the division of any other co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank, or the amalgamation of two or more co-operative societies carrying on banking business shall, before the expiry of three months from its so coming into existence, every primary credit society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after such commencement shall before the expiry of three months from the date on which it so becomes a primary co-operative bank and every co-operative society other than a primary credit society shall before commencing banking Business in India, apply in writing to the Reserve Bank for a licence under this section:

Provided that nothing in clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to prohibit—

(i) a co-operative society carrying on business as a co-operative bank at the commencement of the Banking Law (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965); or

(ii) a co-operative bank which has come into existence as a result of the division of any other co-operative society carrying on business as a cooperative bank, or the amalgamation of two or more co-operative societies carrying on banking business at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965) or at any time thereafter; or

(iii) a primary credit society which becomes a primary Co-operative bank after such commencement,

from carrying on banking business until it is granted a licence in pursuance of this section or is, by a notice in writing notified by the Reserve Bank that the licence cannot be granted to it.]”

13[(ii) sub-section (3A) shall be omitted;

(iii) in sub-section (4) in clause (iii)the words, brackets, figures and letter “and sub-section (3A)” shall be omitted;]

22A Validation of licences granted by Reserve Bank to multi-State co-operative societies.– Notwithstanding anything contained in any law or, judgment delivered or decree or order of any court made,–

(a) no licence, granted to a multi-

14[(p) in section 23, —

(i) for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—]

“(1) Without obtaining the prior permission of the Reserve Bank, no co-operative bank shall open a new place of business or change otherwise than within the same city, town or village, the location of an existing place of business:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to—

(a) the opening for a period not exceeding one month of temporary place of business within a city, town or village or the environs thereof within which the co-operative bank already has a place of business, for the purpose of affording banking facilities to the public on the occasion of an exhibition, a conference or a mela or any like occasion;

(b) the 15[opening or changing the location of branches] by a Central cooperative bank within the area of its operation”;

16(ii) after sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(4A) Any co-operative bank other than a primary co-operative bank requiring the permission of the Reserve Bank under this section shall forward its application to the Reserve Bank through the National Bank which shall give its comments on the merits of the application and sent it to the Reserve Bank:

Provided that the co-operative bank shall also send an advance copy of the application directly to the Reserve Bank.”];

17[(q) in section 24, —

(i) in sub-section (1) the words “After the expiry of two years from the commencement of this Act” shall be omitted;

(ii) for sub-section (2) and (2A), the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:—

“(2) In computing the amount for the purposes of sub-section (1),—

(a) any balances maintained in India by a co-operative bank in current account with the Reserve Bank or by way of net balance in current accounts, and in the case of a scheduled State Co-operative Bank, also the balance required under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), to be so maintained,

(b) any balances maintained by a Central co-operative bank with the State co-operative bank of the State concerned, and

(c) any balances maintained by a primary co-operative bank with Central co-operative bank of the district concerned or with the State cooperative bank of the State concerned,

shall be deemed to be cash maintained in India.

(2A)(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or in sub-section (2), after the expiry of two years from the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965(23 of 1965), or of such further period not exceeding one year as the Reserve Bank, having regard to the interests of the co-operative bank concerned, may think fit in any particular case to allow: —

(i) a scheduled State co-operative bank, in addition to the average daily balance which it is or may be, required to maintain under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), and

(ii) every other co-operative bank, in addition to the cash reserve which is required to maintain under section 18,

shall maintain in India, in cash, or in gold valued at a price not exceeding the current market price or in unencumbered approved securities valued at a price determined in accordance with such one or more of, or combination of, the following methods of valuation namely, valuation with reference to cost price, market price, book value or face value, as may be specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time, an amount which shall not, at the close of business on any day, be less than twenty-five per cent or such other percentage not exceeding four per cent as the Reserve Bank may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India, as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight.

(b) In computing the amount for the purpose of clause (a), the following shall be deemed to be cash maintained in India, namely: —

(i) any balance maintained by scheduled State co-operative bank with the Reserve Bank in excess of the balance required to be maintained by it under section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);

(ii) any cash or balances maintained in India by a co-operative bank, other than a scheduled State co-operative bank, with itself or with the State co-operative bank of the State concerned, or in current account with the Reserve Bank or by way of net balance in current accounts and, in the case of a primary co-operative bank, also any balances maintained with the Central co-operative bank of he district concerned, in excess of the aggregate of the cash or balances required to be maintained under section 18;

(iii) any net balance in current accounts.

Explanation. —For the purposes of this sub-section—

(a) approved securities or a portion thereof, representing investment of monies of Agricultural Credit Stabilisation Fund of a co-perative bank shall not be deemed to be unencumber approved securities;

(b) in case a co-operative bank has taken an advance against any balance maintained with the State co-operative bank of the State concerned or with the Central co-operative bank of the district concerned, such balance to the extent to which it has been drawn against or availed of shall not be deemed to be cash maintained in India.

(c) for the purpose of clause (a), the market price of an approved security shall be the price as on the date of the issue of the notification or as on any earlier or later date as may be notified from time to time by the Reserve Bank in respect of any class or classes of securities;”

(iii) in sub-section (3) for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:—

“Provided that every co-operative bank, other than a primary cooperative bank, shall also furnish within the said period, a copy of the said return to the National Bank.”;

(iv) in sub-section (6), in clause (a), for the words “fourteen days”, the words “the thirty days” shall be substituted;]

18[(qq) after section 24, the following section shall be inserted, namely: —

“24A. Power to exempt. —Without prejudice to the provisions of section 53, the Reserve Bank may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that, for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such notification the whole or any part of the provisions of section 18 or section 24, as may be specified therein, shall not apply to any co-operative bank or class of co-operative banks, with reference to all or any of the offices of such co-operative bank or banks, or with reference to the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of such co-operative bank or banks.”]

(r) section 25 shall be omitted;

19[(ri) in the second proviso to section 26, for the expression “regional rural Bank” the expression “co-operative bank, other than a primary co-operative bank” shall be substituted;

(rii) in section 27, for sub-section (3)the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

“(3) Every co-operative bank, other than a primary co-operative bank, shall submit a copy of the return which it submits to the Reserve Banks, under sub-section (1) also to the National Bank and the powers exercisable by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2) may also be exercised by the National Bank in relation to co-operative banks, other than primary co-operative banks.]

(s) for sections 29 and 30, the following section shall be substituted namely:—

“29. Accounts and Balance Sheet. —(1) At the expiration of each year ending with the 30th days of June, 20[or at the expiration of a period of twelve months ending with such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf] every co-operative bank, in respect of all business transacted by it, shall prepare with reference to that year 20[or the period] a balance sheet and profit and loss account as on the last working day of the year 20[or the period] in the Forms set out in the Third Schedule as near there to as circumstances admit:

20[Provided that with a view to facilitating the transition from one period of accounting to another period of accounting under this sub-section, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions as it considers necessary or expedient for me preparation of, or for other matters relating to, the balance-sheet or profit and loss account in respect of the concerned year or period, as the case may be].

(2) The balance-sheet and profit and loss account shall be signed by the manager or the principal officer of the bank and where there are more than three directors of the bank, by at least three of those directors, or where there are not more than three directors, by all the directors.

(3) The Central Government, after giving not less than there months’ notice of its intention so to do by a notification in the Official Gazette, may from time to time by a like notification amend the Forms set out in the Third Schedule.”

21[(t) in section 31, —

(i) for the words “within three months” and “of three months’, the words “within six months” and “of six months” shall, respectively, be substituted;

(ii) for the second proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:

“Provided further that a co-operative bank, other than a primary cooperative bank, shall furnish such returns also to the National Bank.”;]

(u) sections 32 to 34 shall be omitted;

(v) in section 34A, sub-section (3) shall be omitted;

(w) in section 35,—

(i) in sub-section (1),—

(a) for the words and figures “section 235 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956)”, the words “any law relating to co-operative societies for the time being in force” shall be substituted;

22[(b) the following proviso shall be inserted at the end, namely: —

“Provided that the Reserve Bank may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do, cause an inspection to be made of a primary co-operative bank under this sub-section by one or more officers of a State co-operative bank in the State in which such primary cooperative bank is registered.”];

(ii) in sub-section (4), clause (b) shall be omitted.

23[(iii) after sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(4A) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (4), the Reserve Bank may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do supply a copy of the report on any inspection or scrutiny to the State co-operative bank and the Registrar of co-operative societies of the State in which the bank which has been inspected or whose affairs have been scrutinised is registered.”];

24[(iv) in sub-section (6), for the expressions “regional rural banks’ and “regional rural bank”, wherever they occur, the expressions “co-operative banks other than primary cooperative bank” shall, respectively, be substituted.]

25[(v)] the Explanation shall be omitted;

(x) in section 35A, in sub-section (1), in clause (c), for the words “any banking company”, the words “the banking business of any co-operative bank” shall be substituted;

(y) section 35B shall be omitted;

26[(z) in section 36, in sub-section (1), —

(a) clause (b) shall be omitted;

(b) for clause (d), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:—

(d) at any time, if it is satisfied that for the reorganisation or expansion of co-operative credit on sound lines it is necessary so to do by an order in writing and on such terms and conditions as may be specified therein,—

(i) depute one or more of its officers to watch the proceedings at any meeting of the Board of directors of the co-operative bank or of any other body constituted by it and require the co-operative bank to give an opportunity to the officer so deputed to be heard at such meetings and to offer such advice on such matters as the officer may consider necessary or proper for the reorganisation and expansion of co-operative credit on sound lines, and also require such officer to send a report of such proceedings to the Reserve Bank;

(ii) appoint one or more of its officers to observe the manner in which the affairs of the co-operative bank or its offices or branches are being conducted and make a report thereon;”];

(za) in section 36A,—

(i) for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

“(1) The provisions of section 11, section 18 and section 24 shall not apply to a co-operative bank which has been refused a licence under section 22 of whose licence has been cancelled under that section or which is or has been prohibited or precluded from accepting deposits by virtue of any order made under this Act or of any alteration made in its bye-laws.”;

(ii) after sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2), a co- operative society carrying on business as a primary co-operative bank at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), or a co-operative society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after such commencement shall, notwithstanding that it does not at any time thereafter satisfy the requirements of the definition of primary co-operative bank 27[in clause (ccv) of section 5], continue to be a primary co-operative bank within the meaning of this Act, and may, with the approval of the Reserve Bank and subject to such terms and conditions as the Reserve Bank may specify in that behalf, continue to carry on the business of banking.”;

28[(zaa)in section 35AD, sub-section (3) shall be omitted;”]

(zb)

40[Part II A except sections 36AAA, 36AAB and 36AAC], 29[Part IIC], Part III, except sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of section 45,and Part IIIA except section 45W shall be omitted;

30[(zc) in section 46, —

(i) in sub-section (4) the word “or” occurring at the end of clause (i) and clause (ii) shall be omitted;

(ii) in clause (a) of the Explanation, after the words “includes a”, the words “co- operative society” shall be inserted;]

(zd) in section 47, the words brackets, figures and letters “sub-section (5) of section 36AA or” shall be omitted;

(ze) section 49 shall be omitted;

(zf) in section 49A, for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:—

“Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to—

(a) a primary credit society—

(b) any other co-operative society accepting such deposits at the commencement of the Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 (23 of 1965), for a period of one year from the date of such commencement; and

(c) any savings bank scheme run by the Government”;

(zg) sections 49B and 49C shall be omitted;

(zh) in section 50, the figures and letters “10,12A, 16″, “35B”, and “43A” shall be omitted;

(zi) section 51 shall be omitted;

(zj) in section 52,—

(i) in sub-section (2) the words, figures and letter “and the form in which official liquidator may file lists of debtors to the court jurisdiction under Part III or Part IIIA and the particulars which such lists may contain” shall be omitted;

(ii) sub-section (4) shall be omitted;

31[(zji) in section 54, after the expression “Reserve Bank”, wherever it occurs, the expression “or the National Bank” shall be inserted;]

(zk) For section 65 and the First Schedule, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—

“55, Act 18 of 1891 and Act 46 of 1949 to apply in relation to co-operative banks.—(1) The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891 shall apply in relation to a co-operative bank as it applies in relation to a bank as defined in section 2 of that Act.

(2) The Banking Companies (Legal Practitioners’ Clients’ Accounts) Act, 1949 shall apply in relation to a co-operative bank as it applies in relation to a banking company as defined in section 2 of that Act.”;

(zl) for the third Schedule and the Fourth Schedule, the following Schedule shall be substituted, namely:—

Schedules

The First Schedule

(See section 55)

AMENDMENTS

 The Second Schedule

Repeals.—[Rep. by Repealing and Amending Act, 1957 (36 of 1957), Section 52 and Schedule 1]

The Third Schedule

(see section 29)

FORM A

Form of Balance-sheet

FORM B

Form of Profit and Loss Account

Profit and Loss Account for the year ended—

2. Salaries and allowances and provident fund

3. Directors and local committee members’ fees

and allowances

4. Rent, taxes, insurance, lighting, etc.

5. Law charges

6. Postage, telegrams and telephonic charges

7. Auditor’s fees

8. Depreciation on and repairs in property

1. Interest and discount

2. Commission, exchange and brokerage

3. Subsidies and donations

4. Income from non-banking assets and profit from

sale of or dealing with such assets

5. Other receipts

6. Loss (if any)9. Stationery, printing and advertisement, etc.

10. Loss from sale of or dealing with non-banking

assets

11. Other expenditure

12. Balance of profit ___________

Total ___________

____________
Total ____________

The Third Schedule A

(See section 29)
33[Form A

Form of Balance Sheet

Borrowings

Other liabilities and provisions1
23

4

5

__________ __________
Total __________ __________ASSETS
Cash and Balances with ReserveBank of India

Balances with Banks and money at

call and short notice

Investments

Advances

Fixed Assets

Other Assets

Total

Contingent liabilities 12 Bill for collection

6

7

8

9

10

11

__________ ___________

__________ ___________

SCHEDULE I

Capital

II. For Banks incorporated outside India

Capital

(i) (The amount brought in by banks

by way of Start-up capital as prescribed

by RBI should be shown under this head)

(ii) Amount of deposit kept with the RBI

Under section 11(2) of the Banking

Regulation Act, 1949.

__________ __________

Total ____________ ___________

III. For other BanksAuthorised Capital (Shares of Rs…..

each)

Issued Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)

Subscribed Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)

Called-up Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)

Less : Calls unpaid

Add : Forfeited shares

Schedule 3A – I.

SCHEDULE I

Capital

II. For Banks incorporated outside India

Capital

(i) (The amount brought in by banks

by way of Start-up capital as prescribed

by RBI should be shown under this head)

(ii) Amount of deposit kept with the RBI

Under section 11(2) of the Banking

Regulation Act, 1949.

__________ __________

Total ____________ ___________

III. For other BanksAuthorised Capital (Shares of Rs…..

each)

Issued Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)

Subscribed Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)

Called-up Capital (Shares of Rs….. each)

Less : Calls unpaid

Add : Forfeited shares

Schedule 3A – II.

SCHEDULE 2

Reserves and Surplus

Additions during the year

Deductions during the year

II. Capital Reserves

Opening Balance

Additions during the year

Deductions during the year

III. Share premium

Opening Balance

Additions during the year

Deductions during the year

IV. Revenue and other Reserves

Opening Balance

Additions during the year

Deductions during the year

V. Balance of Profit and Loss Account
__________ __________

Total (I, II, III, IV and V) __________ __________

Schedule 3A – III.

SCHEDULE 3

Deposits

(ii) From others

II. Savings Bank Deposits

III. Term Deposits

(i) From Banks

(ii) From others

___________ ___________

Total (I, II, III) ___________ ___________

B. (i) Deposits of branches in India

(ii) Deposits of branches outside India

___________ ___________

Total ___________ ___________

Schedule 3A – IV.

SCHEDULE 4

Borrowings

(ii) Other Banks

(iii) Other institutions and agencies

II. Borrowings outside India

___________ ___________

Total: (I and II) ___________ ___________

Secured borrowings included in 1 and

II above—Rs.

Schedule 3A – IX.

SCHEDULE 9

Advances

repayable on demand

(iii) Term loans

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

B. (i) Secured by tangible assets

(ii) Covered by Bank/Government

Guarantees

(iii) Unsecured

Total: ___________ ___________

C.I. Advances in India

(i) Priority sectors

(ii) Public sector

(iii) Banks

(iv) Others

Total: ___________ ___________

II. Advances Outside India

(i) Due from banks

(ii) Due from others

(a) Bills purchased and discounted

(b) Syndicated loans

(c) Others

Total: ___________ ___________
___________ ___________

Grand Total; (C.I. & C.II) ___________ ___________

Schedule 3A – V.

SCHEDULE 5

Other Liabilities and Provisions

II. Inter-office adjustments (net)

III. Interests accrued

IV. Others (Including provisions)

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

Schedule 3A – VI.

SCHEDULE 6

Cash and Balances with Reserve Bank of India

II. Balance with Reserve Bank of India

(i) in Current Account

(ii) in other Accounts

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

(I and II)

Schedule 3A – VII.

SCHEDULE 7

Balances with banks and Money at Call and short Notice

(a) In Current Accounts

(b) In Other Deposit Accounts

(ii) Money at call and short notice

(a) With banks

(b) With other institutions

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

(I and II)

II. Outside India

(i) in Current Accounts

(ii) in Other Deposit Accounts

(iii) Money at call and short notice

___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________

(I, II and III)

___________ ___________
Grant Total: ___________ ___________
(I and II)

Schedule 3A – VIII.

SCHEDULE 8

Investments

(i) Government Securities

(ii) Other approved securities

(iii) Shares

(iv) Debentures and Bonds

(v) Subsidiaries and/or joint ventures

(vi) Others (to be specified)

_____________ _____________

Total: _____________ _____________

II. Investments outside India in

(i) Government securities (Including local
authorities)

(ii) Subsidiaries and/or joint ventures abroad

(iii) Other investments (to be specified)

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

Grand Total (I and II)

Schedule 3A – X.

SCHEDULE 10

Fixed Assets

Additions during the year

Deductions during the year

Depreciation to date

II. Other Fixed Assets (including furniture and
fixtures)

At cost as on 31st March of the preceding year

Additions during the year

Deductions during the year

Depreciation to date

___________ ___________
Total: (I and II) ___________ ___________

Schedule 3A – XI.

SCHEDULE 11

Other Assets

II. Interest accrued

III. Tax paid in advance/tax deducted at source

IV. Stationery and stamps

V. Non-banking assets acquired
in satisfaction of claims

VI. Others*
_____________ _____________

Total: ___________ ___________

Schedule 3A – XII.

SCHEDULE 12

Contingent Liabilities

II. Liability for partly paid investments

III. Liability on account of outstanding forward exchange contracts

IV. Guarantees given on behalf of constituents

(a) In India

(b) Outside India

V. Acceptances, endorsements and other obligations

VI. Other items for which the bank is contingently liable

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

FORM ‘B’
Form of Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31st March (year)

Other Income 14

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

II. Expenditure

Interest expended 15

Operating expenses 16 Provisions and contingencies

___________ ___________
Total: ___________ ___________

III. Profit/Loss

Net Profit/Loss (-) for the year

Profit/Loss (-) brought forward
___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

IV. Appropriations

Transfer to statutory reserves

Transfer to other reserves

Transfer to Government/proposed dividend

Balance carried over to balance sheet

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

Schedule 3A – XIII.

SCHEDULE 13

Interest Earned

II. Income on investments

III. Interest on balances with Reserve Bank
of India and other inter-bank funds

IV. Others

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ __________

Schedule 3A – XIV.

SCHEDULE 14

Other Income

Less : Loss on sale of investments

III. Profit on revaluation of investments

Less : Loss on revaluation of investments

IV. Profit on sale of land, buildings and other assets

Less : Loss on sale of land, buildings and other assets

V. Profit on exchange transactions

Less : Loss on exchange transactions

VI. Income earned by way of dividends etc.

from subsidiaries/companies and/or joint

ventures abroad/in India

VII. Miscellaneous Income

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

Schedule 3A – XV.

SCHEDULE 15

Interest Expended

II. Interest on Reserve Bank of India/

Inter-back borrowings

III. Others

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

Schedule 3A – XVI.

SCHEDULE 16

Operating Expenses

II. Rent, taxes and lighting

III. Printing and stationery

IV. Advertisement and publicity

V. Depreciation on Bank’s property

VI. Director’s fees, allowances and expenses

VII. Auditors’ fees and expenses (Including branch auditors)

VIII. Law charges

IX. Postages. Telegrams, Telephones, etc.

X. Repairs and maintenance

XI. Insurance

XII. Other expenditure

___________ ___________

Total: ___________ ___________

The Fourth Schedule

¹[THE FOURTH SCHEDULE

[See section 45D(2)]

List of Debtors

1. The official liquidator shall from time to time submit list of debtors to the High Court, each list being verified by an affidavit.

2. Every such list shall contain the following particulars:

(a) names and addresses of the debtors;

(b) amount of debt due to the banking company by each debtor;

(c) rate of interest, if any, and the date up to which such interest has been calculated in the case of each debtor;

(d) description of papers, writings, and documents, if any, relating to each debt;

(e) relief or reliefs claimed against each debtor.

3. (a) In every such list, the official liquidator shall distinguish between the debts for which the banking company holds and security other than a personal security and the debts for which no security or only a personal security is given;

(b) In the case of secured debts, particulars of the securities claimed by the ban king company, and whenever possible their estimated value, and the names and addresses of person or persons, if any, having an interest in the securities or the right of redemption therein;

(c) In case the debt is guaranteed by any person or persons, the name and address of the guarantor or guarantors with particulars as to the extent to which the debt is guaranteed and description of documents, papers or writings in support of such guarantee.

4. If the debtor is adjudged insolvent either before or after he has been included in any such list, but before such list is settled, the name and address of the assignee or the receiver of his estate, as the case may be, should be stated in, or added to, the list.

5. If the original debtor dies either before or after he has been included in any such list, but before such list is settled, there shall be substituted in his place the names and addresses of his legal representatives as far as the official liquidator is able to ascertain.]

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1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 22 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.

The Fifth Schedule

¹[THE FIFTH SCHEDULE

(See section 36AG)

Principles of Compensation

1. The compensation to be given under section 36AG shall be an amount equal to the value of the assets of the acquired bank as on the day immediately before the appointed day, computed in accordance with the provisions of Part I of this Schedule less the total amount of liabilities thereof computed in accordance with the provisions of Part II of this Schedule.

Part I-Assets

For the purposes of this Part “assets” means the total of the following: —

(a) the amount of cash in hand and with the Reserve Bank and the State Bank of India (including foreign currency notes which shall be converted at the market rate of exchange);

(b) the amount of balances with any bank, whether on deposit or current account, and money at call and short notice, balance held outside India being converted at the market rate of exchange:

Provided that any balance which are not realisable in full shall be deemed to be debts and valued accordingly; –

(c) the market value, as on the day immediately before the appointed day, of any securities, shares debentures, bonds and other investments, held by the bank concerned.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,—

(i) securities of the Central and State Governments [other than the securities specified in sub-clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Explanation] maturing for redemption, within five years from the appointed day shall be valued at the face value or the market value, whichever is higher;

(ii) securities of the Central Government, such as Post Office Certificates and Treasury Savings Deposit Certificates and any other securities or certificates issued or to be issued under the Small Savings Scheme of the Central Government, shall be valued at their face value or the encashable value of the market value, as on the day immediately before the appointed day, whichever is higher;

(iii) where the market value of any Government security such as the zamindari abolition bonds or other similar security in respect of which the principal is payable in instalment, is not ascertain able or is, for any reason, not considered as reflecting the fair value thereof or as otherwise appropriate, the security shall be valued at such an amount as is considered reasonable having ‘ regard to the instalments of principal and interest remaining to be paid, the period during which such instalments are payable, the yield of any security, issued by the Government to which the security pertains and having the same or approximately the same maturity, and other relevant factors;

(iv) where the market value of any security, share, debenture, bond or other investment is not considered reasonable by reason of its having been affected by abnormal factors, the investment may be valued on the basis of its average market value over any reasonable period;

(v) where the market value of any security, share, debenture, bond or other investment is not ascertainable, only such value, if any, shall be taken into account as is considered reasonable having regard to the financial position of the issuing concern, the dividend paid by it during the preceding five years and other relevant factors;

(d) the amount of advances (including loans, cash, credits, overdrafts, bills purchased and discounted), and other debts, whether secured or unsecured, to the extent to which they are reasonably considered recoverable, having regard to the value of the security, if any, the operations on the account, the reported worth and respectability of the borrower, the prospects of realisation and other relevant considerations;

(e) the value of any land or buildings;

(f) the total amount of premia paid, in respect of all leasehold properties, reduced in the case of each such premium by an amount which bears to such premium the same proportion as the expired term of the lease in respect of which such premium shall have been paid bears to the total term of the lease;

(g) the written down value as per books, or the realisable value, as may be considered reasonable, of all furniture, fixture and fittings;

(h) the market or realisable value, as may be a appropriate, of the other assets appearing on the books of the bank, no value being allowed for capitalised expenses, such as share selling commission, organisational expenses and brokerage, losses incurred and similar other items.

Part II—Liabilities

For the purpose of the Part “liabilities” means the total amount of all outside liabilities existing on the appointed day, and all contingent liabilities which the Central Government or the transferee bank may reasonably be expected to be required to be out of its own resources on or after the appointed day and where the acquired bank is a banking company incorporated outside India, includes the liabilities of the offices and branches in India of the acquired bank to its offices and branches outside India.

2. If the acquired bank is not incorporated in India, the assets or, as the case may be, the liabilities of the bank shall be, for the purposes of Part 1 and Part 11, and subject to the other provisions therein, the assets and liabilities of the offices of the bank situated in India.

COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS

3. Every shareholder of the acquired bank to whom the compensation is payable, shall be given such amount as compensation, as bears to the total compensation, calculated in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1, the same proportion as the amount of paid-up capital of the shares held by the shareholder bears to the total-up capital of the acquired bank.

CERTAIN DIVIDENDS NOT TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

4. No separate compensation shall be payable for any profits or any dividends in respect of any period immediately preceding the appointed day, for which, in the ordinary course, profits would have been transferred or dividend declared after the appointed day.]

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1. Inserted by Act 58 of 1968, Section 22 w.e.f. 1-2-1969.