NEW SYLLABUS
422
                                                     : 1 :
Roll No. .....................................
Time allowed : 3 hours                                                           Maximum marks : 100
Total number of questions : 6                                      Total number of printed pages : 10
NOTE : 1.             Answer ALL Questions.
                2.    ALL references to sections relate to the Companies Act, 2013 unless stated otherwise.
                                                   PART—I
1.        Comment on the following :
          (a)        Amount lying in the securities premium account belongs to the shareholders and can
                     be used freely for their benefit.
          (b)        Debapriya was appointed as alternate director of Julien in Amal Housing Finance Ltd.
                     The company was served a demand notice by Goods & Service Tax department
                     for ` 25 lakh for violation of certain provisions of GST law. Due to cash crunch
                     the CEO approached Debapriya for a help of ` 12 lakh. Debapriya borrowed
                     ` 7.50 lakh from his sister’s husband and gave to the company. The company recorded
                     the same in its books of account.
          (c)        Dealing with dividend is the prerogative of Board of directors. However there are
                     certain parameters included in dividend distribution policy of a company.
          (d)        Every company is required to comply the disclosure requirements under the Sexual
                     Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
                     in their Board Report.
                                                                                          (5 marks each)
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                                               : 2 :
                    Attempt all parts of either Q. No. 2 or Q. No. 2A
2.    (a)      As a Company Secretary, explain the procedure of satisfaction of
               charge.
      (b)      Books of account have to be kept only at the registered office of the company.
               As a corporate consultant give your comments in this regard.
      (c)      Jupiter Ltd. intends to acquire shares in another company. How much amount can
               be invested by Jupiter Ltd. without passing special resolution considering the facts
               mentioned below ?
               Particulars                                              Amount (` crore)
               Paid-up Share Capital                                         1,000
               Free Reserves                                                 –340
               Securities Premium Account                                    780
               Investment in another company                                 780
               Examine.
      (d)      Santosh, CEO of the company, has advised the Board of directors of an unlisted
               company that in order to market the public issue and generate interest and awareness
               amongst the public a prospectus can be issued without giving details of number of
               shares and the issue price. Examine the correctness of the advice in light of the
               provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.
      (e)      What are the requirements to form a proprietary company under the Australian
               Corporations Act, 2001 ?
                                                                                     (3 marks each)
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                                                  : 3 :
                              Or (Alternate question to Q. No. 2)
2A.   (i)      Every company is required to have active website. Comment.
      (ii)     Appointed date and Effective date are very important in any merger or amalgamation
               through a scheme of arrangement. Do you agree ?
      (iii)    Assistant Company Secretary of JKL Ltd. has made excess payment of ` 1 lakh
               to MCA for filing of E-forms. What is the procedure of refund of MCA-21 fees ?
      (iv)     ABC Products Ltd. has taken term loan of ` 5 crore from bank and has given
               the properties situated at Maldives as a prime security of loan. Can the company
               give the properties situated outside India for security of loan ? Referring to the provisions
               of the Companies Act, 2013, discuss.
      (v)      Monika Ltd. wants to purchase its own 5,00,000 equity shares @ ` 10/- each out
               of the following :
                                                                                   ` lakh
               (a) Unsecured Loans                                                 25
               (b) Balance of Free Reserves                                        15
               (c) Securities Premium Account                                      10
               Examine the legality of the above transactions for the buy-back of securities of the
               company under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.
                                                                                         (3 marks each)
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3.    (a)      Provide a specimen of board resolution for preparation of annual report in abridged
               form for mailing to the members. Assume facts and figures for the purposes of mentioning
               in the resolution.
                                                                                            (5 marks)
      (b)      Advise whether the internal auditor is required to be appointed in the following
               scenarios :
                                                                                    Amount (` crore)
               Name of              Status of             Paid-up     Turnover           Outstanding
               the                  the Company           Capital                          loans and
               Company                                                                     borrowings
               Lala Ltd.            Listed                  49           195                       99
               Dilo Ltd.            Unlisted public         23           200                       56
               Craft Ltd.           Unlisted public         50           123                       65
               Wood Pvt.            Private                 55           186                       89
               Ltd.
               Can the following persons be appointed as internal auditor ?
               (i)     President (HR)
               (ii)    DGM (Finance).
                                                                                            (5 marks)
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                                               : 5 :
      (c)      Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a conglomerate is of the view that secretarial audit
               is mandatory for all the companies. He has approached you to determine whether
               secretarial audit is applicable in case of the following companies :
                                                                                 Amount (` crore)
               Name of             Status of                 Paid-up            Turnover
               the                 the Company            share capital
               Company
               Helo Ltd.           Listed                       49                 120
               Jam Ltd.            Unlisted                     38                 500
               Butter Pvt. Ltd.    Subsidiary of
                                   Jam Ltd.                     7                     26
               Advise the CFO.
                                                                                           (5 marks)
                                              PART—II
4.    (a)      Rohan is a well-known banker and holds directorship in 22 companies as on 30th
               September, 2020. The companies include 10 public companies, 11 private companies
               (including MNP Pvt. Ltd., a dormant company) and 1 company registered under section
               8 of the Companies Act, 2013. Recently, on 20th December, 2020, ABC Ltd. in
               which Rohan is not a director acquired 100% shares in MNP Pvt. Ltd. In this context,
               answer the following :
               (i)    Whether the directorships held by Rohan as on 30th September, 2020 are
                      valid ?
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               (ii)    Can Rohan continue to hold directorship in all 22 companies after acquisition
                       made by ABC Ltd. ?
               (iii)   Company Secretary of ABC Ltd. has proposed to restrict number of directorship
                       of the directors in ABC Ltd. Whether the proposal given by the
                       Company Secretary is tenable in light of the provisions of the Companies
                       Act, 2013 ?
                                                                                         (5 marks)
      (b)      Raman is a director of Mega Ltd., a company engaged in the business of selling
               mineral water. Rohini, wife of Raman, is a partner in M/s. Total, a partnership firm,
               engaged in the business of selling packaged juices. Raman also holds 100 shares
               in Zimba Pvt. Ltd., a company engaged in the business of manufacturing bottles. Board
               of directors of Mega Ltd. intends to grant loan to M/s. Total and Zimba Pvt. Ltd.
               within the limits specified under the Companies Act, 2013. Examine whether Mega
               Ltd. can grant loan. If yes, what are the conditions ?
                                                                                         (5 marks)
      (c)      Board of directors of Charity Ltd. wants to understand from you applicability of the
               provisions relating to CSR to companies including requirements to constitute CSR
               committee. Inform the Board.
                                                                                         (5 marks)
      (d)      Approval of the Audit Committee to a related party transaction can be granted by
               passing a circular resolution. Discuss.
                                                                                         (5 marks)
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                                                : 7 :
                      Attempt all parts of either Q. No. 5 or Q. No. 5A
5.    (a)      In the following scenario, examine whether the amount of sitting fees decided by the
               Board of directors is in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013
               and rules made thereunder :
               Name                   Nature of                         Amount of sitting fees
                                      directorship                          per meeting (`)
               Raja                 Nominee director                                   1,20,000
               Raju                 Small shareholder director                         1,00,000
               Ritu                 Independent director                               1,00,000
               Shalini              Independent director                                 75,000
                                                                                          (4 marks)
      (b)      Board of directors of Yes No Ltd. proposes to appoint Arjun as managing director.
               Arjun has recently celebrated his 71st birthday. Arjun has spent his entire career in
               power sector and will be a strategic fit for Yes No Ltd. Company Secretary of
               the company suggests that Arjun can only be appointed through special resolution.
               Do you agree with the Company Secretary ?
                                                                                          (4 marks)
      (c)      Dim Dim Ltd. was incorportated on 31st December, 2019. An advisor to the company
               has suggested that since the Articles of Association (AOA) does not contain provisions
               relating to appointment of first directors, company can function without the directors
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                                                  : 8 :
               until AOA is amended. Do you agree with the suggestion given by the advisor ?
               Can Dim Dim Ltd. appoint a director who has just stayed for a period of 120
               days in India during financial year 2019-20 ?
                                                                                              (4 marks)
      (d)      Himmat Ltd. has a paid-up capital of ` 50,00,000 dividend into ` 5,00,000 shares
               of ` 10/- each. Special notice of intimation to move a resolution to remove Rajesh
               & Co., statutory auditor, before the expiry of their term and appointing Ritaban &
               Co. in their place has been given to the company by a shareholder holding 5,023
               shares. In the above context, give your suggestion to Himmat Ltd.
                                                                                              (4 marks)
      (e)      Shankar was appointed as a small shareholders’ director on 2nd March, 2017. Shankar
               has submitted a letter to the Board of directors expressing his desire to get re-appointed.
               In this context, the Board wants your opinion on the following points :
               (i)     Whether Shankar can be re-appointed as on 31 st March, 2021 ?
               (ii)    Whether he is liable to retire by rotation as on 31st March, 2019 ?
               (iii)   Since Shankar is serving as director in many companies, whether his directorship
                       in the capacity of small shareholders’ director be included in the total number
                       of directors as per the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 ? Answer
                       to the Board.
                                                                                              (4 marks)
                              OR (Alternate question to Q. No. 5)
5A.   (i)      Vasu is independent director in various companies and he seeks your opinion regarding
               presence of independent director in different types of Committees. Advise.
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                                                : 9 :
      (ii)     Logic Ltd. wants to remove Radhika, Company Secretary of the Company. Explain
               the procedure.
      (iii)    Draft a postal ballot form of ZYX Ltd, a company in existence for last 10 years.
               Assume facts and figures.
      (iv)     Can an annual general meeting be called at a shorter notice ? Would your answer
               be different if it were an extra-ordinary general meeting ?
      (v)      The Board of Directors of Passion Ltd. has passed board resolutions for the following
               items. Examine the validity of resolution as a secretarial auditor of the company :
               (a)    To invest the funds of the company for ` 15 Lakh in ABC Mutual funds;
               (b)    To remit, or give time for the repayment of, any debt due from a director;
               (c)    To invest otherwise in trust securities the amount of compensation received
                      by it as a result of any merger or amalgamation;
               (d)    To take over a company or acquire a controlling or substantial stake in another
                      company;
                                                                                    (4 marks each)
                                            PART—III
6.    (a)      FMP & Associates, Company Secretaries, has sent a letter to the foreign
               exchange department of Reserve Bank of India stating that the firm has three
               partners who specialise in the law of Foreign Exchange & Management and asked
               the said Authority to include their name in the panel, whenever formed for providing
               advisory services. Comment with reference to the provisions of the Company Secretaries
               Act, 1980.
                                                                                          (5 marks)
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      (b)      A complaint of professional misconduct is filed with ICSI against Swapan, a practising
               member. The Disciplinary Committee of ICSI is of the opinion that Swapan is guilty
               of professional misconduct mentioned in the Second Schedule to the Company Secretaries
               Act, 1980. The Committee, after affording Swapan an opportunity of being heard,
               ordered for removal of his name from Register permanently and also imposed penalty
               of ` 10 lakh. Is the action of the Committee valid ? What actions can the Board
               of Discipline (a separate authority) take if it is of the opinion that a member is
               guilty of professional misonduct mentioned in the First Schedule to the Act, 1980 ?
                                                                                          (5 marks)
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