Updated on: Jun 17th, 2024
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1 min read
A company has no physical existence, it is merely a legal entity. It can only act through natural persons. The person acting on the company’s behalf is called a Director. They are professional people, hired by the company to direct its affairs. They can also be called – the officers of a company.
Any person can hold the position of Director. Company law in India does not prescribe any qualifications for Directors. Therefore, the Indian companies may, in its Articles, lay down qualifications for Directors.
Under company law, a director can be disqualified for any of the following reasons:
Once disqualified, a person is not eligible for being appointed as Director of that company or any other company. This restriction is imposed for a period of five years or as the case may be. Since the year 2017, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has been strictly enforcing these provisions of the Companies Act. It has recently published the names of the disqualified Directors on the government website.
In case of disqualification, a director can appeal to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). He/she can temporarily ask for a stay order. Under the Companies Act 2013, an order disqualifying a Director does not take effect within the next 30 days of it being passed. As soon as an appeal is initiated, the disqualified person will still continue to be a director for the next seven days. Within this period, he can file his annual returns to stay the order of disqualification. However, there exists no procedure to reappoint a disqualified director. He can only be reappointed after a period of five years has elapsed from the date of disqualification.
A company is a legal entity with Directors who are responsible for its affairs. Disqualifications include unsound mind, insolvency, criminal convictions, unpaid calls, and related party offenses. Effects of disqualification are a ban on directorship for five years. Remedies include appealing to NCLAT and requesting a stay order.