The Ministry of Corporate Affairs vide Notification dated December 30, 2020 has notified the Companies (Meetings of Board and its Powers) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2020 to further amend Rule 4(2) of the Companies (Meetings of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014 in following manner:
- Extended the due dates for conducting Board meetings through video conferencing or other audio visual means from 31st December, 2020 till 30th June, 2021, for approving financial statements, board’s report, prospectus, matter relating to amalgamation, merger, demerger, acquisition & takeover and audit committee meetings for consideration of financial statement.
Rule 4(2) of the Companies (Meetings of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014, effective from December 30, 2020 now reads as below:
“4 Matters Not to be Dealt With in a Meeting Through Video Conferencing or Other Audio Visual Means
(1) The following matters shall not be dealt with in any meeting held through video conferencing or other audio visual means.-
- the approval of the annual financial statements;
- the approval of the Board’s report;
- the approval of the prospectus;
- the Audit Committee Meetings for consideration of financial statement including consolidated financial statement if any, to be approved by the board under sub-section (1) of section 134 of the Act; and
- the approval of the matter relating to amalgamation, merger, demerger, acquisition and takeover.
Provided that where there is quorum presence in a meeting through physical presence of directors, any other director may participate conferencing through video or other audio visual rneans.
(2) For the period beginning from the commencement of the Companies (Meetings of Board and its Powers) Amendment Rules, 2020 and ending on the 30th June, 2021, the meetings on matters referred to in sub-rule (1) may be held through video conferencing or other audio visual means in accordance with rule 3.”
The Notification can be accessed at: http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/FourthAmdtRules_30122020.pdf