The MCA vide Notification No. G.S.R. 279(E) dated April 06, 2022 has issued ‘the Companies (Management and Administration) Amendment Rules, 2022’, so as to amend Rule 14 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014 (“the Companies Management Rules”) that deals with inspection of registers, returns, etc. in a following manner:
- New Rule 14(3) of the Rules has been inserted in the Companies Management Rules, which provides that, the address or registered address, e-mail ID, Unique Identification Number, and PAN Number the register or index or return in respect of the members of a company shall not be made available for any inspection or for taking extracts or copies under section 94(2) and section 94(3) of the Companies Act, 2013 (“the Companies Act”) respectively.
The amended Rule 14 of the Companies Management Rules, now reads as below:
“14. Inspection of registers, returns etc.-
(1) The registers and indices maintained pursuant to section 88 and copies of returns prepared pursuant to section 92, shall be open for inspection during business hours, at such reasonable time on every working day as the board may decide, by any member, debenture holder, other security holder or beneficial owner without payment of fee and by any other person on payment of such fee as may be specified in the articles of association of the company but not exceeding fifty rupees for each inspection.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-rule, reasonable time of not less than two hours on every working day shall be considered by the company.
(2) Any such member, debenture holder, security holder or beneficial owner or any other person may require a copy of any such register or entries therein or return on payment of such fee as may be specified in the articles of association of the company but not exceeding ten rupees for each page. Such copy or entries or return shall be supplied within seven days of deposit of such fee.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rules (1) and (2), the following particulars of the register or index or return in respect of the members of a company shall not be made available for any inspection under sub-section (2) or for taking extracts or copies under sub-section (3) of section 94, namely:-
i. address or registered address (in case of a body corporate);
ii. e-mail ID;
iii. Unique Identification Number;
iv. PAN Number”
The Notification can be accessed at: https://www.mca.gov.in/bin/dms/getdocument?mds=EyxAlkDVr2rknnHhK2HtbA%253D%253D&type=open