SHIFTING OF REGISTERED OFFICE OUTSIDE STATE

 

Any alteration relating to place i.e. state of registered office shall take effect only after approval by the Central Government. The Central Government shall dispose of the application for approval of shifting of registered office from one state to another within sixty days. This alteration should have consent of the creditors, debentures – holders, and other persons concerned with the company. The company should have made sufficient provision for the discharge of all its debts and obligations or adequate security should have been provided for such discharge. This is duty of Central Government, before giving approval of the application to satisfied itself about such consent and such sufficient provision to discharge debts and obligations.

A certified copy of such order by Central Government approving the alteration shall be filed by the company with the Registrar of each States. The Registrar of the State, where registered office is being shifted shall issue a fresh certificate of Incorporation.

According to Rule 30 of the Companies (incorporation) Rules 2014, an application under sub-section (4) of section 13, for the purpose of seeking approval for alteration of memorandum with regard to the change of place of the registered office from one State Government or Union territory to another, shall be filed with the Central Government in Form INC – 23 along with the fee and shall be accompanied by the following documents, namely:-

1. a copy of the memorandum and articles of association;
2. a copy of the notice convening the general meeting along with relevant Explanatory Statement;
3. a copy of the special resolution sanctioning the alteration by the members of the company;
4. a copy of the minutes of the general meeting at which the resolution authorizing such alteration was passed, giving details of the number of votes cast in favor or against the resolution;
5. an affidavit verifying the application;
6. the list of creditors and debenture holders entitled to object to the application;
7. an affidavit verifying the list of creditors;
8. the document relating to payment of application fee;
9. a copy of board resolution or Power of Attorney or the executed Vakalatnama, as the case may be.

There shall be attached to the application, a list of creditors and debenture holders, drawn up to the latest practicable date preceding the date of filing of application by not more than one month, setting forth the following details, namely:-

1. the names and address of every creditor and debenture holder of the company;
2. the nature and respective amounts due to them in respect of debts, claims or liabilities.

The applicant company shall file an affidavit, signed by the Company Secretary of the company, if any and not less than two directors of the company, one of whom shall be a managing director, where there is one, to the effect that they have made a full enquiry into the affairs of the company and, having done so, have formed an opinion that the list of creditors is correct, and that the estimated value as given in the list of the debts or claims payable on a contingency or not ascertained are proper estimates of the values of such debts and claims and that there are no other debts of or claims against the company to their knowledge.

There shall also be attached to the application an affidavit from the directors of the company that no employee shall be retrenched as a consequence of shifting of the registered office from one state to another state and also there shall be an application filed by the company to the Chief Secretary of the concerned State Government or the Union territory

A duly authenticated copy of the list of creditors shall be kept at the registered office of the company and any person desirous of inspecting the same may, at any time during the ordinary hours of business, inspect and take extracts from the same on payment of a sum not exceeding ten rupees per page to the company.

There shall also be attached to the application a copy of the acknowledgment of service of a copy of the application with complete annexures to the Registrar and Chief Secretary of the State Government or Union territory where the registered office is situated at the time of filing the application.

The company shall at least fourteen days before the date of hearing-

1. advertise the application in the Form No.INC.26 in a vernacular newspaper in the principal vernacular language in the district in which the registered office of the company is situated, and at least once in English language in an English newspaper circulating in that district;
2. serve, by registered post with acknowledgement due, individual notice(s), to the effect set out in clause (a) on each debenture-holder and creditor of the company; and
3. serve, by registered post with acknowledgement due, a notice together with the copy of the application to the Registrar and to the Securities and Exchange Board of India, in the case of listed companies and to the regulatory body, if the company is regulated under any special Act or law for the time being in force.

Where any objection of any person whose interest is likely to be affected by the proposed application has been received by the applicant, it shall serve a copy thereof to the Central Government on or before the date of hearing.

Where no objection has been received from any of the parties, who have been duly served, the application may be put up for orders without hearing.

Before confirming the alteration, the Central Government shall ensure that, with respect to every creditor and debenture holder who, in the opinion of the Central government, is entitled to object to the alteration, and who signifies his objection in the manner directed by the Central government, either his consent to the alteration has been obtained or his debt or claim has been discharged or has determined, or has been secured to the satisfaction of the Central Government.

The Central Government may make an order confirming the alteration on such terms and conditions, if any, as it thinks fit, and may make such order as to costs as it thinks proper.

The shifting of registered office shall not be allowed if any inquiry, inspection or investigation has been initiated against the company or any prosecution is pending against the company under the Act.

The certified copy of the order of the Central Government, approving the alteration of the memorandum for transfer of registered office of the company from one State to another, shall be filed in Form INC – 28 along with the fee as with the Registrar of the State within thirty days from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order.