Section 119 of Companies Act, 2013 – Inspection of Minute-Books of General Meeting

SECTION 119. INSPECTION OF MINUTE-BOOKS OF GENERAL MEETING

[Effective from 1st April, 2014 except sub-section (4) which is effective from 1st June, 2016]

(1) The books containing the minutes of the proceedings of any general meeting of a company or of a resolution passed by postal ballot, shall—

(a) be kept at the registered office of the company; and

(b) be open, during business hours, to the inspection by any member without charge, subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may, by its articles or in general meeting, impose, so, however, that not less than two hours in each business day are allowed for inspection.

(2) Any member shall be entitled to be furnished, within seven working days after he has made a request in that behalf to the company, and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, with a copy of any minutes referred to in sub-section (1).

(3) If any inspection under sub-section (1) is refused, or if any copy required under sub-section (2) is not furnished within the time specified therein, the company shall be liable to a penalty of twenty-five thousand rupees and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of five thousand rupees for each such refusal or default, as the case may be.

(4) In the case of any such refusal or default, the Tribunal may, without prejudice to any action being taken under sub-section (3), by order, direct an immediate inspection of the minute-books or direct that the copy required shall forthwith be sent to the person requiring it.

Applicable Rules

Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014

[Effective from 1st April, 2014]

Rule 26. Copy of minute book of general meeting.—Any member shall be entitled to be furnished, within seven working days after he has made a request in that behalf to the company, with a copy of any minutes of any general meeting, on payment of such sum as may be specified in the articles of association of the company, but not exceeding a sum of ten rupees for each page or part of any page:

Provided that a member who has made a request for provision of soft copy in respect of minutes of any previous general meetings held during a period immediately preceding three financial years shall be entitled to be furnished, with the same free of cost.