Section 144 - Right to inspect copies of instruments creating charges and company's register of charges. - Companies Act, 1956

Right to inspect copies of instruments creating charges and company's register of charges. 144. (1) The copies of instruments creating charges kept in pursuance of section 136, and the register of charges kept in pursuance of section 143, shall be open during business hours (but subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company in general meeting may impose, so that not less than two hours in each day are allowed for inspection) to the inspection of any creditor or member of the company without fee, at the registered office of the company. (2) The register of charges kept in pursuance of section 143 shall also be open, during business hours but subject to the reasonable restrictions aforesaid, to the inspection of any other person on payment of a fee of [1] [such sum as may be prescribed [2] ] for each inspection, at the registered office of the company. (3) If inspection of the said copies or register is refused, the company, and every officer of the company who is in default, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to [3] [five hundred rupees] and with a further fine which may extend to [4] [two hundred rupees] for every day during which the refusal continues. (4) The [5] [Tribunal [Central Government] [6] ] may also by order compel an immediate inspection of the said copies or register. ------------------------------ Notes:- [1] Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1988, section 66, w.e.f. 15-7-1988 for the words "one rupee". Rs. 10 has been prescribed under rule 21A(3) of General Rules Forms as inserted by Fourth Amendment Rules 1988. [2] The fees prescribed is Rs. 10 as per rule 21A, Companies (Central Government's) General Rules and Forms, 1956. [3] Substituted for "fifty rupees" by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2000, w.e.f. 13-12-2000. [4] Substituted for "twenty rupees" by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2000, w.e.f. 13-12-2000. [5] Substituted for "Company Law Board" by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002. [6] Fees prescribed is Rs. 200, w.e.f. 1-4-2000. On notification of the commencement of the amendment, power will be transferred to the National Company Law Tribunal.