Section 448 - Appointment of Official Liquidator. - Companies Act, 1956

Official liquidators Appointment of Official Liquidator. [1] [448. (1) For the purposes of this Act, so far as it relates to the winding up of a company by the Tribunal, there shall be an Official Liquidator who ____ (a) may be appointed from a panel of professional firms of chartered accountants, advocates, company secretaries, costs and works accountants or firms having a combination of these professions, which the Central Government shall constitute for the Tribunal; or (b) may be a body corporate consisting of such professionals as may be approved by the Central Government from time to time; or (c) may be a whole-time or a part-time officer appointed by the Central Government: Provided that, before appointing the Official Liquidator, the Tribunal may give due regard to the views or opinion of the secured creditors and workmen. (2) The terms and conditions for the appointment of the Official Liquidator and the remuneration payable to him shall be ___ (a) approved by the Tribunal for those appointed under clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (1), subject to a maximum remuneration of five per cent of the value of debt recovered and realisation of sale of assets; (b) approved by the Central Government for those appointed under clause (c) of sub-section (1) in accordance with the rules made by it in this behalf. (3) Where the Official Liquidator is an officer appointed by the Central Government under clause (c) of sub-section (1), the Central Government may also appoint, if considered necessary, one or more Deputy Official Liquidators or Assistant Official Liquidators to assist the Official Liquidator in the discharge of his functions, and the terms and conditions for the appointment of such Official Liquidators and the remuneration payable to them shall also be in accordance with the rules made by the Central Government. (4) All references to the "Official Liquidator" in this Act shall be construed as reference to the Official Liquidator specified in sub-section (1), or to the Deputy Official Liquidator or Assistant Official Liquidator referred to in sub-section (3), as the case may be. (5) The amount of the remuneration payable shall ___ (a) form part of the winding up order made by the Tribunal; (b) be treated as first charge on the realisation of the assets and be paid to the Official Liquidator or to the Central Government, as the case may be. (6) The Official Liquidator shall conduct proceedings in the winding up of a company and perform such duties in reference thereto as the Tribunal may specify in this behalf: Provided that the Tribunal may ____ (a) transfer the work assigned from one Official Liquidator to another Official Liquidator for the reasons to be recorded in writing; (b) remove the Official Liquidator on sufficient cause being shown; (c) proceed against the Official Liquidator for professional misconduct.] --------------------------------------------- Notes:- [1] Substituted by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002, w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. Prior to its substitution, section 448, as amended by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1960, read as under for the following: "448. Appointment of Official Liquidator. (1) For the purposes of this Act, so far as it relates to the winding up of companies by the Court, (a) there shall be attached to each High Court, an Official Liquidator appointed by the Central Government, who shall be a whole-time officer, unless the Central Government considers that there will not be sufficient work for a whole-time officer in which case a part-time officer may be appointed; and (b) the Official Receiver attached to a District Court for insolvency purposes, or if there is no such Official Receiver, then, such person as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette appoint for the purpose, shall be the Official Liquidator attached to the District Court. 1 [(1A) The Central Government may appoint one or more Deputy or Assistant Official Liquidators to assist the Official Liquidator in the discharge of his functions.] (2) All references to the "Official Liquidator" in this Act shall be construed as references to the Official Liquidator referred to in clause (a) or clause (b), as the case may be, of sub-section (1) 2 [and as including references to Deputy or Assistant Official Liquidators appointed under sub-section (1A)]." ------------------------------------ Notes:- 1. Inserted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1960, Act 65 of 1960, section 166. 2. Inserted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1960, Act 65 of 1960, section 166.