Section 497 - Final meeting and dissolution. - Companies Act, 1956

Final meeting and dissolution. 497. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 498, as soon as the affairs of the company are fully wound-up, the liquidator shall ___ (a) make up an account of the winding up, showing how the winding up has been conducted and the property of the company has been disposed of; and (b) call a general meeting of the company for the purpose of laying the account before it, and giving any explanation thereof. (2) The meeting shall be called by advertisement ___ (a) specifying the time, place and object of the meeting; and (b) published not less than one month before the meeting in the Official Gazette, and also in some newspapers circulating in the district where the registered office of the company is situate. (3) Within one week after the meeting, the liquidator shall send to the [1] [Registrar and the Official Liquidator [2] [referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 448] a copy each of the account and shall make a return to each of them] of the holding of the meeting and of the date thereof. If the copy is not so sent or the return is not so made, the liquidator shall be punishable with fine which may extend to [3] [five hundred rupees] for every day during which the default continues. (4) If a quorum is not present at the meeting aforesaid, the liquidator shall, in lieu of the return referred to in sub-section (3), make a return that the meeting was duly called and that no quorum was present thereat. Upon such a return being made within one week after the date fixed for the meeting the provisions of sub-section (3) as to the making of the return shall be deemed to have been complied with. [4] [(5) The Registrar, on receiving the account and either the return mentioned in sub-section (3) or the return mentioned in sub-section (4), shall forthwith register them. (6) The Official Liquidator [5] [referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 448], on receiving the account and either the return mentioned in sub-section (3) or the return mentioned in sub-section (4), shall as soon as may be, make, and the liquidator and all officers, past or present, of the company shall give the Official Liquidator [6] [referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 448] all reasonable facilities to make, a scrutiny of the books and papers of the company and if on such scrutiny the Official Liquidator [7] [referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 448] makes a report to the [8] [Tribunal] that the affairs of the company have not been conducted in a manner prejudicial to the interests of its members or to public interest, then, from the date of the submission of the report to the [9] [Tribunal] the company shall be deemed to be dissolved. (6A) If on such scrutiny the Official Liquidator [10] [referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 448] makes a report to the [11] [Tribunal] that the affairs of the company have been conducted in a manner prejudicial as aforesaid, the [12] [Tribunal] shall by order direct the Official Liquidator [13] [referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 448] to make a further investigation of the affairs of the company and for that purpose shall invest him with all such powers as the [14] [Tribunal] may deem fit. (6B) On the receipt of the report of the Official Liquidator [15] [referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 448] on such further investigation the [16] [Tribunal] may either make an order that the company shall stand dissolved with effect from the date to be specified by the [17] [Tribunal] therein or make such other order as the circumstances of the case brought out in the report permit.] (7) If the liquidator fails to call a general meeting of the company as required by this section, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to [18] [five thousand rupees]. ---------------------------------------- Notes:- [1] Substituted by Companies (Amendment) Act, 1965, Act 31 of 1965, w.e.f. 15-10-1965.section 54, for words Registrar a copy of the account, and shall make a return to him [2] Inserted by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002, w.e.f a yet to be notified. [3] Substituted for "fifty rupees" by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2000, w.e.f. 13-12-2000. [4] Substituted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1965, Act 31 of 1965, section 54, for sub-sections (5) and (6), w.e.f. 15-10-1965. [5] Inserted by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002, w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [6] Inserted by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002, w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [7] Inserted by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002, w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [8] Substituted for "Court" by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002, w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [9] Substituted for "Court" by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002, w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [10] Inserted by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002. w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [11] Substituted for "Court" by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002. w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [12] Substituted for "Court" by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002. w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [13] Inserted by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002. w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [14] Substituted for "Court" by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002. w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [15] Inserted by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002. w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [16] Substituted for "Court" by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002. w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [17] Substituted for "Court" by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002. w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. [18] Substituted for "five hundred rupees" by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2000, w.e.f. 13-12-2000.