Section 543 - Power of Tribunal to assess damages against delinquent directors, etc. - Companies Act, 1956

Power of Tribunal to assess damages against delinquent directors, etc. [1] [543. (1) If in the course of winding up of a company, it appears that any person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the company, or any past or present director, manager, liquidator or officer of the company ____ (a) has misapplied, or retained, or become liable or accountable for, any money or property of the company; or (b) has been guilty of any misfeasance or breach of trust in relation to the company, the Tribunal may, on the application of the Official Liquidator, or the liquidator, or of any creditor or contributory, made within the time specified in that behalf in sub-section (2), examine into the conduct of the person, director, manager, liquidator or officer aforesaid, and compel him to repay or restore the money or property or any part thereof respectively, with interest at such rate as the Tribunal thinks just, or to contribute such sum to the assets of the company by way of compensation in respect of the misapplication, retainer, misfeasance or breach of trust, as the Tribunal thinks just. (2) An application under sub-section (1) shall be made within five years from the date of the order for winding up, or of the first appointment of the liquidator in the winding up, or of the misapplication, retainer, misfeasance or breach of trust as the case may be, whichever is longer. (3) This section shall apply notwithstanding that the matter is one for which the person concerned may be criminally liable.] ---------------------------------------- Notes:- [1] Substituted by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002, w.e.f. a date yet to be notified. Prior to its substitution, section 543, as amended by the Companies (Amendment) Act, w.e.f. 13-12-200, read as under for the following: "543. Power of Court to assess damages against delinquent directors, etc. (1) If in the course of winding up a company, it appears that any person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the company, or any past or present director, 1 [* * *] manager, liquidator or officer of the company ____ (a) has misapplied, or retained, or become liable or accountable for, any money or property of the company; or (b) has been guilty of any misfeasance or breach of trust in relation to the company; the Court may, on the application of the Official Liquidator, of the liquidator, or of any creditor or contributory, made within the time specified in that behalf in sub-section (2), examine into the conduct of the person, director, 2 [* * *], manager, liquidator or officer aforesaid, and compel him to repay or restore the money or property or any part thereof, respectively, with interest at such rate as the Court thinks just, or to contribute such sum to the assets of the company by way of compensation in respect of the misapplication, retainer, misfeasance or breach of trust, as the Court thinks just. (2) An application under sub-section (1) shall be made within five years from the date of the order for winding up, or of the first appointment of the liquidator in the winding up, or of the misapplication, retainer, misfeasance or breach of trust, as the case may be, whichever is longer. (3) This section shall apply notwithstanding that the matter is one for which the person concerned may be criminally liable." --------------------------------------- Notes:- 1 Omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2000, w.e.f. 13-12-2000, as provisions relating to managing agents, etc. had become redundant after abolition of system by Act 17 of 1969. 2 Omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2000, w.e.f. 13-12-2000, as provisions relating to managing agents, etc. had become redundant after abolition of system by Act 17 of 1969.