Limited Liability Partnership Rules, 2009 - G.S.R. 229 (E) - Limited Liability Partnership

MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 1 st April 2009 G.S.R. 229 (E) - In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 79 of the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009) , the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely :- CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY 1. Short title and commencement. (1) These rules may be called the Limited Liability Partnership Rules, 2009. (2) ( a ) Rules 1 to 31, rules 34 to 37 and rule 41 of these rules shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 2009; ( b ) Rules 32 and 33, and rules 38 to 40 of these rules shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. 2. Definitions. (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,- ( i ) Act means the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009); ( ii ) Annexure means Annexure to these rules; ( iii ) Certifying Authority means a person who has been granted a license to issue a Digital Signature Certificate under section 24 of the Information Techno-logy Act, 2000 (21 of 2000); ( iv ) Designated Partner Identification Number (DPIN) means an identification number which the Central Government may allot to any individual or nominee of a body corporate, intending to be appointed as designated partner of a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), for the purpose of his identification as such; ( v ) digital signature means authentication of any electronic record by a subscriber by means of an electronic method or procedure in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Information Technology Act, 2000; ( vi ) Digital Signature Certificate means a Digital Signature Certificate issued under sub-section (4) of section 35 of the Information Technology Act, 2000; ( vii ) electronic record means electronic record as defined under clause ( t ) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000; ( viii ) electronic registry means an electronic repository or storage system in which the information or documents are received, stored, protected and preserved in electronic form; ( ix ) Electronic mail (E-mail) means message sent, received or forwarded in digital form via a computer-based communication mechanism; ( x ) Officer includes any partner, designated partner, employee of the LLP, any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the partners of the LLP have been accustomed to act and any person authorized to accept any service on behalf of a foreign Limited Liability Partnership and partners of such foreign Limited Liability Partnership; ( xi ) Pre-fill means the automated process of data input by the computer system from the database maintained in electronic registry; ( xii ) Provisional Designated Partner Identification Number refers to the provisional identification number generated by the electronic system set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs; ( xiii ) Registrar means a Registrar as defined under clause ( s ) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Act; ( xiv ) Registrar s Front Office means an office maintained by the Central Government or an agency authorized by it to facilitate e-filing of documents into the electronic registry and their inspection and viewing; ( xv ) section means section of the Act; ( xvi ) website means a location connected to the internet that maintains one or more web pages; (2) Words and expressions used in these rules and not defined shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (6 of 2009) and the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000). 3. Forms. (1) Every LLP shall use the forms annexed to these rules for the purposes of the Act. (2) Every LLP shall specify therein its limited liability partnership identification number (LLPIN). 4. Authentication of electronic forms. The electronic form shall be authenticated by authorized signatories using digital signatures, as defined under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000). 5. Fees. (1) The fees payable in pursuance of the various provisions of the Act and these rules shall be as mentioned in Annexure A . (2) The fees payable in pursuance of the Act or any rule made or notification issued thereunder shall be paid into the Public Account of India: Provided that the fees payable to the Registrar may be paid also through postal orders (where the amount involved does not exceed fifty rupees) or through bank drafts payable at and/or drawn on post offices or banks, as the case may be, located at the same city or town where the office of the Registrar is situated: Provided further that, where a fee payable to the Registrar is paid through postal orders or bank drafts as aforesaid, it shall not be deemed to have been paid unless and until the relevant postal orders or drafts are cashed and the amount credited: Provided also that, where application is filed through electronic media or through any other computer readable media, the user may choose any one of the following payment options namely, ( i ) Credit Card; or ( ii ) Internet Banking; or ( iii ) Remittance at the Bank Counter; or ( iv ) any other mode as approved by the Central Government. 6. The manner and conditions of filing, recording or registering of documents, forms, notices, statements, returns etc., shall be as laid down in Chapter XIII of these rules. CHAPTER II NATURE OF LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP 7. For the purposes of sub-section (3) of section 7, an individual shall give his prior consent to act as a designated partner to the limited liability partnership in Form 9. 8. For the purposes of sub-section (4) of section 7, the particulars of an individual who has given his consent to act as designated partner shall be filed in Form 4 along with fee as mentioned in Annexure A . 9. (1) A person shall not be capable of being appointed as a designated partner of a limited liability partnership, if he ( a ) has at any time within the preceding five years been adjudged insolvent; or ( b ) suspends, or has at any time within the preceding five years suspended payment to his creditors and has not at any time within the preceding five years made, a composition with them; or ( c ) has been convicted by a Court for any offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced in respect thereof to imprisonment for not less than six months; or ( d ) has been convicted by a Court for an offence involving section 30 of the Act. (2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, remove the disqualification incurred by any person by virtue of clause ( a ) or ( b ) of sub-rule (1), either generally or in relation to any limited liability partnership or limited liability partnerships specified in the notification. CHAPTER III DESIGNATED PARTNER S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 10. (1) Every individual or nominee of a body corporate, who is intending to be appointed as designated partner of a limited liability partnership shall make an application electronically in Form 7 to the Central Government for obtaining Designated Partner Identification Number (DPIN). (2) The Central Government shall provide an electronic system to facilitate submission of application for the allotment of DPIN through a portal on the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. (3) The applicant shall access the Form 7 from the portal, fill-in the required particulars sought therein and use submit function provided therein upon which the system will electronically generate and indicate in the space provided a Provisional DPIN. (4) A provisional DPIN generated online under sub-rule (3) by the applicant will remain valid for a period of sixty days from the date on which it was generated. (5) ( i ) The applicant shall, after the allotment of provisional DPIN, submit an application to the Central Government along with the fee as mentioned in Annexure A for the allotment of regular DPIN within sixty days from the date on which provisional DPIN was generated on-line, failing which the provisional DPIN will lapse. ( ii ) For making an application under sub-rule ( i ), the applicant shall take a print out of Form 7, affix his photograph in the space provided in that Form, enclose true copies of the proof of identity and proof of residence and physically sign the form at the place specified therein. The photograph and the proof of identity and residence shall be certified by any one of the following authorities:- ( a ) Gazetted Officer of the Central or State Government, ( b ) Notary Public, ( c ) Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant or Company Secretary holding a certificate of practice under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 and the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 respectively. (6) The Central Government shall process the applications received for allotment of DPIN under sub-rule (5), decide on such application and communicate approval along with the DPIN allotted or rejection thereof to the applicant by way of a letter by post or electronically or in any other mode, within a period of one month from the receipt of such application: (7) The DPIN so allotted is valid for the life time of such applicant and shall not be allotted to any other person in any case. (8) Every designated partner shall intimate his consent to become a designated partner to the limited liability partnership and DPIN in Form 9 and the LLP shall intimate such DPIN to Registrar in Form 4 . (9) ( a ) ( i ) Every designated partner, who has been allotted a DPIN under these rules shall, in the event of any change in his particulars as stated in Form 7 under sub-rule (5), intimate such change(s) to the Central Government within a period of 30 days of such change(s) in Form 10 . ( ii ) The concerned designated partner shall also intimate such changes to the limited liability partnership or limited liability partnership(s) on which he is a designated partner within 30 days of such changes. ( b ) The designated partners shall fill-in the relevant change(s) in prescribed Form 10 , enclose a copy of the proof of the changed particulars duly certified in the manner specified in clause ( ii ) of sub-rule (5), affix signature at the place specified, and file the same to the Central Government. There shall be no fee for intimating the changes in particulars in Form 10 . (10) The Central Government, after being satisfied, through verification of such changed particulars from the enclosed copy of proof, shall incorporate the said change and inform the designated partner by way of a letter issued by post or electronically or in any other mode confirming the effect of such change in the electronic database maintained by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. CHAPTER IV INCORPORATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP 11. For the purposes of section 11, the incorporation document shall be filed in Form 2 with the Registrar having jurisdiction over the State in which the registered office of the limited liability partnership is to be situated along with the fee as provided in Annexure A . 12. In case of foreign nationals residing outside India in countries signatory to the Hague Apostile Convention, 1961 and seeking to register a LLP in India, their signatures and address on the incorporation documents and proof of identity, where required, shall be notarized before the notary of the country of their origin and be duly apostillised in accordance with the said Hague Convention. 13. The statement to be filed along with the incorporation document under clause ( c ) of sub-section (1) of section 11 shall be in the format provided in Part B of Form 2 . 14. (1) In the office of Registrar there shall be maintained a Register of LLPs in which the names of LLPs shall be entered in the order in which they are registered. (2) Every LLP so registered shall be assigned a LLP identification number (LLPIN) in one consecutive series. 15. (1) A document can be served on a limited liability partnership or a partner or designated partner thereof through the following other modes - ( i ) electronic transmission; ( ii ) courier (2) For the purposes of this rule, ( i ) electronic transmission means a communication- ( a ) delivered by- ( A ) facsimile telecommunication or electronic mail when directed to the facsimile number of electronic mail address, respectively, which the partnership or the partner or the designated partner has provided from time to time for sending communications to the partnership or the partner or the designated partner respectively; ( B ) posting on an electronic message board or network that the partnership or the partner or the designated partner has designated for those communications, and which transmission shall be validly delivered upon the posting, or ( C ) other means of electronic communication as to which the LLP or the partner or the designated partner has placed in effect reasonable measures to verify that the sender is the person purporting to send the transmission, and ( b ) that creates a record that is capable of retention, retrieval and review, and that may thereafter be rendered into clearly legible tangible form. ( ii ) Courier means a document sent through a courier which provides the proof of delivery. 16. (1) A limited liability partnership shall give an address for service of documents within the jurisdiction of the Registrar where its registered office is situate. Such address shall include the postal code and e-mail address. (2) The limited liability partnership, may, in addition to the registered office address, declare any other address as its address for service of documents, under sub-section (2) of section 13, in the manner as laid down in the limited liability partnership agreement. Where the limited liability partnership agreement does not provide for such manner, consent of all partners shall be required for declaring any other address as the address for service of documents. (3) The intimation of other address for service of documents to LLP shall be given to the Registrar in Form 12 , within thirty days of complying with the requirements of sub-rule (2) above along with the fee as mentioned in Annexure A . (4) The effective date for the service of documents to LLP at the other address declared by the LLP cannot be prior to the date of filing of document under sub-rule (3). 17. (1) The limited liability partnership may change its registered office from one place to another by following the procedure as laid down in the limited liability partnership agreement. Where the limited liability partnership agreement does not provide for such procedure, consent of all partners shall be required for changing the place of registered office of limited liability partnership to another place: Provided that where the change in place of registered office is from one State to another State, the limited liability partnership having secured creditors shall also obtain consent of such secured creditors. (2) For the purposes of sub-section (3) of section 13, notice of change of place of registered office shall be given to Registrar in Form 15 , within 30 days of complying with the requirements of sub-rule (1), in case of change of registered office within the same state, and within 30 days of complying with sub-rule (4) in case of change of registered office from one state to another state, along with fee mentioned in Annexure A . (3) Where there is any conviction, ruling, order or judgment of any Court, Tribunal or other authority against the limited liability partnership, the particulars of such prosecutions initiated against or show-cause notices received by the limited liability partnership for the alleged offences under the LLP Act shall be stated in the notice of change of place of registered office to be filed with the Registrar. (4) Where the change in place of registered office is from one state to another state, the limited liability partnership shall publish a general notice, not less than 21 days before filing any notice with Registrar, in a daily newspaper published in English and in the principal language of the district in which the registered office of the limited liability partnership is situated and circulating in that district giving notice of change of registered office. (5) Where the change in place of registered office is from one place to another place within the state from the jurisdiction of one Registrar to the jurisdiction of another Registrar or from one state to another state, the limited liability partnership shall file the notice in Form 15 with the Registrar from where the limited liability partnership proposes to shift its registered office with a copy thereof for the information to the Registrar under whose jurisdiction the registered office is proposed to be shifted. 18. (1) The name of the limited liability partnership shall not be one prohibited under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. (2) A name shall not generally be reserved, if- ( i ) it includes any word or words which are offensive to any section of the people; ( ii ) the proposed name is the exact Hindi or English translation of the name of an existing limited liability partnership in English or Hindi, as the case may be; ( iii ) the proposed name has a close phonetic resemblance to the name of a LLP in existence, for example, J.K. LLP, Jay Kay LLP; ( iv ) it includes the word Co-operative, Sahakari or the equivalent of word co-operative in the regional languages of the country; ( v ) it connotes the participation or patronage of the Central or State Government, unless circumstances justify to, e.g., a name may be deemed undesirable in certain context if it includes any of the words such as National, Union, Central, Federal, Republic, President, Rashtrapati, etc.; ( vi ) the proposed name contains the words British India ; ( vii ) the proposed name implies association or connection with any Embassy or Consulate or of a foreign Government which suggests connection with local authorities such as Municipal, Panchayat, Zila Parishad or any other body connected with the Union or State Government; ( viii ) the proposed name is vague like D.I.M.O. Limited liability partnership or I.V.N.R. Limited liability partnership or S.S.R.P. Limited liability partnership; ( ix ) it is different from the name or names of the existing limited liability partnership only to the extent of having the name of a place within brackets before the word limited liability partnership , for example, Indian Press (Delhi) LLP should not be allowed in view of the existence of the LLP named Indian Press LLP; ( x ) it includes name of registered Trade mark, unless the consent of the owner of the trade mark has been produced; ( xi ) the proposed name is identical with or too nearly resembles the name of a firm or LLP or company incorporated outside India and reserved by such firm, LLP or company with the Registrar in accordance with these rules; ( xii ) it is identical with or too nearly resembles the name of the limited liability partnership or a company in liquidation or it is identical with or too nearly resembles names of the LLP or a company which is struck off, up to the period of 5 years; ( xiii ) it includes words like Bank , Insurance and Banking , Venture capital or mutual fund or such similar names without the approval of the regulatory authority; ( xiv ) it is intended or likely to produce a misleading impression regarding the scope or scale of its activities which would be beyond the resources at its disposal; ( xv ) the proposed name includes words like French, British, German etc., unless the partners satisfy that there is some form of collaboration and connection with the foreigners of that particular country or place, the name of which is incorporated in the name; ( xvi ) the proposed name of limited liability partnership includes the words company secretary, chartered accountant, advocates or such similar words as indicative of a profession, as part of the proposed name, the same shall be allowed only after obtaining approval from the Council governing such profession or such authority as may be nominated by the Central Government, in this behalf. (3) A foreign LLP or a foreign company may on payment of fee as mentioned in Annexure A , apply in Form 25 to the Registrar for reserving its existing name by which it is registered in the country of its regulation or incorporation: Provided that such reservation shall be valid for three years but may be renewed on a fresh application along with payment of fee as provided in Annexure A . (4) An application for reservation of name with which the proposed limited liability partnership is to be registered or for change of name, as the case may be, shall be made to the Registrar having jurisdiction where the registered office of the limited liability partnership is to be situate. (5) Every such application shall be in Form 1 and be accompanied by fee as mentioned in Annexure A and the Registrar shall inform to the applicant for reservation or non-reservation of the changed name or the name with which the proposed LLP is to be registered ordinarily within seven days of the receipt of application. (6) Where the Registrar informs applicant about reservation of name with which the LLP is to be registered or changed name, as the case may be, such name shall be available for reservation for a period of three months from the date of intimation by the Registrar. 19. (1) A limited liability partnership or a body corporate or any other entity which already has a name which is similar to or which too nearly resembles the name of a limited liability partnership incorporated subsequently, may apply to the Registrar in Form 23 to give a direction to that limited liability partnership incorporated subsequently to change its name. (2) The application under sub-rule (1) shall state- ( i ) the LLPIN of limited liability partnership, or the CIN of the company or the registration number of the other entity as the case may be; ( ii ) the name with which the limited liability partnership or the company or any other entity was incorporated or registered; ( iii ) the grounds of objection to the name of the limited liability partnership incorporated subsequently. (3) The application shall be verified by the person making it. (4) The person making the application shall attach- ( a ) the authority under which he is making such an application; ( b ) a copy of the incorporation certificate of the limited liability partnership or the company or the registration certificate of the entity, as the case may be, (5) The application shall be accompanied by a fee as mentioned in Annexure A . 20. (1) The limited liability partnership may change its name by following the procedure as laid down in the limited liability partnership agreement. Where the limited liability partnership agreement does not provide such procedure, consent of all partners shall be required for changing the name of the limited liability partnership. (2) Notice of change of name shall be given to the Registrar in Form 5 , within 30 days of complying with requirement of sub-rule (1), along with a fee as mentioned in Annexure A . (3) The Registrar on being satisfied that the changed name is the one as reserved by him shall issue a fresh certificate of incorporation in the new name and the changed name shall be effective from the date of such certificate. CHAPTER V Partners and their relations 21. (1) For the purposes of sub-section (2) of section 23, every limited liability partnership shall file information with regard to the limited liability partnership agreement in Form 3 with the Registrar within thirty days of the date of incorporation along with the fee as provided in Annexure A : Provided that any change made in the limited liability partnership agreement shall be filed in Form 3 within thirty days of such change along with the fee as provided in Annexure A . (2) For the purposes of sub-section (3) of section 23, every limited liability partnership shall file information with regard to the limited liability partnership agreement referred to in such sub-section, in Form 3 with the Registrar within thirty days of the ratification by all the partners along with the fee as provided in Annexure A . 22. (1) For the purposes of sub-section (1) of section 25, every partner shall intimate change in his name or address to the limited liability partnership in Form 6. (2) For the purposes of sub-section (2) of section 25, where a person becomes or ceases to be a partner or where there is any change in the name or address of a partner, the limited liability partnership shall file with the Registrar, a notice in Form 4 . (3) For the purposes of sub-section (3) of section 25, in respect of notice of a person becoming a partner, the Form 4 shall include a statement signed by the incoming partner that he consents to become a partner. (4) The form shall be accompanied by a certificate from a Chartered Accountant in practice or Cost Accountant in practice or a Company Secretary in practice that he has verified the particulars from the books and records of the limited liability partnership and found them to be true and correct. (5) The fees to be paid to the Registrar in pursuance of sub-section (3) of section 25 shall be as mentioned in Annexure A . CHAPTER VI Form of Contribution 23. (1) The contribution of each partner shall be accounted for and disclosed in the Accounts of the LLP along with nature of contribution and amount. (2) The contribution of a partner consisting of tangible, movable or immovable or intangible property or other benefits brought or contribution by way of an agreement or contract for services shall be valued by a practising Chartered Accountant or by a practising Cost Accountant or by approved valuer from the panel maintained by the Central Government. CHAPTER VII Financial Disclosures 24. (1) Every limited liability partnership shall keep books of account which are sufficient to show and explain the limited liability partnership s transactions and are such as to- ( a ) disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the limited liability partnership at that time; and ( b ) enable the designated partners to ensure that any Statement of Account and Solvency prepared under this rule complies with the requirements of the Act. (2) The books of account shall contain- ( a ) particulars of all sums of money received and expended by the limited liability partnership and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place; ( b ) a record of the assets and liabilities of the limited liability partnership; ( c ) statements of cost of goods purchased, inventories, work-in-progress, finished goods and cost of goods sold; and ( d ) any other particulars which the partners may decide. (3) The books of account which a limited liability partnership is required to keep shall be preserved for eight years from the date on which they are made. (4) For the purposes of sub-section (3) of section 34, every limited liability partnership shall file the Statement of Account and Solvency in Form 8 with the Registrar, within a period of thirty days from the end of six months of the financial year to which the Statement of Account and Solvency relates. (5) The fees to be paid to the Registrar in pursuance of sub-section (3) of section 34 for filing the Statement of Account and Solvency shall be as mentioned in Annexure A . (6) A limited liability partnership s Statement of Account and Solvency shall be signed on behalf of the limited liability partnership by its designated partners. (7) The Statement of Account and Solvency of a limited liability partnership shall be signed by the designated partners of the LLP and each designated partner shall be taken to be a party to its approval unless he shows that he took all reasonable steps to prevent their being approved and signed. (8) The accounts of every limited liability partnership shall be audited in accordance with these rules: Provided that a limited liability partnership whose turnover does not exceed, in any financial year, forty lakh rupees, or whose contribution does not exceed twenty-five lakh rupees shall not be required to get its accounts audited: Provided further that if partners of such limited liability partnership decide to get the accounts of such LLP audited, the accounts shall be audited in accordance with these rules: Provided also that where the partners of such LLP do not decide for audit of the accounts of the LLP, such LLP shall include in the Statement of Account and Solvency a statement by the partners to the effect that the partners acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act and the Rules with respect to preparation of books of account and a certificate in the form specified in Form 8 . (9) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as an auditor of a limited liability partnership unless he is a Chartered Accountant in practice. (10) An auditor or auditors of a limited liability partnership shall be appointed for each financial year of the LLP for auditing its accounts. (11) The designated partners may appoint an auditor or auditors- ( a ) at any time for the first financial year but before the end of the first financial year, ( b ) at least 30 days prior to the end of each financial year (other than the first financial year), ( c ) to fill a casual vacancy in the office of auditor, including in the case when the turnover or contribution of a limited liability partnership exceeds the limits specified under sub-rule (8), or ( d ) to fill up the vacancy caused by removal of an auditor. (12) The partners may appoint an auditor or auditors where the designated partners have power to appoint under sub-rule (11) and have failed to appoint. (13) An auditor or auditors of an LLP shall hold office in accordance with the terms of his or their appointment and shall continue to hold such office till the period - ( a ) the new auditors are appointed, or ( b ) they are re-appointed. (14) Where no auditor has been appointed under sub-rule (11), any auditor in office shall be deemed to be re-appointed, unless - ( a ) the limited liability partnership agreement requires actual re-appointment, or ( b ) the majority of partners have determined that he should not be re-appointed and have given a notice to this effect to the LLP. (15) Provisions of sub-rule (14) shall be applicable without prejudice to the provisions of the rules relating to removal and resignation of auditors under this chapter. (16) A notice specified under clause ( b ) of sub-rule (14) - ( a ) may be in hard copy or electronic form, and ( b ) must be authenticated by the person or persons giving it. (17) The remuneration of an auditor appointed by the limited liability partnership may be fixed by the designated partners or by following the procedure as laid down in the limited liability partnership agreement. (18) ( a ) The partners of a limited liability partnership may remove an auditor from office at any time by following the procedure as laid down in the limited liability partnership agreement. ( b ) Where the limited liability partnership agreement does not provide for removal of an auditor, consent of all the partners shall be required for removal of the auditor from his office. (19) ( a ) An auditor of an LLP may resign his office by depositing a notice in writing to that effect at the LLP s registered office. ( b ) Where an auditor is unwilling to be re-appointed, he shall give a notice in writing to that effect at the LLP s registered office, not less than 14 days before the end of the time allowed for appointing the new auditor. ( c ) The notice under clause ( a ) or ( b ) is not effective unless it is accompanied by the statement of the circumstances connected with his ceasing to hold office. ( d ) The auditor s term comes to an end as on the date on which the notice is deposited or on such later date as may be specified in the notice. 25. (1) For the purposes of sub-section (1) of section 35, every limited liability partnership shall file an annual return with the Registrar in Form 11 . (2) The annual return of an LLP having turnover upto five crore rupees during the corresponding financial year or contribution upto fifty lakh rupees shall be accompanied with a certificate from a designated partner, other than the signatory to the annual return, to the effect that annual return contains true and correct information. In all other cases, the annual return shall be accompanied with a certificate from a Company Secretary in practice to the effect that he has verified the particulars from the books and records of the limited liability partnership and found them to be true and correct. (3) The fees to be paid to the Registrar in pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 35 for filing the annual return shall be as mentioned in Annexure A . 26. The documents to be kept by the Registrar under section 36 shall be available in the registry on payment of fee as mentioned in Annexure A for inspection by any person and for obtaining any certified copy thereof. CHAPTER VIII DESTRUCTION OF OLD RECORDS 27. (1) The Registrar shall preserve the documents permanently as specified in Annexure B to these rules. (2) Subject to previous order of the Registrar, the records in the office of Registrar may be destroyed after the expiry of the period of their preservation as specified below:- ( a ) Records to be preserved for 21 years: All papers, registers, refund orders and correspondence relating to the limited liability partnership liquidation accounts. ( b ) Records to be preserved for 5 years: ( i ) copies of Government orders relating to limited liability partnership; ( ii ) registered documents of limited liability partnership which have been fully wound up and finally dissolved together with correspondence relating to such limited liability partnership; ( iii ) papers relating to legal proceedings from the date of disposal of the case and appeal, if any; ( iv ) copies of statistical returns furnished to Government; ( v ) all correspondences including correspondences relating to scrutiny of accounts, annual returns, prosecutions, reports to the Central Government and the Tribunal and the correspondences relating to complaints: Provided that in case of prosecution matter, the date is to be recorded from the date of disposal of the case and appeal, if any. ( c ) Records to be preserved for three years- ( i ) All books, records and papers, other than those specified in sub-rule (1), clauses ( a ) and ( b ) of sub-rule (2), sub-rule (3) and sub-rule (4). ( ii ) Routine correspondence regarding payment of fees, additional filing fees and correspondence about the return of documents. (3) The registered documents specified in Annexure C to these rules relating to any limited liability partnership in operation shall be preserved for the period indicated against them in the said Annexure. (4) Registered documents of foreign limited liability partnerships which cease to have any place of business in India shall be destroyed after expiry of three years from the date such limited liability partnerships cease to have any place of business in India. (5) The Registrar shall maintain a Register of destroyed documents in two parts, in the form set out in the Annexure D to these rules, wherein he shall enter brief particulars of the records destroyed and shall certify therein the date and mode of destruction. (6) The provisions of these rules shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the rules for the destruction of office records connected with accounts (containing in Appendix 13 to the Compilation of the General Financial Rules) and the period prescribed under Record Retention Schedule for Records common to all departments and such other rules. CHAPTER IX INVESTIGATIONS 28. For the purposes of clause ( a ) of sub-section (3) of section 43, an application by the partners to investigate into the affairs of the limited liability partnership, shall be made, along with such security, for an amount calculated on the following scale but not exceeding twenty five lakh rupees, for payment of costs of the investigation: Turnover (Rs.) Amount of Security [as stated in the Statement of Account of Solvency for the immediately preceding financial year] ( i ) Upto 1 crore 2 lakh ( ii ) 1 crore or more but less than 5 crore 5 lakh ( iii ) 5 crore or more but less than 10 crore 10 lakh ( iv ) 10 crore or more 25 lakh Explanation. -In the absence of Statement of Account and Solvency for the preceding financial year, such amount of security as may be fixed by the Central Government. 29. For the purposes of section 44, an application by the partners under clause ( a ) of sub-section (1) of section 43 to investigate the affairs of the limited liability partnership, shall be made along with the deposit of such security as calculated in the manner specified in rule 28. 30. The fee payable for furnishing a copy of the Inspector s report in pursuance of clause ( b ), sub-section (2), section 49 shall be five rupees per page or fractional part thereof. 31. For the purposes of section 54, a copy of the report of any inspector or inspectors, shall be authenticated either ( a ) by the common seal, if any, of the limited liability partnership whose affairs have been investigated into; or ( b ) by a certificate of a public officer having the custody of the report, under and in accordance with the provisions of section 76 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872). CHAPTER X CONVERSION TO LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP 32. (1) The Registrar shall, on conversion of a firm, private company or an unlisted public company into limited liability partnership, issue a Certificate of Registration under his seal in Form 19 . (2) In the event, Registrar has refused the registration, the applicant firm or private company or unlisted public company, as the case may be, may apply to the Tribunal within sixty days from the date of receipt of such intimation of refusal. 33. For the purposes of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 58, where the firm, private company or unlisted public company has been converted into limited liability partnership, an intimation of such conversion to the concerned Registrar of firms or Registrar of Companies, as the case may be, shall be given in Form 14 within fifteen days of the date of registration of the LLP. CHAPTER XI FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP 34. (1) A foreign limited liability partnership shall, within thirty days of establishing a place of business in India, file with the Registrar in Form 27 - ( a ) a copy of the certificate of incorporation or registration and other instrument(s) constituting or defining the constitution of the limited liability partnership; ( b ) the full address of the registered or principal office of the limited liability partnership in the country of its incorporation; ( c ) the full address of the office of the limited liability partnership in India which is to be deemed as its principal place of business in India; and ( d ) list of partners and designated partners, if any, and the names and addresses of two or more persons resident in India, authorized to accept on behalf of the limited liability partnership, service of process and any notices or other documents required to be served on the limited liability partnership. (2) ( i ) If the limited liability partnership is incorporated in any country which is a part of the Commonwealth, the copies of the documents referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be certified as true copies- ( a ) by an official of the Government to whose custody the original is committed; or ( b ) by a Notary (Public) in that Part of the Commonwealth; or ( c ) by an officer of the limited liability partnership, on oath before a person having authority to administer an oath in that part of the Commonwealth. ( ii ) If the Limited Liability Partnership is incorporated in a country that falls outside the Commonwealth but is a party to the Hague Apostile Convention, 1961 - ( a ) the copies of the documents referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be certified by an official of the Government to whose custody the original is committed and be duly apostillised in accordance with Hague Convention; ( b ) a list of the partners and designated partners of the LLP, if any, the name and address of persons resident in India, authorized to accept notice on behalf of the Limited Liability Partnership shall be duly notarized and be apostillised in the country of their origin in accordance with Hague Convention. ( iii ) If the limited liability partnership is incorporated in a country outside the Commonwealth and is not a party to the Hague Convention, the copy of the incorporation documents referred in sub-rule (1) shall be certified- ( a ) by an official of the Government to whose custody the original is committed; or ( b ) a Notary (Public) of such country ; or ( c ) by an officer of the limited liability partnership. ( iv ) The signature or seal of the official referred to in sub-clause ( a ) of clause ( iii ) or the certificate of the Notary (Public) referred to in sub- clause ( b ) of that clause shall be authenticated by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer empowered in this behalf under section 3 of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1948 (XL of 1948), or where there is no such officer, by any of the officials mentioned in section 6 of the Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1889 (52 and 53 Vic. C. 10), or in any Act amending the same. ( v ) The certificate of the officer of the limited liability partnership referred to in sub-clause ( c ) of clause ( iii ) shall be signed before a person having authority to administer an oath as provided under section 3 of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1948 (XL of 1948), or as the case may be, by section 3 of the Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1889 (52 and 53 Vic. C. 10) the status of the person administering the oath in the latter case being authenticated by any official specified in section 6 of the Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1889 (52 and 53 Vic. C. 10) or in any Act amending the same. (3) ( i ) If any alteration is made or occurs in- ( a ) the instrument constituting or defining the constitution of a limited liability partnership incorporated or registered outside India; ( b ) the registered or principal office of a limited liability partnership incorporated or registered outside India; or ( c ) the partner or designated partner, if any, of a limited liability partnership incorporated or registered outside India, the foreign limited liability partnership shall file in Form 28 such alterations with the Registrar within sixty days of the close of the financial year. ( ii ) If any alteration is made or occurs in - ( a ) the certificate of incorporation or registration of limited liability partnership incorporated or registered outside India; ( b ) the name or address of any of the persons authorized to accept service on behalf of a foreign limited liability partnership in India; or ( c ) the principal place of business of foreign limited liability partnership in India, the foreign limited liability partnership shall file in Form 29 such alterations with the Registrar within thirty days from the date on which the alteration was made or occurred. (4) Every foreign limited liability partnership shall file with the Registrar the Statement of Account and Solvency in Form 8 in accordance with provisions of rule 24 duly signed by the authorized representatives within a period of 30 days from the end of six months of the financial year. (5) ( i ) If any document as is mentioned in sub-rule (1) or (3) is not in the English language, there shall be annexed to it a certified translation thereof. ( ii ) The translation of documents into English required to be filed with the Registrar in pursuance of sub-rule (1) or (3) shall be certified to be correct in the manner as provided in clause ( iii ) or clause ( iv ) of this sub-rule, as the case may be. ( iii ) Where any translation is made outside India, it shall be authenticated in the manner specified in sub-rule (2). ( iv ) Where such translation is made within India, it shall be authenticated- ( a ) by an Advocate, Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary or Cost Accountant; or ( b ) by an affidavit of a person who, in the opinion of the Registrar has adequate knowledge of the language of the original and of English. (6) Every foreign limited liability partnership shall cause the name of the foreign limited liability partnership and of the country in which the limited liability partnership is incorporated, to be stated in legible English characters in all invoices, official correspondence and publications of the limited liability partnership. (7) ( a ) where any such limited liability partnership makes default in delivering to the Registrar the names and addresses of persons resident in India who are authorized to accept on behalf of the limited liability partnership service of process, notices or other documents; or ( b ) if at any time all the persons whose names and addresses have been so delivered are dead or have ceased so to reside, or refuse to accept service on behalf of the limited liability partnership or for any reason, cannot be served; a document may be served on the limited liability partnership by leaving it at, or sending it by post to, any place of business established by the limited liability partnership in India. (8) If any foreign limited liability partnership ceases to have a place of business in India, it shall give notice to the Registrar in Form 29 within 30 days of its intention to close the place of business and as from the date on which notice is so given, the obligation of the limited liability partnership to file any document to the Registrar shall cease, provided it has no other place of business in India and it has filed all the documents due for filing as on the date of the notice. (9) Every document which is required to be filed by any foreign limited liability partnership shall be filed in the electronic form to the Registrar having jurisdiction over New Delhi, through the portal maintained by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on its website www.mca.gov.in. (10) The Registrar shall, on registration of Form 27 , issue a certificate for establishment of place of business in India by the foreign limited liability partnership in Form 30 . (11) There shall be paid to Registrar for filing or delivery or registering any form or document required by this Chapter the fee as mentioned in Annexure A . CHAPTER XII COMPROMISE, ARRANGEMENT OR RECONSTRUCTION OF LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIPS 35 . (1) An application under sub-section (1) of section 60 for an order convening a meeting of creditors or partners or creditors and partners shall be supported by an affidavit. A copy of the proposed compromise or arrangement shall be annexed to the affidavit as an exhibit thereto. The affidavit in support thereof shall be in Form 20 . (2) Where the limited liability partnership is not the applicant, a copy of the summons and of the affidavit shall be served on the limited liability partnership, or, where the limited liability partnership is being wound-up, on its liquidator, not less than 14 days before the date fixed for the hearing of the summons. The summons shall be in Form 21 . (3)( a ) Upon the hearing of the summons or any adjourned hearing thereof, the Tribunal shall, by order, unless it thinks fit for any reason to dismiss the summons, give such directions as it may think necessary in respect of the following matters: ( i ) determining the creditors and/or of partners whose meeting or meetings have to be held for considering the proposed compromise or arrangement; ( ii ) fixing the time and place of such meeting or meetings; ( iii ) appointing a chairman for the meeting or chairmen for the meetings to be held; ( iv ) fixing the quorum and the procedure to be followed at the meeting or meetings, including voting by proxy; ( v ) determining the values of the creditors and/or the partners, as the case may be, whose meetings have to be held; ( vi ) notice to be given of the meeting or meetings and the advertisement, if any, of such notice; ( vii ) the time within which the chairman of the meeting is to report to the Tribunal the result of the meeting; and ( viii ) such other matters as the Tribunal may deem necessary. ( b ) The order made under clause ( a ) shall be in accordance with the rules as may be laid down in this behalf. (4) ( i ) Voting by proxy shall be permitted, provided a proxy in Form 26 duly signed by the person entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is filed with the limited liability partnership at its registered office not later than 48 hours before the meeting. ( ii ) Where a body corporate which is a partner or creditor of a limited liability partnership, authorizes any person to act as its representative at the meeting of the partners or creditors of the limited liability partnership, as the case may be, a copy of the authorization of such person to act as its representative at the meeting, and certified to be a true copy by a designated partner or other authorised officer of such body corporate, shall be lodged with the limited liability partnership at its registered office not later than 48 hours before the meeting. (5) The notice of the meeting to be given to the creditors and/or partners, shall be in accordance with the rule laid down in this behalf, and shall be sent to them individually by the chairman appointed for the meeting, or, if the Tribunal so directs, by the limited liability partnership (or its Liquidator), or any other person as the Tribunal may direct, by post under certificate of posting to their last known address not less than 21 clear days before the date fixed for the meeting. It shall be accompanied by a copy of the proposed compromise or arrangement along with statement showing material interest of the designated partners, if any, and a form of proxy. (6) The notice of the meeting shall be advertised, if so decided by the Tribunal, in such newspapers and in such manner as the Tribunal may direct. (7) Every creditor or partner entitled to attend the meeting shall be furnished by the limited liability partnership, free of charge and within 48 hours of a requisition made for the same, with a copy of the proposed compromise or arrangement. (8) The chairman appointed for the meeting or the limited liability partnership or other person directed to issue the advertisement and the notices of the meeting shall file an affidavit not less than 7 days before the date fixed for the holding of the meeting or the holding of the first of the meetings, as the case may be, showing that the directions regarding the issue of notices and the advertisement have been duly complied with. In default thereof, the summons shall be posted before the Tribunal for such orders as it may think fit to make. (9) The chairman of the meeting, or where there are separate meetings, the chairman of each meeting shall, within the time fixed by the Tribunal, or where no time has been fixed, within seven days after the conclusion of the meeting, report the result thereof to the Tribunal. The report shall state accurately the number of creditors or the partners, as the case may be, who were present and who voted at the meeting either in person or by proxy, their individual values and the way they voted. (10) ( i ) Where the proposed compromise or arrangement is agreed to, with or without modification, as provided in sub-section (2) of section 60, the limited liability partnership, or its Liquidator, as the case may be, shall, within seven days of the filing of the report by the chairman, present a petition to the Tribunal for confirmation of the compromise or arrangement: Provided that where a compromise or arrangement is proposed for the purposes of, or in connection with, a scheme for the reconstruction of any limited liability partnership or the amalgamation of any two or more limited liability partnerships, the petitioner shall pray for appropriate orders and directions under section 62. ( ii ) Where the limited liability partnership fails to present the petition under clause ( i ) for confirmation of the compromise or arrangement as aforesaid, it shall be open to any creditor or partner as the case may be, with the leave of the Tribunal, to present the petition for confirmation and the limited liability partnership shall be liable for the costs thereof. ( iii ) Where no petition for confirmation of the compromise or arrangement is presented to, or where the compromise or arrangement has not been approved by the requisite majority under sub-section (2) of section 60 and consequently no petition for confirmation could be presented, the report of the chairman as to the result of the meeting made under sub-rule (9) shall be placed for consideration before the Tribunal for such orders as may be necessary. (11) An order made by the Tribunal as mentioned in sub-section (3) of section 60 and sub-section (3) of section 62 shall be filed with Registrar concerned in Form 22 along with fee as mentioned in Annexure A . Explanation.- In computing the period of 30 days from the date of order, the requisite time for obtaining a certified copy of order shall be excluded. (12) ( i ) An arrangement for revival and rehabilitation of any LLP may be proposed,- ( a ) where on a demand by the creditors of the LLP representing fifty per cent or more of its outstanding amount of debt the LLP has failed to pay the debt, within thirty days of the service of the notice of demand or to secure or compound it to the reasonable satisfaction of the creditors; or ( b ) where a petition for winding up of a LLP is pending before the Tribunal, in terms of the directions given by the Tribunal on the winding up petition; or ( c ) where the liquidator has filed his report before the Tribunal, in terms of directions given by the Tribunal on the report of the Liquidator. ( ii ) Without prejudice to clause ( i ), the LLP or any creditor or partner of the LLP, or in the case of a LLP which is being wound up, the Liquidator, may make an application for sanction of the arrangement for revival and rehabilitation before the Tribunal. (13) ( i ) An application under sub-rule (12) shall be accompanied by- ( a ) a statement of account and solvency of LLP for the immediately preceding financial year, in case the application under sub-rule (12) is made by the LLP; ( b ) particulars and documents relevant to the scheme including commitments whether financial or otherwise expected from various parties or, proposed restructuring or rescheduling of the debts, or any undertaking or understanding, in case from bank or financial institution through a letter or in any other case through an affidavit of concerned party or parties, or in any other form as may be directed by the Tribunal; and ( c ) proposed scheme of revival and rehabilitation of the LLP including proposal for appointment of an LLP Administrator. ( ii ) An application under sub-rule (12) shall be made to the Tribunal within 90 days from the date of expiry of demand notice or from the date of the direction of the Tribunal referred to under clause ( i ) of sub-rule 12. (14) ( a ) Within 60 days of receipt of an application under sub-rule (12), the Tribunal may hear all the parties concerned and admit or dismiss the application; ( b ) where the Tribunal admits the application, it may make an order to that effect and make provisions in such order, for all or any of the following matters:- ( i ) holding of meetings of the creditors for approval of scheme proposed for revival and rehabilitation of LLP; ( ii ) procedure to be followed by the LLP Administrator proposed in the scheme in connection with holding of the meeting including the appointment of chairman for such meeting; ( iii ) any other direction(s) or order(s) as may be considered necessary. ( c ) The LLP Administrator proposed in the scheme shall submit his preliminary report including the decision of the meeting to the Tribunal within 60 days of order made under clause ( b ) of sub-rule 14. (15) ( i ) On consideration of the report of the LLP Administrator under clause ( c ) of sub-rule (14), and other materials available, if the Tribunal is satisfied that the creditors representing three-fourths in value of the amount outstanding against that LLP have, with or without modification of the scheme, resolved that it is not possible to revive and rehabilitate the LLP, the Tribunal may, within 60 days of the receipt of such report, order- ( a ) that the proceedings for the winding up of the LLP be initiated; or ( b ) the LLP be wound up, or the liquidator to continue; or ( c ) sanction the arrangement for revival and rehabilitation of LLP as approved by such creditors with such modifications as may be considered necessary by the Tribunal, and make orders for continuation of the LLP Administrator or appointment of a new LLP Administrator : Provided that Tribunal may consider for its approval, the arrangement for revival and rehabilitation including the proposal for appointment of any other LLP Administrator moved by the LLP in the meeting of the creditors, in place of the arrangement proposed by the creditors or the Liquidator, provided the arrangement is approved by three-fourth majority, in value, of creditors. Provided further that where the arrangement of revival and rehabilitation relates to amalgamation of the LLP with any other LLP, no such scheme shall be sanctioned by the Tribunal unless the said scheme is approved with, or without modification by three-fourth majority of respective partners of transferor and transferee LLPs. ( ii ) The order of sanction of the arrangement by the Tribunal under clause ( i ) may make provisions, for all or any of the following matters:- ( a ) powers and functions of the LLP Administrator; ( b ) the time period within which various actions proposed in the arrangement to be completed; ( c ) any such direction to the LLP or its officers or to the creditors, or to the LLP Administrator or to any other person, as may be considered necessary, for the purpose of implementation of the arrangement of revival and rehabilitation; and ( d ) any other order or orders as may be considered necessary. (16) The LLP Administrator shall complete all the actions relating to implementation of the revival and rehabilitation arrangement and submit his final report before the Tribunal within such time directed by the Tribunal but not exceeding 180 days of the order under clause ( i ) of sub-rule (15); (17) ( i ) The LLP administrator shall be appointed from a panel maintained by the Central Government for winding up and dissolution of LLPs. ( ii ) The terms and conditions of the appointment including fee of LLP Administrator shall be such as may be ordered by the Tribunal. ( iii ) The Tribunal may, on a reasonable cause being shown and for reasons to be recorded in writing, remove the LLP Administrator and may appoint another LLP Administrator. ( iv ) In case of removal, death or incapacity of the LLP Administrator, the Tribunal may appoint another LLP Administrator. ( v ) The LLP administrator shall, within 30 days of the making of order or orders under sub-rule (15) cause certified copy thereof to be filed with the Registrar concerned in Form 22 along with fee as mentioned in Annexure A . Explanation.- In computing the period of 30 days from the date of order, the requisite time for obtaining a certified copy of order shall be excluded. CHAPTER XIII ELECTRONIC FILING OF DOCUMENTS 36. (1) ( i ) Every form or application or document or declaration required to be filed or delivered under the Act and rules made thereunder, shall be filed in computer readable electronic form, in portable document format (pdf) to the Registrar through the portal maintained by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on its website www.mca.gov.in or through any other website approved by the Central Government and authenticated by a partner or designated partner of the limited liability partnership for such purpose by the use of a valid digital signature: Provided that where documents are required to be filed on Non-Judicial Stamp Paper, the LLP shall submit such documents in the physical form, in addition to their submission in electronic form, unless the Central Government, by an order, does not require submission in physical form. ( ii ) Every designated partner, partner or person specified in the Act for authentication of e-form, documents or application etc., which are required to be filed or delivered under the Act or rules made thereunder, shall obtain a digital signature certificate from the Certifying Authority for the purpose of such authentication and such certificate shall not be valid unless it is of class II or Class III specification under the Information Technology Act, 2000. (2) The Central Government shall set up and maintain- ( i ) a website or portal to provide access to the electronic registry; and ( ii ) as many Registrar s Front Offices as may be necessary and at such places and for such time as Central Government may determine from time to time. for filing of e-Forms, documents and applications, etc., viewing and inspection of documents in the electronic registry. (3) ( i ) The Central Government shall set up and maintain a secure electronic registry in which all the documents filed electronically shall be stored. The electronic registry so set up shall enable public access and inspection of such documents as are required to be in the public domain under the Act on payment of the fees as mentioned in Annexure A . ( ii ) Every document or application or certificate or notice etc., required to be signed by the Registrar or an officer of the Central Government under the Act or rules made thereunder, shall be authenticated through a valid digital signature of such person or a system generated digital signature. ( iii ) The Registrar or an officer of the Central Government, as the case may be, may send any communication either to the Limited Liability Partnership or its authorized representative, partners or both in the electronic manner for which the LLP shall create and maintain at all times a valid electronic address ( e.g. E-mail, user Identification etc.) capable of receiving and acknowledging the receipt of such communication, automated or otherwise. (4) The Registrar or an officer of the Central Government shall issue certificate, receipt, approval or communicate endorsement or acknowledgement in the electronic manner: Provided that where the Registrar or an officer of the Central Government, as the case may be, is not able to issue any certificate, receipt, endorsement, acknowledgement or approval in electronic manner for the reasons to be recorded in writing, he may issue such certificate, receipt, or communicate endorsement, acknowledgement or approval in the physical form under manual signature affixing seal of his office. (5) The Registrar shall examine or cause to be examined every application or e-Form or document required or authorized to be filed by or delivered under the Act and rules made thereunder for approval, registration, taking on record or rectification by the Registrar as the case may be: Provided that the e-Forms or documents identified as informatory in nature and filed under Straight Through Process (STP) may be examined by the Registrar any time after its filing. (6) Where the Registrar, on examining any application or e-Form or document referred to in sub-rule (5), finds it necessary to call further information or finds such application or e-Form or document to be defective or incomplete in any respect, he shall give intimation of such information called for or defects or incompleteness noticed electronically, by placing it on the website and also by e-mail on the last intimated e-mail address of the person or the limited liability partnership, which has filed such application or e-Form or document, directing him or it to furnish such information or to rectify such defects or incompleteness or to re-submit such application or e-Form or document within the period allowed under sub-rule (7): Provided that in case the e-mail address of the person or the Limited Liability Partnership in question is not available, such intimation shall be given by the Registrar by post at the last intimated address given in Form 12 , or registered office address of the Limited Liability Partnership or the address of such person, as the case may be. The Registrar shall preserve the facts of such intimation in the electronic record. (7) The Registrar shall allow such period or periods but not exceeding thirty days in aggregate to such person or LLP which has filed such application or e-Form or document under sub-rule (5) for furnishing further information or for rectification of the defects or incompleteness or for re-submission of such application or e-Form or document. (8) In case where such further information called for has not been provided or has been furnished partially or has not been provided or defects or incompleteness has not been rectified or has been rectified partially or has not been rectified to the satisfaction of the Registrar within the period allowed under sub-rule (7), the Registrar shall either reject or treat and label such application or e-Form or document as the case may be as invalid in the electronic record, and shall not take on record such invalid application or e-Form or document and shall inform such person or limited liability partnership as the case may be in the manner specified in sub-rule (6). (9) Where any document has been recorded as invalid by the Registrar, such document may be rectified by the limited liability partnership only through fresh filing with payment of fee and additional fee as applicable, without prejudice to any other liability under the Act. (10) Save as otherwise provided in the Act, the Registrar shall not keep any document pending for approval and registration or for taking on record or for rejection or otherwise for more than one hundred twenty days, from the date of its filing. (11) The Registrar in case finds any e-Form or document filed under Straight Through Process (STP), referred to in proviso under sub-rule (5), as defective or incomplete in any respect, at any time, he shall treat and label such e-Form or document as defective in the electronic registry and shall also issue a notice pointing out such defects or incompleteness in such e-Form or document at the last intimated e-mail address (if available) of the person or the LLP which has filed the document and also in writing by post at the address of such person or address of such LLP or registered office address of LLP, calling upon such person or LLP to file such e-Form or document afresh with fee and additional fee as applicable, after rectifying such defects or incompleteness within a period of thirty days from the date of such notice. CHAPTER XIV STRIKING OFF NAME OF DEFUNCT LLP 37. (1) Where a limited liability partnership is not carrying on any business or operation- ( a ) for a period of two years or more and the Registrar has reasonable cause to believe the same, for the purpose of taking suo motu action for striking off the name of the LLP; or ( b ) for a period of one year or more and has made an application in Form 24 to the Registrar, with the consent of all partners of the limited liability partnership for striking off its name from the register, the Registrar shall send a notice to the limited liability partnership and all its partners, of his intention to strike off the name of the limited liability partnership from the register and requesting them to send their representations along with copies of the relevant documents, if any, within a period of one month from the date of the notice: Provided that no such notice by Registrar shall be required under clause ( b ): Provided further that where the limited liability partnership is regulated under a special law, the application for removal of its name shall be accompanied by approval of the regulatory body constituted or established under that law. (2) A notice issued under sub-rule (1) or contents of an application made by the LLP shall also be placed on the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for the information of the general public for a period of one month. (3) At the expiry of the time mentioned in the notice under sub-rule (1), or one month under sub-rule (2) above, the Registrar may, by an order, unless cause to the contrary is shown by the limited liability partnership, or the Registrar is satisfied that the name should not be struck off from the register, strike its name off the register, and shall publish notice thereof in the Official Gazette, and on the publication in the Official Gazette of this notice, the limited liability partnership shall stand dissolved. (4) The Registrar, before passing an order under sub-rule (3), shall, where he has sufficient cause to believe that the limited liability partnership has any asset or liability, satisfy himself that sufficient provision has been made for the realization of all amount due to the limited liability partnership and for the payment or discharge of its liabilities and obligations by the limited liability partnership within a reasonable time and, if necessary, obtain necessary undertakings from the designated partner or partner or other persons in charge of the management of the limited liability partnership: Provided that notwithstanding the undertakings referred to in this sub-rule, the assets of the limited liability partnership shall be made available for the payment or discharge of all its liabilities and obligations even after the date of the order removing the name of the limited liability partnership from the register. (5) The liability, if any, of every designated partner of the limited liability partnership dissolved under sub-rule (3), shall continue and may be enforced as if the limited liability partnership had not been dissolved. (6) Nothing in this rule shall affect the power of the Tribunal to wind up a limited liability partnership the name of which has been struck off the register. Explanation .-In computing the period of 30 days from the date of order, the requisite time for obtaining a certified copy of order shall be excluded. CHAPTER XV CONVERSION FROM FIRM TO LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP 38. (1) For the purposes of the Second Schedule, an application shall be made in the format provided in Part A of Form 17 together with the statement of partners in format provided in Part B of Form 17 along with the fee as mentioned in Annexure A . (2) The Registrar shall, on conversion of the firm into the limited liability partnership shall issue a certificate of registration under his seal in Form 19 . (3) For the purposes of para 5 of the Second Schedule, the limited liability partnership shall inform the concerned Registrar of firms about conversion of firm into limited liability partnership in Form 14 . CHAPTER XVI CONVERSION FROM PRIVATE COMPANY TO LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP 39. (1) For the purposes of the Third Schedule, an application shall be made in the format provided in Part A of Form 18 together with the statement of shareholders in format provided in Part B of Form 18 along with the fee as mentioned in Annexure A . (2) The Registrar shall, on conversion of any private company into limited liability partnership shall issue a certificate of registration under his seal in Form 19 . (3) For the purposes of para 4 of the Third Schedule, the limited liability partnership shall inform the concerned Registrar of Companies about conversion of private company into limited liability partnership in Form 14 . CHAPTER XVII CONVERSION FROM UNLISTED PUBLIC COMPANY TO LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP 40. (1) For the purposes of the Fourth Schedule, an application shall be made in the format provided in Part A of Form 18 together with the statement of shareholders in format provided in Part B of Form 18 along with the fee as mentioned in Annexure A . (2) The Registrar shall, on conversion of any unlisted public company into limited liability partnership shall issue a certificate of registration under his seal in Form 19 . (3) For the purposes of para 5 of the Fourth Schedule, the limited liability partnership shall inform the concerned Registrar of Companies about conversion of unlisted public company into limited liability partnership in Form 14 . Chapter xviiI Compounding of Offences 41. (1) Every application for the compounding of an offence shall be made in Form 31 to the Registrar who shall forward the same, together with his comments thereon, to the Central Government. (2) Where any offence is compounded before the institution of any prosecution, no prosecution shall be instituted in relation to such offence, against the offender in relation to whom the offence is so compounded. (3) Where the composition of any offence is made after the institution of any prosecution, such composition shall be brought by the Registrar in writing, to the notice of the Court in which the prosecution is pending. (4) Where any offence is compounded under section 39, whether before or after the institution of any prosecution, intimation thereof shall be given by the LLP to the Registrar in Form 22 within seven days from the date on which the offence is so compounded. (5) The Central Government while dealing with an application for the compounding of the offence for a default in compliance with any provision of the Act which requires a LLP or its partner or partners or designated partner or designated partners to file or register with, or send to, the Registrar any return, statement of account and solvency or other document, may, if it thinks fit to do so, direct, before allowing compounding under this rule, by order, any partner or designated partner of the LLP to file or register with, or on payment of the fee, and the additional fee, required to be paid under section 69, such return, statement of account and solvency or other document within such time as may be specified in the order. [F. No. 2/10/2008-CL-V] JITESH KHOSLA, Jt. Secy.