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TMI BlogMaster Circular on Compounding of Contraventions under FEMA, 1999.X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... rs 4 Process of Compounding 4 Scope and Manner of Compounding 6 Issue of the Compounding Order 7 Post-compounding Procedure 7 Pre-requisites of Compounding 8 Annex Foreign Exchange (Compounding Rules), 2000 Format of Application Appendix List of Rules/ A.P. (DIR Series) Circulars consolidated 1 General 1.1 If any person contravenes any provision of FEMA, 1999, or contravenes any rule, regulation, notification, direction or order issued in exercise of the powers under this Act, or contravenes any condition subject to which an authorization is issued by the Reserve Bank, he shall, upon adjudication, be liable to a penalty up to thrice the sum involved in such contravention where the amount is quantifiable or up to Rupees Two lakh, where the amount is not quantifiable and where the contravention is a continuing one, further penalty which may extend to Rupees Five thousand for every day after the first day during which the contravention continues (Section 13(1), Chapter IV of FEMA, 1999). In terms of rule 4 of the Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000, the powers to compound the contraventions have been prescribed for compounding authorities with r ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... (viz. paragraphs 9(1)(A), 9(1)(B) and 8, respectively, of the Schedule I to the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000, notified vide Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000 and as amended from time to time: a) Paragraphs 9 (1) (A) and 9 (1) (B) of Schedule I to FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 - Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Patna and Panaji for amount of contravention below Rupees One hundred lakh only (Rs. 1,00,00,000 /-). b) Paragraphs 9 (1) (A), 9 (1) (B) and 8 of Schedule I to FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi for amount of contravention without any limit. 4. Process of Compounding 4.1 An application for compounding of a contravention under FEMA, 1999 may be submitted to the Compounding Authority (CA) on being advised of a contravention under FEMA, 1999, either through a memorandum or suo moto on being made or on becoming aware of the contravention. The format of the application is appended to the Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000 (Annex-I). 4 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... vention is ascertained keeping in view, inter alia, the following indicative points : a. whether the contravention is technical and / or minor in nature and needs only an administrative cautionary advice; b. whether the contravention is serious in nature and warrants compounding of the contravention; and c. whether the contravention, prima facie, involves money-laundering, national and security concerns involving serious infringement of the regulatory framework. However, the Reserve Bank reserves the right to classify the contraventions as stated above and neither the contravener nor others have any right to classify any contravention as technical suo moto. 4.7 The disposal of the compounding application is made by issue of a Compounding Order specifying the provisions of FEMA,1999 or any rule, regulation, notification, direction or order issued in exercise of the powers under FEMA, 1999, in respect of which contravention has taken place. 4.8 The CA may call for any additional information, record or any other document relevant to the compounding proceedings. Such additional information/ documents are required to be submitted within the period as may be specified by the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... in person or make any submissions before the CA for personal hearing, the CA may proceed with the processing of the compounding application on the basis of information and documents available in the application for compounding. 6.2 The Compounding Authority will pass a compounding order on the basis of the averments made in the application as well as other documents and submissions made in this context by the contravener during the personal hearings, if any. 6.3 Where the compounding of any contravention is made after making of a complaint under sub-section (3) of section 16 of FEMA, 1999 as the case may be, one copy of the compounding order made under sub rule (2) of Rule 8 of Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000 will be provided to the applicant (the contravener) and also to the Adjudicating Authority. 7. Post-compounding procedure 7.1 The sum for which the contravention is compounded as specified in the order of compounding under sub-rule (2) of Rule 8 of Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000 is payable by way of a demand draft in favour of the "Reserve Bank of India" within fifteen days from the date of the order of compounding of suc ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... er FEMA, 1999 or to the authority instituted for implementation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002, (PMLA) or to any other agencies, for necessary action , as deemed fit. 8.4 The Reserve Bank generally advises the persons concerned of their choice and option to make an application for compounding as and when such contraventions come to its notice. The facts constituting such contraventions will be brought to the notice of the Directorate of Enforcement in case no application for compounding is made within the time indicated by the Reserve Bank. Annex-I Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000 Notification No. G.S.R.383(E) dated 3rd May 2000 As amended vide G.S.R.443(E) dated November 2, 2002 G.S.R. 609 (E) dated September 13, 2004 and G.S.R. 613 (E) dated August 27, 2008 In exercise of the powers conferred by section 46 read with sub-section (1) of section 15 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) the Central Government hereby makes the following rules relating to compounding contraventions under chapter IV of the said Act, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement - (1) These rules may be called the Foreign Exchange (C ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... poses of this rule, any second or subsequent contravention committed after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which the contravention was previously compounded shall be deemed to be a first contravention. (3) Every officer specified under sub-rule (1) of rule 4 of the Reserve Bank of India shall exercise the powers to compound any contravention subject to the direction, control and supervision of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. (4) Every application for compounding any contravention under this rule shall be made in Form to the Reserve Bank of India, Exchange Control Department, Central Office, Mumbai along with a fee of Rs. 5000/- by Demand Draft in favour of compounding authority. 5. The Power of Enforcement Directorate to compound contraventions - 2[(1) If any Person contravenes provisions of Section 3(a) of Foreign Exchange Management Act.] (a) in case where the sum involved in such contravention is five lakhs rupees or below, by the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Enforcement; (b) in case where the sum involved in such contravention is more than rupees five lakhs but less than rupees ten lakhs, by the Additional Director of the Di ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... call for any information, record or any other documents relevant to the compounding proceedings. (2) The Compounding Authority shall pass an order of compounding after affording an opportunity of being heard to all the concerned as expeditiously as possible as and not later than 180 days from the date of application. 9. Payment of amount compounded - 3The sum for which the contravention is compounded as specified in the order of compounding under sub-rule (2) of rule 8, shall be paid by demand draft in favour of the Compounding Authority within fifteen days from the date of the order of compounding of such contravention. 10. In case a person fails to pay the sum compounded in accordance with the rule 9 within the time specified in that rule, he shall be deemed to have never made an application for compounding of any contravention under these rules and the provisions of the Act for contravention shall apply to him. 11. No contravention shall be compounded if an appeal has been filed under section 17 or section 19 of the Act. 12. Contents of the order of the Compounding Authority - (1) Every order shall specify the provisions of the Act or of the rules, directions, req ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... h effect from Date of Board meeting Date of filing with ROC A= B+C Please give supporting documents Table A- Copies of FIRC with date stamp of receipt at RBI Table B- Copies of FCGPR with date stamp of receipt at RBI Table C - letter seeking refund/ allotment of shares- approval letter from RBI A2 form • Copies of Balance Sheet during the period of receipt of share application money and allotment of shares • Nature of contravention and reasons for the contravention Annex II- ECB Details to be furnished along with application for compounding of contravention relating to External Commercial Borrowing • Name of the applicant • Date of incorporation • Nature of activities under taken • Brief particulars about the foreign lender • Is the applicant an eligible borrower? • Is the lender eligible lender? • Is the lender an equity holder? • What is the level of his holding at the time of loan agreement? Details of ECB • Date of Loan agreement • Amount in Foreign Currency and Indian Rupee • Rate of interest • Period of loan • Repayment particulars • Details of draw dow ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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