DEVINDER K. JAIN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petition is directed against the approval granted by the Regional Director, Department of Company Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India under Section 224(7) of the Companies Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as 'the said Act') for removal of the statutory auditors [M/s Devinder K. Jain and Associates, Chartered Accountants, New Delhi] in respect of the company KEW Precision Parts (P) Ltd. The grievance of the petitioner is that this removal of the statutory auditors of the company was not in accordance with law. His submission was that before removal, the approval of the Central Government was necessary, whereas in the present case, the decision for removal was taken prior to the approval taken from the Central Government. He placed reliance on a decision of this Court in the case of Basant Ram and Sons and Anr. v. Union of India and Ors. 2000 (4) Comp LJ 55 (Delhi).

(2.) THE learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the company submitted that the procedure prescribed under Section 224(7) of the said Act was followed in letter and spirit for removal of the petitioner as the statutory auditor of the company. He submitted that in the Board meeting held on 12.07.2004, a resolution was passed indicating the decision of the Board to remove the petitioner as the statutory auditor inasmuch as they had lost confidence in them. On 29.07.2004, the company moved an application before the Regional Director for the approval of the Central Government. The approval was granted by virtue of the impugned order dated 25.10.2004 passed by the Central Government acting through the said Regional Director on the ground that the company had lost faith and confidence in the statutory auditors and, thereforee, they were permitted to proceed with the removal of the said auditors provided the same was passed in the General Meeting. Thereafter, a General Meeting was held on 27.10.2004, whereby the statutory auditor was removed. So, according to the learned Counsel for the respondent No. 3, the procedure of obtaining prior approval of the Central Government was followed and thereafter the statutory auditor was removed at a General Meeting held on 27.10.2004.

(3.) SECONDLY , the decision in Basant Ram and Sons (supra) does not help the cause of the petitioner inasmuch as that was a case where the removal was sought on the basis of a General Meeting held prior to the approval taken from the Central Government. The court observed that there was no statutory bar on a prior meeting being held, wherein the share -holders or the members approve the resolution for making the application to seek the previous consent of the Central Government. It was held that the Board of Directors were not authorised to remove the statutory auditors prior to expiry of its term except under the procedure provided under Section 224(7) of the said Act. The facts of the present case are entirely different. The decision that was taken on 12.07.2004 at the Board Meeting had no effect until and unless prior approval of the Central Government and subsequent confirmation in the General Meeting was granted. The decision of 12.07.2004 was only for the purpose of moving the application before the Central Government for grant of approval to remove the statutory auditors. Unless a decision is taken in the Board Meeting, the company cannot act on its own and it is only to this effect that the decision of the Board Meeting can be viewed. Unlike the case in Basant Ram (supra), in the present case, the General Meeting was held subsequent to the approval granted by the Central Government. thereforee, the present case is entirely distinguishable from that of Basant Ram (supra).