NCLT Rules - Reduction of Share Capital

The Government of India (GoI) introduced the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Rules regarding the reduction of share capital. The need for the reduction of the share capital arises when there is a loss in the company, and the reduction of share capital removes the loss. This article deals with The National Company Law Tribunal (Procedure for reduction of share capital of Company) Rules, 2016 in detail.

Form of Application or Petition

Form-RSC-1 is an application to the Tribunal regarding the confirmation of reduction in the company's share capital. There is a specific amount of fees for the application. This application should accompany the following:

The list of the creditors which the Managing Director must certify. In the absence of the managing director, two directors can certify it. The submission of the list should be 15 days before filing the application. The list should contain their names and address and also the amount the company owes to them. Moreover, the list of the creditors should be in class wise
A certificate from the company's auditor. The certificate is a verification whether the list of the creditors is as per the records of the company. It should also verify that the company does not have any arrears in the repayment of the deposits or interest. The auditor also has the responsibility to verify that the company's proposed accounting treatment conforms to the accounting standards of the Companies Act, 2013
A declaration of the director of the company. Such a declaration is a verification that the company does not have any arrears in the repayment of the deposits or interest

The companies should have copies of the list of the creditors in its registered office. Any person can inspect the company at business hours and extract payment of Rs.50 for the inspection to the company. They can also extract payment of Rs.10 per page to the company.

Issue of Notice

The Tribunal will give notice within 15 days of receiving the application or direct someone to give notice to the following:

The Central Government and the Registrar of Companies in Form-RSC-2 for all cases
The Securities and Exchange Board of India in Form-RSC-2 in the cases of the listed companies
The creditors of the company in Form-RSC-3 for all cases

The Tribunal mainly issues the notice for seeking representation and objection. If the Tribunal directs someone to send the notice to all the creditors, then such a person should send it within 7 days of receiving the directions. The notice should contain the presentation of the application. It should also state the proposed amount for the reduction of share capital and the estimated value or amount of the debt, contingent debt or claim. The notice will also contain the time within which the creditors can send their objections and representation.

Publication of Notice

The Tribunal can give directions to publish the notice in Form-RSC-4. The notice should be published within 7 days of receiving the notice. The person receiving the direction should publish the notice in English and in a vernacular newspaper. However, both the newspapers should have a wide circulation in the State where the registered company is present. They can also upload on the company's website. But this will be for seeking the creditor's objection and also intimating the creditors regarding the date of hearing. This notice should contain the proposed amount for the reduction of the share capital. It may also contain the place where the inspection of the creditors and also the time period within which the company can send their objections. However, the company can file the objections within 3 months of the publication of the notice

Filing of Affidavit

The person directed by the Tribunal or the company which issues and publishes it should file an affidavit within 7 days from the date of issuing the notice. They should file the affidavit in Form-RSC-5. This is regarding confirmation of the dispatch and publication of the notice.

Representation by Central Government and Registrar

If the authorities and the creditors want to make a representation, then they have to send it to the Tribunal within 3 months from the date of receipt of the notice. The company will also receive a copy of the representation. If the Tribunal does not receive any representation, then it is considered that there is no objection regarding the reduction.