IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 26TH DAY OF JULY 2019 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK ARADHE WRIT PETITION NOS.1305-1306 OF 2019 (GM-RES) BETWEEN:
MR.GLEN WILLIAMS S/O.P.J.WILLIAMS MAJOR, R/AT NO.7(3/1) WELLINGTON STREET RICHMOND TOWN BANGALORE … PETITIONER (BY SRI JOSHUA H. SAMUEL, ADVOCATE) AND:
1. UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS ‘A’ WING, SHASTRI BHAWAN RAJENDRA PRASAD ROAD NEW DELHI-110 001 2. REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES ‘E’ WING, 2ND FLOOR KENDRIYA SADAN KORAMANGALA BANGALORE-560 034 … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI M.N.KUMAR, CGC) THESE WRIT PETITIONS ARE FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE LIST OF DIRECTORS DISPLAYED BY THE SECOND RESPONDENT IN ITS WEBSIDE VIDE ANNEXURE-D INSOFAR AS THE PETITIONER IS CONCERNED AND THE PRESS RELEASE DATED 17.07.2017 VIDE ANNEXURE-C, DISQUALIFYING DIRECTORS AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND IS IN VIOLATION AND IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE PROVISIONS OF PART III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA ETC.
THESE WRIT PETITIONS COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
O R D E R Learned counsel for the parties jointly submit that the controversy involved in the instant petitions is squarely covered by an order dated 12.06.2019 passed in W.P.No.52911/2017 and connected matters.
2. In view of the aforesaid submission and for the reasons assigned by a Bench of this Court in the aforesaid order, the writ petitions are disposed of on same terms and with the following directions:
(i) Where the disqualification of the petitioners is based by taking into consideration any financial year “prior to 01.04.2014 as well as subsequent thereto” while reckoning continuous period of three financial years under Section 164(2) (a) of the Act, irrespective of whether the petitioners are directors of public companies or private companies, such a disqualification being bad in law, the Writ petitions are allowed and the impugned list is quashed to that extent only;
(ii) If the disqualification of the petitioners is based by taking into consideration any financial year prior to 01.04.2014 only i.e., the disqualification has occurred under the provisions of the 1956 Act in respect of the public companies, the writ petitions are dismissed.
(iii) If the disqualification of the directors is based by taking into consideration of three continuous financial years subsequent to 01.04.2014, irrespective of whether the petitioners are directors of public companies or private companies, they stand disqualified under the Act;
(iv) Where the disqualification of the directors is based by taking into consideration any financial year prior to 01.04.2014 in respect of private companies, such disqualification being bad in law, the writ petitions are allowed to the aforesaid extent only;
(v) The writ petitions, wherein the challenge is also made to the vires of Section 164(2)(a), and/or 167(1)(a) and/or proviso to Section 167(1)(a) of the Act, are dismissed to the aforesaid extent;
(vi) The respondents are directed to restore the DIN of those directors whose disqualification has been quashed by this Court;
(vii) Those petitioners who have challenged only the striking off of the companies in which they are directors have an alternative remedy of filing a proceeding before National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under Section 252 of the Companies Act, 2013, which provides for an appeal to be filed within a period of three years from the date of passing of the order dissolving the company under Section 248 of the Act. Hence, those writ petitions are dismissed reserving liberty to those petitioners who are aggrieved by the dissolution of the companies under Section 248 of the Act (struck off companies) to approach NCLT, if so advised;
(viii) Parties to bear their own costs.
Interim order passed in the writ petitions stands vacated.
Accordingly, the writ petitions are disposed of.
Sd/- JUDGE hkh.