Penalties on Ahambot Technologies for Section 10A Default

Penalties on Ahambot Technologies for Section 10A Default. In this article we will take you through the Adjudication order in the matter of Ahambot Technologies Private Limited, incorporated under the jurisdiction of the Southern Region (Chennai) which mandates to file a declaration under Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013. This section mandates to file a declaration in Form INC-20A within 180 days of its incorporation. It refers that every company with share capital must declare that subscribers to the memorandum have paid the value of shares agreed upon. Failure to comply these requirements can attract penalties under the company shall be liable to a penalty of fifty thousand rupees and every officer who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand rupees for each day during which such default continues but not exceeding an amount of one lakh rupees.
Applicable Provision – Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013
The case involves an appeal under Section 454(5) of the Companies Act, 2013, concerning the adjudication of penalties for defaulting in filling of its declaration in the E form INC-20A as per section 10A of the companies Act 2013. The matter was brought before the concerned Regional Director, Chennai, for consideration
Section 10A states that a company incorporated after the commencement of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019, shall not commence business or exercise any borrowing powers unless:

A declaration is filed by a director within 180 days of incorporation, confirming that every subscriber to the memorandum has paid the value of shares agreed upon.

The company has filed verification of its registered office with the ROC.

Non-compliance with this provision results in penalties imposed on the company and its officers in default.
Facts of the Case
Ahambot Technologies Private Limited, incorporated under the jurisdiction of the Southern Region (Chennai), was incorporated on 05.12.2018 failed to comply with the provisions of Section 10A. The company did not file the required declaration within 180 days of incorporation and had filed said belatedly with a delay of 149 days on 31.10.2019.
ROC Kerla & Lakshadweep examined the said default and passed the adjudication order under section 454 (3) & (4) of the Act for the delay of 149 days delay in filling the Form INC-20A under section 10A (2) of the Act.
Aggrieved by the order, company has filled the appeal within the prescribed time period of 60 days in term of section 454 (6) of the Act. The Appellants have assailed the impugned order on the grounds that no proper notice was sent and opportunity of being heard was not given and also contended that the delay was not intentional. Authorised Representative also contended that non compliance was not deliberate and hence sought condonation.
Penalty Imposed by the Registrar of Companies
Upon identifying the non-compliance, the ROC imposed penalties as per the prescribed legal framework:

Company Penalty: Rs.50,000 for failure to comply with Section 10A.

Officers in Default: Rs.1,00,000 being the maximum penalty

Reduction in Penalty on Appeal (If Any)
An opportunity of being heard was given to the Appellants on 30.12.2020. After the considering the fact and circumstances of the appeal reduced the imposed penalty by 30% for both. Thus, the revised penalty for both company and director are as follows:

Company: Rs 15,000

Officer in default: Rs 30,000

Exemption to Startups, Small Companies, and OPCs Under Section 446B
Section 446B provides relief to startups, small companies, and One Person Companies (OPCs) by reducing the penalty amount levied under various provisions of the Companies Act. However, Section 10A is not explicitly covered under Section 446B, and hence, no exemption is available in such cases. The full penalty amount applies unless reduced through appeal
Conclusion
The case of Ahambot Technologies Private Limited highlights the critical importance of timely compliance with Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013. The provision ensures that companies with share capital confirm the receipt of subscription money before commencing business, thereby reinforcing transparency and financial discipline. In this case, the company's failure to file Form INC-20A within the prescribed 180-day period led to adjudication and subsequent penalties imposed by the ROC. Although the company appealed on grounds of lack of proper notice and absence of deliberate non-compliance, the penalties were only partially reduced.
Download MCA Adjudication Order

In this article we will take you through the Adjudication order in the matter of Ahambot Technologies Private Limited, incorporated under the jurisdiction of the Southern Region (Chennai) which mandates to file a declaration under Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013. This section mandates to file a declaration in Form INC-20A within 180 days of its incorporation. It refers that every company with share capital must declare that subscribers to the memorandum have paid the value of shares agreed upon. Failure to comply these requirements can attract penalties under the company shall be liable to a penalty of fifty thousand rupees and every officer who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand rupees for each day during which such default continues but not exceeding an amount of one lakh rupees.

Applicable Provision – Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013

The case involves an appeal under Section 454(5) of the Companies Act, 2013, concerning the adjudication of penalties for defaulting in filling of its declaration in the E form INC-20A as per section 10A of the companies Act 2013. The matter was brought before the concerned Regional Director, Chennai, for consideration

Section 10A states that a company incorporated after the commencement of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2019, shall not commence business or exercise any borrowing powers unless:

A declaration is filed by a director within 180 days of incorporation, confirming that every subscriber to the memorandum has paid the value of shares agreed upon.
The company has filed verification of its registered office with the ROC.

Non-compliance with this provision results in penalties imposed on the company and its officers in default.

Facts of the Case

Ahambot Technologies Private Limited, incorporated under the jurisdiction of the Southern Region (Chennai), was incorporated on 05.12.2018 failed to comply with the provisions of Section 10A. The company did not file the required declaration within 180 days of incorporation and had filed said belatedly with a delay of 149 days on 31.10.2019.

ROC Kerla & Lakshadweep examined the said default and passed the adjudication order under section 454 (3) & (4) of the Act for the delay of 149 days delay in filling the Form INC-20A under section 10A (2) of the Act.

Aggrieved by the order, company has filled the appeal within the prescribed time period of 60 days in term of section 454 (6) of the Act. The Appellants have assailed the impugned order on the grounds that no proper notice was sent and opportunity of being heard was not given and also contended that the delay was not intentional. Authorised Representative also contended that non compliance was not deliberate and hence sought condonation.

Penalty Imposed by the Registrar of Companies

Upon identifying the non-compliance, the ROC imposed penalties as per the prescribed legal framework:

Company Penalty: Rs.50,000 for failure to comply with Section 10A.
Officers in Default: Rs.1,00,000 being the maximum penalty

Reduction in Penalty on Appeal (If Any)

An opportunity of being heard was given to the Appellants on 30.12.2020. After the considering the fact and circumstances of the appeal reduced the imposed penalty by 30% for both. Thus, the revised penalty for both company and director are as follows:

Company: Rs 15,000
Officer in default: Rs 30,000

Exemption to Startups, Small Companies, and OPCs Under Section 446B

Section 446B provides relief to startups, small companies, and One Person Companies (OPCs) by reducing the penalty amount levied under various provisions of the Companies Act. However, Section 10A is not explicitly covered under Section 446B, and hence, no exemption is available in such cases. The full penalty amount applies unless reduced through appeal

Conclusion

The case of Ahambot Technologies Private Limited highlights the critical importance of timely compliance with Section 10A of the Companies Act, 2013. The provision ensures that companies with share capital confirm the receipt of subscription money before commencing business, thereby reinforcing transparency and financial discipline. In this case, the company's failure to file Form INC-20A within the prescribed 180-day period led to adjudication and subsequent penalties imposed by the ROC. Although the company appealed on grounds of lack of proper notice and absence of deliberate non-compliance, the penalties were only partially reduced.