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TypeBare Act JurisdictionCentral Government

Companies Act, 1956 Section 477

Power to Summon Persons Suspected of Having Property of Company, Etc.

~2 min read
https://sooperkanoon.com/act/11477

Bare act section · Research

About this section

Companies Act, 1956 Section 477 is part of Companies Act, 1956 - Power to Summon Persons Suspected of Having Property of Company, Etc.. Read the section text below and explore Indian court judgments that cite it.

Research copy - verify against official government publications before filing or court use.

Section Text

(1) The1[Tribunal] may, at any time after the appointment of a provisional liquidator or the making of a winding up order summon before it any officer of the company or person known or suspected to have in his possession any property or books or papers, of the company or known or suspected to be indebted to the company, or any person whom the1[Tribunal] deems capable of giving information concerning the promotion, formation, trade, dealings, property, books or papers or affairs of the company.

(2) The1[Tribunal] may examine any officer or person so summoned on oath concerning the matters aforesaid, either by word of mouth or on written interrogatories; and may, in the former case, reduce his answers to writing and require him to sign them.

(3) The1[Tribunal] may require any officer or person so summoned to produce any books and papers in his custody or power relating to the company; but, where he claims any lien on books or papers produced by him, the production shall be without prejudice to that lien, and the1[Tribunal] shall have jurisdiction in the winding up to determine all questions relating to that lien.

(4) If any officer or person so summoned, after being paid or tendered a reasonable sum for his expenses, fails to appear before the1[Tribunal] at the time appointed, not having a lawful impediment (made known to the1Tribunal] at the time of its sitting and allowed by it), the1[Tribunal] may cause him to be apprehended and brought before the1[Tribunal] for examination.

2[(5) If, on his examination, any officer or person so summoned admits that he is indebted to the company, the1[Tribunal] may order him to pay to the provisional liquidator or, as the case may be, the liquidator at such time and in such manner as to the1[Tribunal] may seem just, the amount in which he is indebted, or any part thereof, either in full discharge of the whole amount or not, as the1[Tribunal] thinks fit, with or without costs of the examination.

(6) If, on his examination, any such officer or person admits that he has in his possession any property belonging to the company, the1[Tribunal] may order him to deliver to the provisional liquidator or, as the case may be, the liquidator, that property or any part thereof, at such time, in such manner and on such terms as to the1[Tribunal] may seem just.

( 7 ) Orders made under sub-sections (5) and (6 ) shall be executed in the same manner, as decrees for the payment of money or for the delivery of property under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) respectively.

(8) Any person making any payment or delivery in pursuance of an order made under sub-section (5) or sub-section (6) shall by such payment or delivery be, unless otherwise directed by such order, discharged from all liability whatsoever in respect of such debt or property.]

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1. Substituted by Act 11 of 2003, Section 77, for "Court".

2. Inserted by Act 65 of 1960, Section 176 (w.e.f. 28-12-1960).

Frequently asked questions

What does Companies Act, 1956 Section 477 provide?

Section Section 477 of the Companies Act, 1956 (Power to Summon Persons Suspected of Having Property of Company, Etc.) is reproduced on this page as part of the Companies Act, 1956. Lawyers and researchers use it to read the statutory wording before checking how courts have applied this section in reported judgments.

How do I find judgments on Companies Act, 1956 Section 477?

Open “Find citing judgments” on this page to search Supreme Court, High Court, and tribunal decisions that reference Companies Act, 1956 Section 477. Advanced act search can narrow results by court, year, or additional act filters.

Is the section text on SooperKanoon official?

SooperKanoon hosts bare act text for research and quick reference. For filings or compliance in Central, confirm the wording against the official state gazette or authorized publication.

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