Sections 378ZQ, 378ZR, 378ZS, 378ZT and 378ZU of the Companies Act, 2013

These provisions form the closing parts of Chapter XXIA of the Companies Act, 2013 dealing with Producer Companies. Chapter XXIA was inserted by section 52 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 and came into force on 11 February 2021.

Legal context: Sections 378ZQ and 378ZR explain how Chapter XXIA interacts with other laws and with provisions applicable to private companies. Section 378ZS provides a route for certain Producer Companies to re-convert into an inter-State co-operative society. Sections 378ZT and 378ZU deal with Central Government powers concerning application of the Act and rule-making.

Section 378ZQ - Provisions of this Chapter to override other laws

Meaning: This is an overriding provision. Where Chapter XXIA is inconsistent with another provision of the Companies Act, 2013, another law, or an instrument having effect under such law, Chapter XXIA prevails to the extent of the inconsistency. Provisions that are not varied by, or inconsistent with, Chapter XXIA continue to apply to a Producer Company.

Statutory provision: The provisions of this Chapter shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force or any instrument having effect by virtue of any such law; but the provisions of any such Act or law or instrument in so far as the same are not varied by, or are inconsistent with, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the Producer Company.

Section 378ZR - Application of provisions relating to private companies

Meaning: A Producer Company is generally subject to the limitations, restrictions and provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 that apply to a private company, so far as those provisions do not conflict with Chapter XXIA.

Statutory provision: All the limitations, restrictions and provisions of this Act, other than those specified in this Chapter, applicable to a private company, shall, as far as may be, apply to a Producer Company, as if it is a private limited company under this Act in so far as they are not in conflict with the provisions of this Chapter.

Section 378ZS - Re-conversion of Producer Company to inter-State co-operative society

Meaning: This provision applies to a Producer Company that was formerly an inter-State co-operative society and permits an application to the Tribunal for re-conversion, subject to the voting, creditor, disclosure, filing and registration requirements stated in the section.

(1) Any Producer Company, being an erstwhile inter-State co-operative society, formed and registered under this Chapter, may make an application:

(a) after passing a resolution in the general meeting by not less than two thirds of its Members present and voting; or

(b) on request by its creditors representing three-fourths value of its total creditors, to the Tribunal for its re-conversion to the inter-State co-operative society.

(2) The Tribunal shall, on the application made under sub-section (1), direct holding meeting of its Members or such creditors, as the case may be, to be conducted in such manner as it may direct.

(3) If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors, or Members, as the case may be, present and voting in person at the meeting conducted in pursuance of the directions of the Tribunal under sub-section (2), agree for re-conversion, if sanctioned by the Tribunal, be binding on all the Members and all the creditors, as the case may be, and also on the company which is being converted.

Provided that no order sanctioning re-conversion shall be made by the Tribunal unless the Tribunal is satisfied that the company or any other person by whom an application has been made under sub-section (1) has disclosed to the Tribunal, by affidavit or otherwise, all material facts relating to the company, such as the latest financial position of the company, the latest report of the auditor on the accounts of the company, the pendency of any investigation proceedings in relation to the company under Chapter XIV, and the like.

(4) An order made by the Tribunal under sub-section (3) shall have no effect until a certified copy of the order has been filed with the Registrar.

(5) A copy of every such order shall be annexed to every copy of the memorandum of the company issued after the certified copy of the order has been filed as aforesaid, or in the case of a company not having a memorandum, to every copy so issued of the instrument constituting or defining the constitution of the company.

(6) If default is made in complying with sub-section (4), the company, and every officer of the company who is in default, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees, for each copy in respect of which default is made.

(7) The Tribunal may, at any time after an application has been made to it under this section, stay the commencement or continuation of any suit or proceeding against the company on such terms as the Tribunal thinks fit, until the application is finally disposed of.

(8) Every Producer Company, which has been sanctioned re-conversion by the Tribunal, shall make an application under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 or any other law for the time being in force for its registration as multi-State co-operative society or co-operative society, as the case may be, within six months of sanction by the Tribunal and file a report thereof to the Tribunal and the Registrar of Companies and to the Registrar of the Co-operative Societies under which it has been registered as a multi-State co-operative society or co-operative society, as the case may be.

Section 378ZT - Power to modify Act in its application to Producer Companies

Meaning: The Central Government may, by notification, exclude or adapt provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 outside Chapter XXIA for Producer Companies or specified classes or categories of Producer Companies. A proposed notification is subject to the parliamentary procedure stated in sub-section (2).

(1) The Central Government may, by notification, direct that any of the provisions of this Act, other than those contained in this Chapter, specified in the said notification:

(a) shall not apply to the Producer Companies or any class or category thereof; or

(b) shall apply to the Producer Companies or any class or category thereof with such exception or adaptation as may be specified in the notification.

(2) A copy of every notification proposed to be issued under sub-section (1), shall be laid in draft before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in disapproving the issue of the notification or both Houses agree in making any modification in the notification, the notification shall not be issued or, as the case may be, shall be issued only in such modified form as may be agreed upon by both the Houses.

Section 378ZU - Power to make rules

Meaning: This section authorises the Central Government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of Chapter XXIA.

Statutory provision: The Central Government may make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Chapter.

Official legal resources

For the current consolidated statutory text, refer to India Code. Corporate filings, notifications and MCA services are available through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Section 378ZS also refers to the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, which was amended in 2023.