Master Circular - “Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1977” - ఆర్బిఐ - Reserve Bank of India
Master Circular - “Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1977”
RBI/2007-2008/07 July 2, 2007 To The Chairman/CEOs of all Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies Dear Sir, Master Circular – "Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1977" The directions on acceptance of public deposits by Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies were issued by Reserve Bank of India on June 20, 1977, vide Notification No.DNBC.39/DG(H)-77. The said Notification duly updated as on June 30, 2007 is reproduced below. Yours faithfully,
(P. Krishnamurthy)
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA Notification No.DNBC.39/DG(H)-77 dated 20th June 1977 The Reserve Bank of India having considered it necessary in the public interest and being satisfied that for the purpose of enabling the Bank to regulate the credit system to the advantage of the country, it is necessary to give the directions set out below, hereby, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 45J, 45K and 45L of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, (2 of 1934) and of all the powers enabling it in this behalf, and in supersession of the earlier Directions contained in Notification No.DNBC.21/DG(S)-73 dated the 23rd August 1973 as amended from time to time gives to every miscellaneous non-banking company the directions hereinafter specified. PART I - PRELIMINARY 1.Short title and commencement of the directions These directions shall be known as the Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1977. They shall come into force with effect from the 1st July 1977 and any reference in these directions to the date of commencement thereof shall be deemed to be a reference to that date. 2. Extent of the directions [These directions shall apply to every financial institution which is a company and which carries on, in any place in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, any of the following types of business and to every financial institution which is a company and which carries on, in any place in India, any of the types of business referred to in sub-paragraph (2) to (4) below :- (1)Collecting whether as a promoter, foreman, agent or in any other capacity monies in one lump sum or in instalments by way of contributions or subscriptions or by sale of units, certificates or other instruments or in any other manner or as membership fees or admission fees or service charges to or in respect of any savings, mutual benefit, thrift, or any other scheme or arrangement by whatever name called, and utilising the monies so collected or any part thereof or the income accruing from investment or other use of such monies for all or any of the following purposes - (a) giving or awarding periodically or otherwise to a specified number of subscribers as determined by lot, draw or in any other manner, prizes or gifts in cash or in kind, whether or not the recipient of the prize or gift is under a liability to make any further payment in respect of such scheme or arrangement; (b) refunding to the subscribers or such of them as have not won any prize or gift, the whole or part of the subscriptions, contributions or other monies collected, with or without any bonus, premium, interest or other advantage, howsoever called, on the termination of the scheme or arrangement, or, on or after the expiry of the period stipulated therein; (2) managing, conducting or supervising as a promoter, foreman or agent of any transaction or arrangement by which the company enters into an agreement with a specified number of subscribers that every one of them shall subscribe a certain sum in instalments over a definite period and that every one of such subscribers shall in his turn, as determined by lot or by auction or by tender or in such other manner as may be provided for in the agreement be entitled to the prize amount; Explanation For the purposes of this sub-paragraph, the expression 'prize amount' shall mean the amount, by whatever name it be called, arrived at by deduction from out of the total amount subscribed at each instalment by all subscribers, (a) the commission charged by the company or service charges as a promoter or a foreman or an agent; and (b) any sum which a subscriber agrees to forego, from out of the total subscriptions of each instalment, in consideration of the balance being paid to him; (3) Conducting any other form of chit or kuri which is different from the type of business referred to in sub-paragraph (2) above; (4) undertaking or carrying on or engaging in or executing any other business similar to the business referred to in sub-paragraph (1) to (3).] 3. Definitions (1) In these directions, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) 'banking company' means a banking company as defined in section 5(c) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949); (b) 'company' means a company as defined in section 45 I(a) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) but does not include a company which is being wound up under any law for the time being in force; (c) 'deposit' shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in section 45 I(bb) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934)'; (d) 'depositor' means any person who has made a deposit with the company; (e) 'foreman' means a person who under the chit or kuri agreement or any other scheme or arrangement is responsible for the conduct of the chit or kuri or such scheme or arrangement; (f) 'free reserves' shall include the balance in the share premium account, capital and debenture redemption reserves and any other reserve shown or published in the balance sheet of a company and created through an allocation of profits, not being (i) a reserve created for repayment of any future liability or for depreciation in assets or for bad debts; or (ii) a reserve created by revaluation of the assets of the company; (g) 'miscellaneous non-banking company' means a company carrying on all or any of the types of business referred to in paragraph 2 of these directions; (h) words or expressions used but not defined herein and defined in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in that Act. Any other words or expressions not defined herein or in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956). 4. Non-applicability of the directions to certain types of deposits of money Nothing contained in paragraphs 5 to [9B] and 13 of these directions shall apply to the following types of deposits received by a miscellaneous non-banking company, namely:- i) Any money received or collected under a transaction or arrangement referred to in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 2; ii) any money received from the Central Government or a State Government or any money received from any other source and the repayment of which is guaranteed by the Central Government or a State Government or any money received from a local authority or a foreign Government or any other foreign citizens, authority or person; iii) any money received from a banking company or from the State Bank of India or from a banking institution notified by the Central Government under section 51 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949) or a corresponding new bank as defined in section 2 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970) or from a co-operative Bank as defined in [Section 5 (cci) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949)] ; any loan received from the Industrial Development Bank of India established under the Industrial Development Bank of India Act, 1964 (18 of 1964) or the Industrial Credit & Investment Corporation of India Ltd., established under the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913) or the Industrial Finance Corporation of India established under the Industrial Finance Corporation Act, 1948 (15 of 1948) or the Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India Ltd., or the Life Insurance Corporation of India established under the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956 (31 of 1956) or [the Small Industries Development Bank of India established under the Small Industries Development Bank of India Act, 1989 (39 of 1989) or] a State Financial Corporation established under the State Financial Corporation Act, 1951 (63 of 1951) or Unit Trust of India established under the Unit Trust of India Act, 1963 (52 of 1963) or the General Insurance Corporation of India and its subsidiaries or the Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation Ltd., or the National Industrial Development Corporation of India Ltd., or the [SCICI Ltd.], or the Rehabilitation Industries Corporation of India Ltd., or any Electricity Board constituted under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 or the State Trading Corporation of India Ltd. or the Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd., or the Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of India Ltd., or the Agricultural Finance Corporation Ltd., or the State Industrial and Investment Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd., or the Gujarat Industrial and Investment Corporation Ltd. or [ the Asian Development Bank, or International Finance Corporation, or] any other financial institution wholly owned by the Central Government or a State Government or any other financial institution that may be notified by the Reserve Bank in this behalf; v) Deleted vi) Deleted [7] [ vii) any money received from an employee of the company by way of security deposit for due performance of his duties : Provided that the amount of such security deposit is deposited with a scheduled bank or a post office in the joint names of the employee and the company on the conditions, that, - (a) it shall not be withdrawn without the consent in writing of the employee; and (b) it shall be repayable to the employee in accordance with the terms of his employment along with interest paid by bank/post office on the deposit account; ] [viii) any money raised by issue of debentures or bonds with predetermined terms of conversion without any option given, either to the issuer or the holder for conversion of the said debentures or bonds into equity share capital;] ix) any money received by way of subscription to any share or stock pending the allotment of such shares or stock or any money received by way of subscription to debentures or bonds of the type specified in clause (viii) of this paragraph pending the allotment of such debentures or bonds and any money received by way of calls in advance on shares in accordance with the company's articles of association so long as such money is not repayable to the shareholders under the articles of association of the company. [4A. Joint Deposit Where so desired, deposits may be accepted in joint names not exceeding three, with or without any of the clauses namely, 'Either or Survivor/s','Number one or Survivor/s', 'Any one or Survivor/s'.] PART II - ACCEPTANCE OF DEPOSITS 5. Acceptance of deposits by miscellaneous non-banking companies On and from the 1st July 1977, no miscellaneous non- banking company shall :- (a) receive any deposit repayable on demand or on notice, or repayable after a period of less than six months and more than thirty six months from the date of receipt of such deposit or renew any deposit received by it, whether before or after the aforesaid date unless such deposit, or renewal, is repayable not earlier than six months and not later than thirty six months from the date of such renewal: Provided that where a miscellaneous non-banking company has before the 1st July 1977, accepted deposits repayable after a period of more than thirty six months, such deposits shall, unless renewed in accordance with these directions, be repaid in accordance with the terms of such deposits: Provided further that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to monies raised by the issue of debentures or bonds; (b) receive or renew :- any deposit against an unsecured debenture or any deposit from a [shareholder] or any deposit guaranteed by any person who, at the time of giving of such guarantee, was or is a director of the company, if the amount of any such deposit together with the amount of such other deposits of all or any of the kinds of deposits referred to in this sub-clause already received and outstanding in the books of the company as on the date of acceptance or renewal of such deposits, exceeds fifteen per cent of its net owned funds; any other deposit, if the amount of such deposit, together with the amount of such other deposits, not being deposits of the kind referred to in sub-clause (i) of this clause already received and outstanding in the books of the company as on the date of acceptance or renewal of such deposits, exceeds twenty five per cent of its net owned funds; [(iii) where any miscellaneous non-banking company holds as at commencement of business on April 12, 1993, deposits in excess of its stipulated limits, it shall reduce such excess deposits by at least one-half before October 12, 1993 and wipe off the balance before April 12, 1994;] [(iv) where any miscellaneous non-banking company holds, as at the commencement of business on April 1, 1997, deposits in excess of the limit specified in clause (i) or clause (ii) above, as the case may be, which has been caused only due to the amendment to the definition of `net owned fund' provided in the Explanation to paragraph 5, such company shall reduce the excess deposits by March 31, 1998 by repayment or otherwise. ] [Explanation Net owned fund means - (a) the aggregate of the paid up equity capital and free reserves as disclosed in the latest balance sheet of the company after deducting therefrom - (i) accumulated balance of loss; (b) further reduced by the amounts representing (1)investments of such company in shares of (i) its subsidiaries; (2) the book value of debentures, bonds, outstanding loans and advances (including hire purchase and lease finance) made to, and deposits with (i) subsidiaries of such company; and to the extent such amount exceeds ten per cent of (a) above. ] 6. Particulars to be specified in application form soliciting deposit On and from the 1st July 1977, no miscellaneous non-banking company shall accept, renew or convert any deposit except on a written application from the depositor in the form to be supplied by the company, which form shall contain all the particulars specified in the Non-Banking Financial Companies and Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Advertisement) Rules, 1977, made under section 58A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956). 7. Furnishing of receipts to depositors (1)Every miscellaneous non-banking company shall furnish to every depositor [or group of joint depositors] or his agent, unless it has done so already, a receipt for every amount which has been or which may be received by the company by way of deposit before or after the date of commencement of these Directions. (2)The said receipt shall be duly signed by an officer entitled to act for the company in this behalf and shall state the date of deposit, the name of the depositor, the amount in words and figures received by the company by way of deposit, the rate of interest payable thereon and the date on which the deposit is repayable. 8. Register of deposits (1) Every miscellaneous non-banking company shall keep one or more registers in which shall be entered separately in the case of each depositor the following particulars, namely- (a) name and address of the depositor, (2) The register or registers aforesaid shall be kept at the registered office of the company and shall be preserved in good order for a period of not less than eight calendar years following the financial year in which the latest entry is made of the repayment or renewal of any deposit of which particulars are contained in the register: Provided that if the company keeps the books of account referred to in sub-section (1) of section 209 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) at any place other other than its registered office in accordance with the proviso to that sub-section, it shall be sufficient compliance with this sub-paragraph if the register aforesaid is kept at such other place, subject to the condition that the company delivers to the Reserve Bank a copy of the notice filed with the Registrar under the proviso to the said sub-section within seven days of such filing. 9. Information to be included in the Board's report (1) In every report of the Board of Directors laid before the company in general meeting under sub-section (1) of section 217 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) after the date of commencement of these directions, there shall be included in the case of miscellaneous non-banking company, the following particulars or information, namely : (b) the total amount due to the depositors and remaining unclaimed or unpaid beyond the dates referred to in clause (a) as aforesaid. (2) The said particulars or information shall be furnished with reference to the position as on the last date of the financial year to which the report relates and if the amounts remaining unclaimed or undisbursed as referred to in clause (b) of the preceding sub-paragraph exceed in the aggregate the sum of rupees five lakhs, there shall also be included in the report a statement on the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Board of Directors for the repayment of the amounts due to the depositors and remaining unclaimed or undisbursed. [ Ceiling on the rate of interest and brokerage 9A [(1)] On and from [April 24, 2007], no miscellaneous non- banking company shall :- (a) invite or accept or renew deposit on a rate of interest exceeding [twelve and a half] per cent per annum. Interest may be paid or compounded at rests which shall not be shorter than monthly rests: [Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to monies raised by the issue of debentures or bonds;] [(b) pay to any broker for deposits collected by or (i) where a deposit is for : one percent of such (ii) where a deposit is for : one and a quarter (iii) where a deposit is for : one and a half per- [(2) On and from September 18, 2003, no non-banking financial company shall invite or accept or renew repatriable deposits from Non-Resident Indians in terms of Notification No.FEMA.5/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 under Non-Resident (External) Account Scheme at a rate exceeding the rate specified by the Reserve Bank of India for such deposits with scheduled commercial banks. Explanation The period of above deposits shall be not less than one year and not more than three years.] Intimation of maturity of deposits to depositors [9AA. It shall be the obligation of the miscellaneous non-banking company to intimate the details of maturity of the deposits to the depositors at least two months before the date of maturity of the deposit.] Renewal of deposits before maturity [ [9AB.] Where any miscellaneous non-banking company permits an existing depositor to renew his deposit before maturity for availing the benefit of higher rate of interest, such company shall pay the depositor the increase in the rate of interest provided, (i) the deposit is renewed in accordance with the other provisions of these directions and for a period longer than the remaining period of the original contract; and (ii) the interest on the expired period of the deposit is reduced by one percentage point from [the rate which the company would have ordinarily paid , had the deposit been accepted for the period for which such deposit has run] and/or paid earlier and recovered/adjusted.] Renewal of overdue deposits [ 25[9AC] A miscellaneous non-banking company may, at its discretion, allow interest on an overdue deposit or a portion of the said overdue deposit from the date of maturity of the deposit provided that : a) the total amount of overdue deposit or the part thereof is renewed from the date of its maturity till some future date in accordance with the other provisions of these directions; and b) the interest allowed shall be at the appropriate rate operative on the date of the maturity of such overdue deposit which shall be payable only on the amount of deposit so renewed.] General Provisions regarding repayment of deposits [Minimum lock- in period and 9B. (i) No miscellaneous non-banking company shall grant any loan against deposits or make premature repayment of deposit within a period of three months (lock-in period) from the date of its acceptance: Provided that in the event of death of a depositor, a miscellaneous non-banking company may repay the deposit prematurely, even within the lock – in period, to the surviving depositor/s in the case of joint holding with survivor clause, or to the nominee or the legal heir/s of the deceased depositor, on the request of the surviving depositor/s/nominee/legal heir, and only against submission of proof of death, to the satisfaction of the company. Repayment of public deposits by a miscellaneous non-banking company not being a problem miscellaneous non-banking company (ii)Subject to the provisions contained in sub-paragraph (i), a miscellaneous non-banking company not being a problem miscellaneous non-banking company may, (a) with effect from October 5, 2004, permit premature repayment of a deposit at its sole discretion: Provided that in the case of a deposit accepted prior to the aforesaid date, such miscellaneous non-banking company may, if so permitted by the terms and conditions of acceptance of such deposit, repay it prematurely at the request of the depositor, after the expiry of three months from the date of deposit; (b)grant a loan up to seventy-five percent of the amount of deposit to a depositor after the expiry of three months from the date of deposit at a rate of interest two percentage points above the interest rate payable on the deposit. Repayment of public deposits by a problem miscellaneous non-banking company (iii)Subject to the provisions contained in sub-paragraph (i), in order to enable a depositor to meet expenses of an emergent nature, a problem miscellaneous non-banking company may make premature prepayment of, or grant a loan against, a deposit in the following cases only, namely: (a)repay a tiny deposit in entirety or repay any other deposit up to an amount not exceeding Rs. 10,000/-; or (b)grant a loan against a tiny deposit or up to an amount not exceeding Rs. 10,000/- against any other deposit at a rate of interest two percentage points above the interest rate payable on the deposit. [Clubbing of deposits by a problem miscellaneous non-banking company (iv)All deposit accounts standing to the credit of sole/first named depositor in the same capacity shall be clubbed and treated as one deposit account for the purpose of premature repayment or grant of loan by a problem miscellaneous non-banking company; Provided that this clause shall not apply to premature repayment in the event of death of depositor as provided in sub-paragraph (i).] Rate of interest on premature repayment of deposits (v) Where a miscellaneous non-banking company, whether at its sole discretion or at the request of the depositor, as the case may be, repays a deposit after three months from the date of its acceptance, but before its maturity (including premature repayment in the case of death of the depositor), it shall pay interest at the following rates:
Explanation: For the purpose of this paragraph, (a)`problem miscellaneous non-banking company’ means a miscellaneous non-banking company which - (i)has refused or failed to meet within five working days any lawful demand for repayment of the matured deposits ; or (ii) intimates the CLB under section 58AA of the Companies Act, 1956, about its default to a small depositor in repayment of any deposit or part thereof or any interest thereupon; or (iii) approaches the Bank for withdrawal of the liquid asset securities to meet its deposit obligations; or (iv) approaches the Bank for any relief or relaxation or exemption from the provisions of Miscellaneous Non-Banking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1977 for avoiding default in meeting deposit or other obligations; or (v) has been identified by the Bank to be a problem miscellaneous non-banking company either suo moto or based on the complaints from the depositors about non-repayment of deposits or on complaints from the company’s lenders about non-payment of dues. (b) ‘tiny deposit’ means the aggregate amount of deposits not exceeding Rs. 10,000/- standing in the name of the sole or the first named depositor in the same capacity in all the branches of the miscellaneous non-banking company.] Copies of balance sheet and accounts together with the 10. Every miscellaneous non-banking company shall deliver to the Reserve Bank unless it has done so already, an audited balance sheet as on the last date of each financial year and an audited profit and loss account in respect of that year as passed by the company in general meeting together with a copy of the report of the Board of Directors laid before the company in such meeting in terms of section 217(1) of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) within fifteen days of such meeting. Returns to be submitted to the Reserve Bank 11. (1)Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 10, every miscellaneous non-banking company [holding or accepting deposits] shall submit to the Reserve Bank a return furnishing the information specified in the First Schedule hereto, with reference to its position as on the dates specified in the said Schedule. (2)(i)Every miscellaneous non-banking company shall, not later than one month from the coming into force of these directions or from the commencement of business, whichever is later, deliver to the Reserve Bank, a written statement containing a list of :- (a) the names and the official designations of its principal officers; (b) the names and residential addresses of the directors of the company; and (c) the specimen signature of the officers authorised to sign on behalf of the company, returns specified in sub-paragraph (1) (ii) any change in the list referred to in clause (i) of this sub-paragraph shall be intimated to the Reserve Bank within one month from the occurrence of such change. Balance sheet, returns etc. to be submitted to the [Department of Supervision] 12. Any balance sheet, returns or information required to be submitted or furnished to the Reserve Bank in pursuance of these directions shall be submitted or furnished to the Regional Office of the [Department of Supervision] of the Reserve Bank within whose jurisdiction the registered office of the company is situated, as specified in the Second Schedule hereto. [Advertisement and statement in lieu of advertisement 13.(1) Every miscellaneous non-banking company shall comply with the provisions of the Non-Banking Financial Companies and Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Advertisement) Rules, 1977 and shall also specify in every advertisement to be issued thereunder, the following : (a) the actual rate of return by way of interest, premium, bonus or other advantage to the depositor; (b) the mode of payment to depositor; (c) maturity period of deposit; (d) the interest payable on a specified deposit; (e) the rate of interest which will be payable to the depositor in case the depositor withdraws the deposit prematurely, the terms and conditions subject to which a deposit will be renewed; and any other special features relating to the terms and conditions subject to which the deposits are accepted/renewed; and [(g) that the deposits solicited by it are not insured] (2) Where a company intends to accept deposits without inviting or allowing or causing any other person to invite such deposits, it shall before accepting deposits, deliver to the Regional Office of the [Department of Supervision] of the Reserve Bank, within whose jurisdiction its registered office is situated, for registration, a statement in lieu of advertisement containing all the particulars required to be included in the advertisement pursuant to the Non-Banking Financial Companies and Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Advertisement) Rules, 1977 as also the particulars stated in sub-paragraph (1) hereinabove, duly signed in the manner provided in the aforesaid Rules. (3) A statement delivered under sub-paragraph (2) shall be valid till the expiry of six months from the date of closure of the financial year in which it is so delivered or until the date on which the balance sheet is laid before the company in general meeting or where the annual general meeting for any year has not been held, the latest day on which that meeting should have been held in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 1956 (1 of 1956), whichever is earlier, and a fresh statement shall be delivered in each succeeding financial year before accepting deposits in that financial year. 14. Exemption The Reserve Bank may, if it considers it necessary for avoiding any hardship or for any other just and sufficient reason, grant extension of time to comply with or exempt any company or class of companies, from all or any of the provisions of these directions either generally or for any specified period subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank may impose. 15. Non-applicability of certain other directions Nothing contained in the Non-Banking Financial Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1977 shall apply to a financial institution of the type referred to in paragraph 2 of these Directions. 16. Saving of action taken or that may be taken for contravention of the Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1973 It is hereby clarified that the supersession of Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1973 as amended from time to time, shall not in any way affect (i) any right, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred thereunder; (ii) any penalty, forfeiture, or punishment incurred in respect of any contravention committed thereunder; (iii) any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid, and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued, or enforced and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed as if those directions had not been superseded. (R.K. HAZARI)
1Substituted, vide Notification No. DNBC 41/ED(T)-79 dated May 9, 1979 |