The Companies Act 2013 mandates the registration of charges created by companies to ensure transparency and protect the interests of creditors. Provisions regarding this are outlined in Sections 77 to 87 of the Act
Section 77: Duty to Register Charges
Every company must register the particulars of any charge created over its property, assets, or undertakings, whether tangible or intangible, and whether situated in India or abroad, with the Registrar of Companies within 30 days of creating the charge.
This requirement applies to all types of charges, including fixed and floating charges.
Extensions can be granted: up to 300 days for charges created before November 2, 2018, or up to 60 days for those after, subject to payment of additional fees.
If charges are not registered in time, the company can apply to the Central Government for further extension under Section 87.
Section 78: Application by Chargeholder
If a company fails to register a charge within the specified period, the person in whose favor the charge is created (the chargeholder) can apply to the Registrar for its registration.
The chargeholder is entitled to recover any registration fees paid from the company
The Registrar will notify the company and may proceed with registration if the company does not act or offer sufficient cause.
Purpose and Importance
Purpose: Registration ensures public notice of encumbrances, protecting creditors’ rights and maintaining financial transparency.
* Consequences of Non-Compliance:
* Loss of priority over other creditors.
* Charge may become unenforceable in insolvency or liquidation proceedings.
The Companies Act 2013 mandates the registration of charges created by companies to ensure transparency and protect the interests of creditors. Provisions regarding this are outlined in Sections 77 to 87 of the Act
Table: Key Sections and Their Functions
| Section | Provision Summary |
| Section 77 | Duty to register charges within 30 days |
| Section 78 | Right of chargeholder to apply for registration |
| Section 79 | Registration of charges on property acquired/changed |
| Section 81-87 | Register of charges, satisfaction, penalties, etc. |
Key Takeaways
* Purpose: Registration ensures public notice of encumbrances, protecting creditors’ rights and maintaining financial transparency.
* Consequences of Non-Compliance:
* Loss of priority over other creditors.
* Charge may become unenforceable in insolvency or liquidation proceedings.
A Charge means an interest or lien created on the property and assets of the company or any of its undertakings or both as security and includes a mortgage.
When a charge created on the property and assets of a company is registered by ROC, it is a notice of such charge to the public from the date of such registration. Any person dealing or acquiring such property or part thereof shall be deemed to have notice of such charge from the date of registration of the charge.
What happens to the lender if the charge created is not registered?
The charge created over security offered becomes void if it is not registered within the stipulated period prescribed under section 125 of companies’ acts. Where a charge is void for non-registration, no right of lien can be claimed by the creditor on the documents of title, as they were only supplementary to the charge and were delivered pursuant to the charge. Further, the unregistered charge becomes unenforceable on the date of winding up order; as the Official Liquidator would treat such creditor whose charge is not registered as an ordinary creditor instead of a secured creditor. Even in the case of going concern, the first charge holder loses the priority of a charge holder if the charge created by him has not been registered. For instance, if the subsequent charge is created on the same property by another lender, the subsequent charge holder who has registered the charge would enjoy priority of charge over such property or assets. In such cases, the second charge-holder (who registered the charge first) may at any time attach the exact property of the borrower and get the charge enforced by selling or disposing–off such property to recover his dues.
The important point to be noted here is that the borrower company is not discharged from its liability and obligations to the creditor just because the security offered for such liabilities turn out to be invalid. The consequence of non-registration of charge is that it badly hits the creditor as explained above i.e. the lender loses the security offered to him for the money financed and also he loses his secured creditor status against the liquidator and other creditors.
In terms of section 125(3) of companies acts, when a charge becomes void, the money secured thereby shall immediately become payable by the company. Further, the company, and every officer of the company or other people who are in default, shall be punishable for not registering the charge (section 142(2) of company acts).
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