Ministry of Corporate Affairs introduces E-Adjudication Platform vide Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Amendment Rules, 2024

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (“MCA”) has issued a notification on 5^th August 2024 introducing Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Amendment Rules, 2024 (“Amendment Rules”) to further amend the Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Rules, 2014.

Effective from 16^th September, 2024, the Amendment Rules aims to modernize and improve the overall efficiency of the adjudication system.

The Amendment Rules has inserted Rule 3-A which addresses the "Adjudication Platform" as follows:

1. All proceedings (including of issue of notices, filing replies or documents, evidences, holding of hearing, attendance of witnesses, passing of orders and payment of penalty) conducted by adjudicating officers and Regional Directors will be carried out electronically via the e-adjudication platform;
2. The e-adjudication platform will be developed by the Central Government;
3. In case, any person to whom a notice/ summon has to be issued, does not have an e-mail address, the officer will send the notice by postal mail to the last intimated address available in records.
4. In case, no address is available, a copy of the notice will be electronically archived on the e-adjudication platform;
5. The Annexure has been updated, and Form No. ADJ has been revised to reflect changes in the Memorandum of Appeal.

Source:

Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Notification No. 437, dated 5th August, 2024.