PM aims to revitalize commercial and corporate laws

24 Sep 2012 Evaluate

After the string of strong policy reforms taken to reduce the burden of fiscal deficit and to facilitate more foreign money into the country, India is now anticipating for more reforms, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh affirmed revitalization of corporate and commercial laws after the overseas borrowing norms were eased by the government for availing credit facility for local companies and to garner more capital. The government is examining the commercial and corporate laws to make them relevant to the challenges that lie ahead. By adding further he said, more reforms are required to pull the country out of a 1991-type economic abyss.

The government had raised the limit of rupee loans that infrastructure and manufacturing companies are allowed to refinance through overseas borrowings. He also pointed out that it is the responsibility of the centre to ensure that the corporate laws match up to international standards, to the expectations of international investors. With the exit of Mamata Bannerjee’s TMC, the UPA government has now got the freedom to push through several important bills, including the land bill, the pension and insurance bills which have been paused due to strong opposition from Mamata. The Companies Bill, which plays a major role in the functioning of the corporate sector, is stalled as the opposition - Bharatiya Janata Party protested it to be passed in its current form and had demanded some significant changes.

The bill has proposed tightening of laws for raising money from the public. It also urges to prohibit insider trading by company directors or other officials of the company and to treat such activities as a criminal offence. It also suggests that the companies should keep aside 2% of the average profit of the preceding three years for CSR activities and to make a disclosure to shareholders about the policy adopted in the process. The new bill also incorporate features like class action suits, which will benefit small investors seeking relief from large corporations.

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