Corporate governance of banks

The corporate governance of banks is different and unique from that of the other organizations. This is because the activities of the bank are less transparent than other organizations. Thus, it becomes difficult for shareholders and creditors to monitor the activities of the bank. The situation becomes even more difficult when a major part of the share capital is with government. Additionally, banks also differ from most other companies in terms of the complexity and range of their business risks, and the consequences if these risks are poorly managed.

The Banking Sector in India has definitely not remained unaffected to the developments taking place worldwide. Enhancing the level of corporate governance structure of Indian banks is imperative. The regulatory bodies in India are the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities Exchange Board India. The RBI prescribes prudential principles and norms. The RBI performs the corporate governance function under the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS).

The Basel Accord was first established in 1988 by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision under the Bank for International Settlements. The BIS was established on 17 May 1930 and is the world's oldest international financial organization. The Basel Committee was established by the central-bank Governors of the Group of Ten countries in 1974. It meets regularly four times a year. It has four main working groups. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision provides a forum for regular cooperation on banking supervisory matters. Its objective is to enhance understanding of key supervisory issues and improve the quality of banking supervision worldwide.

The Basel Accord was established to provide a set of minimum capital requirements to banks. According to this accord, the banks would be required to maintain a minimum capital requirement a propos the loans given out by them. The 1988 Basel Accord also known as Basel I primarily focused on credit risk. The Central Banks of several countries that have agreed to become signatories have been given the responsibility of enforcing the provisions. In India, the Reserve Bank of India shoulders this responsibility.

The second of the Basel Accords, Basel II was first published in June 2004 and established in 2005. This accord widened the scope of Basel I by establishing capital requirements for market risk and operational risk, in addition to credit risk. Basel II also included provisions which allowed banks to use advanced statistical methods to compute possible losses for which they were required to hold capital. Therefore, international banks had an advantage as they could lower their capital requirements through the use of advanced models.

The third of the Basel Accords, Basel III was created in response to the flaws in financial regulation which led to the crisis and also due to appeals for the reform of capital adequacy and liquidity standards for banks.

According to the Basel Committee Report of 1999, Banks have to maintain a certain level of transparency and disclosures in their statements. The annual report should disclose a number of factors relating to the operations of the banks such as accounting ratios, business per employee, related party disclosures and information.

Recent Steps Taken by Banks in India for CG

•                   Induction of non-executive members on the boards

•                   Constitution of various Committees like Management committee, Investor’s Grievances committee, ALM committee, etc.

•                   Role of Independent auditor

•                   Gradual implementation of prudential norms as prescribed by the RBI,

•                   Introduction of Citizens Charter in banks

•                   Implementation of “Know Your Customer” concept

•                   The Board of Directors and top management of the Bank are chiefly responsible for good CG.

Frauds by others

•                   Forgery and altered cheques -This type of fraud involves altering the amount on the face of a cheque for nefarious purposes

•                   Stolen cheques -This type of fraud is initiated by the theft of a few cheques. Then accounts are opened using fake identities, and the suitably altered stolen cheques are deposited, followed by convenient withdrawal of the amount. In a similar way, stolen blank cheque books are misused by fraudsters.

•                   Accounting fraud -Overstating sales and income, dishonest accounting and inflating the worth of the company’s assets to hide that the company is actually functioning in loss constitute Accounting Fraud. E.g., Satyam.

•                   Credit card fraud - Credit cards lend themselves to several opportunities for fraud. Made of three PVC sheets, of which the central sheet is known as the core stock, credit cards carry substantial data. Credit card frauds can be carried out in several ways.

•                   Frauds committed by auditors

•                   Power of Attorney fraud- A “Power of Attorney” (“POA”) is a legal document through which the donor grants the power to his attorney to ‘step into the donor’s shoes’ and conduct legal and financial matters on the donor’s behalf.

•                   Phishing- In this type of fraud, sensitive data such as account numbers, login Independent Directors (IDs), passwords, and other verifiable information are extracted from gullible individuals either through fraudulent telephone calls or emails. These data are then misused for dishonest purposes, including identity theft. Phishing is most often perpetrated through mass emails and spoofed websites.

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Competition Commission vs Small Medium Enterprises

The Competition Commission of India and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been globally recognized as a priority sector for growth and development and India is not an exception to this generality. In India, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute over 45 percent of the country s industrial production and around 40 percent of total exports. The SMEs increase competition, contribute comprehensively by the GDP ensure varied supply of goods and services and give customers wider and customized choice. Thus MSMEs unhesitatingly play a vital role and in fact they are the backbone of the Indian economy and prudence suggests that the backbone not only be protected but strengthened too on a perennial basis.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) needs to know

What SMEs needs to know is that the law is applicable to them as well. The focus of law is not on “size of the enterprise” which could be in terms of assets /turnover or investment in plant and machinery etc. but on the effects of business practices on competition in the relevant market in India. However, it is unlikely that SMEs would unwittingly fall foul of the law. On individual basis, since SMEs lack market power, their actions are not likely to have appreciable adverse effects on competition in India. Moreover, the exclusions and exemptions from the applicability of law are likely to dilute the effectiveness of competition law which is increasingly believed to be benign for consumers, enterprises as well as economies.

Power of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

A SMEs or an Association can file information in the prescribed form with the CCI and request for enquiry against any delinquent enterprises in case the latter is allegedly indulging in anti-competitive practices/ agreement or abuse the dominant position. SMEs can also file objection with the CCI in response to public notice or otherwise against any proposed acquisition, merger or amalgamation as sometimes a survival of SME is threatened. Thus, there is an obligation on the CCI to listen to the aggrieved SMEs.

Competition Commission of India and Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT)

The Amendment made to the Act in 2007, casts an obligation upon the Central Government to establish Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT), which shall be a three member quasi –judicial body to

•Hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or the Order passed by the Commission;

•Adjudicate on any claim for compensation that may arise from the findings of the Commission or the Orders of the Appellate Tribunal in an appeal against any finding of the Commission or under section 42A or sub-section (2) of section 53Q of this Act, and pass Orders for the recovery of compensation under section 53N of the Act.

The Competition Appellate Tribunal will be guided by principle of natural justice and it can regulate its own procedure. COMPAT can dismiss a petition for default or decide it ex parte and such order of dismissal or ex parte order can be set aside. The proceedings before COMPAT are deemed to be judicial proceedings. If Appellate Tribunal cannot execute its order, it will be sent to Court within whose local jurisdiction the registered office of the company or place of residence of the person is situated. Order of the C OMPAT will be executed as a degree of court. COMPAT can directly send the order to a civil court for execution. The order will be executed by that Court as if it is a decree of that Court.

Procedure for Investigation of Combination by the Competition Commission of India

On coming to a prima facie opinion that the combination is likely to cause or has caused appreciable adverse effect on competition within the relevant market, the commission shall issue a show cause notice to parties to the combination calling upon them to show within 30 days of receipt as to why investigation of such combination should not be conducted. After the receipt of the response from the parties, the commission may call for a report from the DG within the time as may be specified.

Orders that CCI can pass in respect of Combinations

The commission is empowered to pass the following orders after the due process:

a)        Approve the combination where no appreciable adverse effect on competition in the relevant market in India;

b)        Direct that combination shall not take effect where the Commission is opinion that there is or is likely to have appreciable adverse effect on competition;

c)        Propose modification in the combination where the commission is of the appreciable adverse effect cause or likely to be caused by the combination can be eliminated by the modification.

Competition Law and Leniency Provisions

Most competition laws either exempt specific sectors and/ or types of economic activity, and /or have provision s for the granting of such exemptions in given situations. It is worth observing that there generally tend to be fewer exemptions in countries which have recently adopted competition laws (mainly developing and transition market economies) as compared with more industrialized nations. In India the Competition Commission of India ,While passing orders in respect of cartels , the Commission is vested with the discretion to impose a proportionate /lesser penalty than leviable under the Act upon a producer, seller, distributor, trader or service providers, provided the following conditions are met;

1.        Such producer, seller, distributor, trader or service provider included in the cartel had made full and true disclosure in respect of the alleged violations and such disclosure is vital.

2.        Such disclosure has been made before receipt of DG s report on investigation order under section 26 of the Act

3.        The party making disclosure s continues to co-operate with the Commission till the completion of proceedings before the commission.

4.        The party making disclosure s has;

a)        Complied with the condition of which the lesser penalty was imposed and

b)        Not given false evidence.

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APPLICATION FOR RERA REGISTRATION

Ø Application of registration u/s4 to be made as per the Form ‘A’ prescribed under Rule 3(3) and along with the same declaration has to be filled in Form ‘B’ as per Rule 3(6).

Ø The concept of 70:30 is mentioned in section 4(2)(i)(d).

Ø Registration is guaranteed under section 5.

Ø Registration can be revoked u/s 7.

Registration and obligation of real estate

Ø As per RERA it now mandatory that real estate agents selling the premises in Real estate project have to register u/s9 by complying as per the form ‘G’ prescribed under Rule 11(2)

Ø As per Rule 12(4) the registration shall be valid for period of 5years.

Ø The provision for renewal in respect of Real estate agent should not be done as per Rule 13.

Ø There are various obligation caused on Real estate agent under Rule 14

Ø Revocation of registration of breach of provision mentioned in Rule15.

Ø As per the Rule 16 Real estate agents has to maintain and preserves separate books, accounts, documents. 70% of realization from allottees in a separate bank account

1.    The Act mandates that a promoter shall deposit 70% of the amount realized from the allottees, from time to time, in a separate account to be maintained in a scheduled bank. This is intended to cover the cost of construction and the land cost and the amount deposited shall be used only for the concerned project.

2.    The promoter shall be entitled to withdraw the amounts from the separate account, to cover the cost of the project, in proportion to the percentage of completion of the project. However, such withdrawal can only be made after it is certified by an engineer, an architect and chartered accountant in practice that the withdrawal is in proportion to the percentage of completion of the project

3.    The promoter is also required to get his accounts audited within six months after the end of every financial year by a practicing chartered accountant. , Further, he is required to produce a statement of accounts duly certified and signed by such chartered accountant, and it shall be verified during the audit that (i) the amounts collected for a particular project have been utilised for the project; and (ii) the withdrawal has been in compliance with the proportion to the percentage of completion of the project.

The application for registration must disclose the following information:

Ø Details of the promoter (such as its registered address, type of enterprise such proprietorship, societies, partnership, companies, competent authority)’.

Ø A brief detail of the projects launched by the promoter, in the past five years, whether already completed or being developed, as the case may be, including the current status of the projects, any delay in its completion, details of cases pending, details of type of land and payments pending.

Ø An authenticated copy of the approval and commencement certificate received from the competent authority and where the project is proposed to be developed in phases, an authenticated copy of the approval and commencement certificate of each of such phases.

Ø The sanctioned plan, layout plan and specifications of the project, plan of development works to be executed in the proposed project and the proposed facilities to be provided thereof and the locational details of the project.

Ø Performa of the allotment letter, agreement for sale and conveyance deed proposed to be signed with the allottees.

Ø Number, type and carpet area of the apartments and the number and areas of garages for sale in the project.

Ø The names and addresses of the promoter's real estate agents, if any, and contractors, architects, structural engineers affiliated with the project.

A declaration by the promoter supported by an affidavit stating that:

Ø He has a legal title to the land, free from all encumbrances, and in case there is an encumbrance, then details of such encumbrances on the land including any right, title, interest or name of any party in or over such land along with the details;

Ø The time period within which he undertakes to complete the project or the phase; and

Ø 70% of the amounts realised for the real estate project from the allottees, from time to time, shall be deposited in a separate account to be maintained in a scheduled bank to cover the cost of construction and the land cost and shall be used only for that purpose.

DUTIES OF PROMOTER

Ø Upon receiving the login id and password Promoter has to create his web page on the website of the authority

Ø To enter all the details of the proceed project on his web page

Ø Once in three months the promoter has to update the data on web page in respect of booking status, approvals, status of the project etc..

Ø Advertising material should reflect should the registration details of the promoter.

Ø Promoter has to abide by all the obligation under section 11(3) at time of time of booking

Ø As per the section 12 promoters will solely responsible for on regards as the advertisement of prospectus.

Ø As per section 13 promoter cannot accept more than 10% of the cost of apartment without executing the contract.(in MOFA it is used to be 20 %)

Ø As per section 15 promoters cannot transfer the Real estate project to the third party without obtaining the consent 2/3rd of the allotters.

Ø  As per section 16 promoters has to insure Real estate projects in respect of land and building and construction of Real Estate project.

Ø As per s.17 promoter has to transfer the title when the norms are fulfilled for its transfer.(this done with help of amendment of land titling bill 2010 which gives the entire mechanism of land titling

 BENEFITS OF THE CUSTOMER

The Authority shall in order to facilitate the growth and promotion of a healthy, transparent, efficient and competitive real estate sector make recommendations to the appropriate Government of the competent authority, as the case may be, on,—

(a) protection of interest of the allottees, promoter and real estate agent;

(b) creation of a single window system for ensuring time bound project approvals and clearances for timely completion of the project;

(c) creation of a transparent and robust grievance redressal mechanism against acts of ommission and commission of competent authorities and their officials;

(d) measures to encourage investment in the real estate sector including measures to increase financial assistance to affordable housing segment;

(e) measures to encourage construction of environmentally sustainable and affordable housing, promoting standardisation and use of appropriate construction materials, fixtures, fittings and construction techniques;

(f) measures to encourage grading of projects on various parameters of development including grading of promoters;

 (g) measures to facilitate amicable conciliation of disputes between the promoters and the allottees through dispute settlement forums set up by the consumer or promoter

associations;

(h) measures to facilitate digitization of land records and system towards conclusive property titles with title guarantee;

(i) to render advice to the appropriate Government in matters relating to the development of real estate sector;

(j) any other issue that the Authority may think necessary for the promotion of the real estate sector.

CIVIL COMPLAINT

No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any matter which the Authority or the adjudicating officer or the Appellate Tribunal is empowered by or under this Act to determine and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act.

 (1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act or the rules or regulations made there under save on a complaint in writing made by the Authority or by any officer of the Authority duly authorised by it for this purpose.

(2) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.

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THE REAL ESTATE (REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT) ACT, 2016

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 which seeks to protect home-buyers as well as help boost investments in the real estate industry.

Coverage of this act:-

Ø The Real Estate Act makes it mandatory for all commercial and residential real estate projects where the land is over 500 square meters, or eight apartments, to register with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) for launching a project, in order to provide greater transparency in project-marketing and execution

Ø For on-going projects which have not received completion certificate on the date of commencement of the Act, will have to seek registration within 3 months. Application for registration must be either approved or rejected within a period of 30 days from the date of application by the RERA. On successful registration, the promoter of the project will be provided with a registration number, a login id and password for the applicants to fill up essential details on the website of the RERA. For failure to register, a penalty of up to 10 percent of the project cost or three years' imprisonment may be imposed.

PROTECTION OF BUYERS

Ø The Act prohibits unaccounted money from being pumped into the sector and as of now 70 per cent of the money has to be deposited in bank accounts through cheques.

Real Estate Regulatory Authority and Appellate Tribunal

It will help to establish state-level Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (RERAs) to regulate transactions related to both residential and commercial projects and ensure their timely completion and handover. Appellate Tribunals will now be required to adjudicate cases in 60 days as against the earlier provision of 90 days and Regulatory Authorities to dispose of complaints in 60 days while no time frame was indicated in earlier Bill.

Certain areas to be exempted from the RERA

Ø The Real Estate Act makes it mandatory for all commercial and residential real estate projects where the land is over 500 square meters, or eight apartments, to register with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) for launching a project, in order to provide greater transparency in project-marketing and execution. Where the area of land does not exceed to 500 square meters or the no. of apartments does exceed to be developed.

Ø Provided that: If the appropriate government considers it necessary, it may, reduce the threshold below five hundred square meters or eight apartments, as the case may be.

Ø Promoter has received the completion certificate for real estate project prior to commencement act.

REAL ESTATE REGULATORY AUTHORITY

Ø  Authority is established and incorporated under section 20. According to section u/s 35 Authority has power to take sue motto complaints and inquire against information and conduct the enquiry or invest on that matter. Authority can take cognizance on the sue motto if they necessary to so.

Ø According to section 36 interim order cabs are passed by the authority. 

Ø  Authority can be issue direction u/s 37.

Ø Authority has power u/s 38 to impose the penalty or interest.

Ø Authority has power to rectify its order any time within a period of 2years from the date of order made u/s 39.

If somebody does not agree to the direction or order of Authority then that person can file an appeal under REAL ESTATE APPELATE TRIBUNAL.

REAL ESTATE APPELATE TRIBUNAL

Ø REAL ESTATE APPELATE TRIBUNAL is established under section 43. As per s.43 (5) appeal of promoter would be entertained only on depositing at least 30% of the penalty on higher percentage determined by the appellate tribunal.

Ø As per section 44(5) appellate authority should be endeavor to dispose off the appeal within a period of 60days from the date of receipt.

Ø As per section 58 appeals can be filled against Appellate Tribunal within 60 days of communication of the order of the Appellate tribunal. In case of delay adequate reasoning is required.

OFFENSES AND PENALITIES

Ø As per section 59(1) punishment for non registeration u/s 3 for promoter would be penalty which may extend up to 10% of the estimated cost of the Real Estate Project as determined by the Authority.

Ø As per s.59(2) if the order passed u/s 59(1) is not complicated then promoter shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extended up to 3yrs or with fine which extend to further 10% of the estimated cost of the project.

Ø As per s.60 the penalty for contravention of s4. of promoter would be penalty which may extend up to 5% the estimated cost of the Real Estate Project as determined by the Authority.

Ø As per the s.61 penalty for the contravention of provision of this act and rules other than s.3 and s.4 for the promoter shall be a penalty which may extend to 5% of the estimated cost of the real estate project as determined by the authority

Ø As per s.62 non registration and contravention u/s 9 and 10 done by Real estate agent, in such case he shall be liable to a penalty of rs10000 for everyday during such default continues, which may cumulatively extend up to 5%of the cost of the plot, apppartment or building, as the case may be, of the Real estate project, for which the sale or purchase has been facilitated as determined by the authority.

Ø As per s.63 penalty for failure to comply with the order of Authority would be penalty for everyday during which such default continues, which may cumulatively extend up to 5% of the real estate project as determined by the authority

Ø As per s.64 punishment for contravention of order of Appellate Tribunal by promoter shall be imprisonment for term which may extend up to 3yrs or fine for everyday during which such default continues, which may cumulatively extend up to 10% of the estimated cost of the real estate project or with both.

Ø As per s.65 penalty for failure to comply with order of the Authority by the real estate agent shall be a penalty for everyday during which default continues, which may cumulatively extend up to 5% of the estimated cost of plot, apartment or building or the case may be.

Ø As per s.68 punishment for the failure to comply with order of Authority by allottee shall be imprisonment for a term which may extend up to one year or with fine for everyday during which default continues, which may cumulatively extend up to 10% of the plot or with both

Ø As per the compounding of offences can be done either before or after institution of prosecution before court and any payments of sum shall not in any case, exceeded the maximum amount of the fine which may be imposed for the offense so compounded.

Ø As per section s.80 cognizance of offence can be taken by court on a complaint in writing made by the authority or by any officer of the authority duly authorized by it for this purpose.

We, "PNJ Legal Consultants" are one of the well known organizations engaged in providing Consultancy Services keeping in mind the Client Service Mentality.

Our team members deliver excellent performance in providing these services and our clients can avail the services at affordable prices.

Our sophisticated team has complete knowledge of various exercises and technicalities that are used in our services. Our services includes Strategy Consulting, GST Consulting, Asset Management, Feasibility Study, International Arbitration, Due Dilligence, Franchisee Consulting, Financial Audits, Operational Audits, Tax Heaven Registrations, Shareholder Agreements, Start up Consulting, IP Consulting, Taxation Services, Accounting system design and Mergers Acquisitions.

Contact at parascs@gmail.com or refer website www.pnjlegal.com