Ramesh Lulla, v. Union Of India,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 25.04.2019
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAVICHANDRABAABU W.P.Nos.12205, 12208, 12212 & 12217 of 2019 and W.M.P.Nos.12479, 12480, 12485, 12486, 12489, 12494, 12499 & 12502 of 2019 Ramesh Lulla
...Petitioner
(in WP.No.12205 of 2019) Siddharth Lulla
...Petitioner
(in WP.No.12208 of 2019) Vanita Aggarwal
...Petitioner
(in WP.No.12212 of 2019) Sundarraj Nadasan
...Petitioner
(in WP.No.12217 of 2019) Vs.
1.The Union of India Represented by its Secretary Ministry of Corporate Affairs Shastri Bhawan, Dr.Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110 001.
2.The Registrar of Companies Block No.6, B Wing, 2nd Floor Shastri Bhawan, 26 Haddows Road, Chennai-600 006.
...Respondents(in all WPs)
Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the 2nd respondent relating to the impugned orders dated 01.11.2017 uploaded in the website of the 1st respondent insofar as the petitioners are concerned with (DIN) Director Identification Numbers : 01807564, 01807625, 02085458 and 02102296 respectively under Section 164(2)(a) of the Companies Act, First List of Disqualified Directors for the block years 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016 and quash the same
as illegal, arbitrary and devoid of merit and consequentially, directing the respondents to activate the Director Identification Number and Digital Signature of the petitioner or get appointed or reappointed as Director of any Company without any hindrance.
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Velu (in all WPs) For Respondents: Mr.K.K.Thirukkumaran Additional Central Government Standing Counsel (in all WPs) COMMON ORDER Mr.K.K.Thirukkumaran, learned Additional Central Government Standing Counsel takes notice for the respondents. By consent of the parties, these writ petitions are taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2. The petitioners are aggrieved against the impugned orders dated 01.11.2017, disqualifying them as the Directors of the concerned Company.
3. It is not in dispute that the issue involved in these cases, is squarely covered by a decision of this Court made in a batch of similar cases in W.P.Nos.25455/2017 etc., dated 03.08.2018, which was subsequently followed by another batch of similar cases in WP.Nos.23741 & 4981 of 2018 etc., dated 12.04.2019, wherein, the impugned action of disqualification was set aside.
4. In view of the above, these Writ Petitions are allowed and the impugned orders are set aside. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS V) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar mk
To 1.The Union of India Represented by its Secretary Ministry of Corporate Affairs Shastri Bhawan, Dr.Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110 001.
2.The Registrar of Companies Block No.6, B Wing, 2nd Floor Shastri Bhawan, 26 Haddows Road, Chennai-600 006.
+8cc to Mr.P.Stellamary, Advocate, S.R.No.39514 W.P.Nos. 12205, 12208, 12212 & 12217 of 2019 PPA(CO) CS/23/05/2019