Chapter VII - Management and Administration
Section 117
Section 117: resolutions and agreements to be filed
Copies of the resolutions and agreements listed in section 117(3), with any explanatory statement, must be filed with the Registrar within thirty days of their passing or making.
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This article is for general information. Refer to the Companies Act, 2013 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) A copy of every resolution or any agreement, in respect of matters specified in sub-section (3) together with the explanatory statement under section 102, if any, annexed to the notice calling the meeting in which the resolution is proposed, shall be filed with the Registrar within thirty days of the passing or making thereof in such manner and with such fees as may be prescribed: Provided that the copy of every resolution which has the effect of altering the articles and the copy of every agreement referred to in sub-section (3) shall be embodied in or annexed to every copy of the articles issued after passing of the resolution or making of the agreement. (2) If any company fails to file the resolution or the agreement under sub-section (1) before the expiry of the period specified therein, such company shall be liable to a penalty of ten thousand rupees and in case of continuing failure, with a further penalty of one hundred rupees for each day after the first during which such failure continues, subject to a maximum of two lakh rupees and every officer of the company who is in default including liquidator of the company, if any, shall be liable to a penalty of ten thousand rupees and in case of continuing failure, with a further penalty of one hundred rupees for each day after the first during which such failure continues, subject to a maximum of fifty thousand rupees. (3) The provisions of this section shall apply to— (a) special resolutions; (b) resolutions which have been agreed to by all the members of a company, but which, if not so agreed to, would not have been effective for their purpose unless they had been passed as special resolutions; (c) any resolution of the Board of Directors of a company or agreement executed by a company, relating to the appointment, re-appointment or renewal of the appointment, or variation of the terms of appointment, of a managing director; (d) resolutions or agreements which have been agreed to by any class of members but which, if not so agreed to, would not have been effective for their purpose unless they had been passed by a specified majority or otherwise in some particular manner; and all resolutions or agreements which effectively bind such class of members though not agreed to by all those members; (f) resolutions requiring a company to be wound up voluntarily passed in pursuance of section 59 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016); (g) resolutions passed in pursuance of sub-section (3) of section 179: Provided that no person shall be entitled under section 399 to inspect or obtain copies of such resolutions; Provided further that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in respect of a resolution passed to grant loans, or give guarantee or provide security in respect of loans under clause (f) of sub-section (3) of section 179 in the ordinary course of its business by,— (a) a banking company; (b) any class of non-banking financial company registered under Chapter IIIB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), as may be prescribed in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India; (c) any class of housing finance company registered under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 (53 of 1987), as may be prescribed in consultation with the National Housing Bank; and (h) any other resolution or agreement as may be prescribed and placed in the public domain.
Introduction
Section 117 is the main filing trigger for special resolutions and other key decisions. The list covers special resolutions, unanimous resolutions that would otherwise need a special resolution, managing director appointments, class resolutions, voluntary winding up resolutions, Board resolutions under section 179(3) and prescribed items.
Amendments omitted clause (e), linked voluntary winding up to section 59 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, carved out certain lending resolutions and converted the fines into civil penalties.
Key takeaways
Thirty days
File the copy, with the section 102 explanatory statement if any, within thirty days of passing or making, in the prescribed manner and with the prescribed fee.
Articles copies
Every resolution altering the articles, and every agreement under sub-section (3), must be embodied in or annexed to each copy of the articles issued afterwards.
Penalty
Ten thousand rupees plus one hundred rupees for each day after the first during which the failure continues, capped at two lakh rupees for the company and fifty thousand rupees for each officer in default, including any liquidator.
Identify filable items
Sub-section (3) covers: special resolutions; resolutions agreed by all members that would otherwise need a special resolution; Board resolutions or agreements on the appointment, reappointment, renewal or variation of terms of a managing director; class resolutions and agreements, and those binding a class; resolutions for voluntary winding up under section 59 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016; resolutions under section 179(3); and any other prescribed resolution or agreement placed in the public domain. Clause (e) was omitted with effect from 7 May 2018.
- India Code — consolidated Companies Act, 2013, section 117
- eGazette — Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015 (21 of 2015)
- eGazette — S.O. 1440(E), 29 May 2015 (commencement of Act 21 of 2015)
- eGazette — Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016), Eleventh Schedule
- eGazette — S.O. 3453(E), 15 November 2016 (IBC section 255 commencement)
- eGazette — Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017 (1 of 2018)
- eGazette — S.O. 1833(E), 7 May 2018 (commencement of Act 1 of 2018)
- eGazette — Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020 (29 of 2020)
- eGazette — S.O. 4646(E), 21 December 2020 (commencement of Act 29 of 2020)
- eGazette — S.O. 325(E), 22 January 2021 (commencement of Act 29 of 2020)
- eGazette — Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014, G.S.R. 260(E)
- eGazette — G.S.R. 464(E), 5 June 2015 (exemptions for private companies)
- eGazette — G.S.R. 583(E), 13 June 2017 (amending G.S.R. 464(E))
- eGazette — S.O. 902(E), 26 March 2014 (commencement from 1 April 2014)
Board resolutions under section 179(3)
No person is entitled under section 399 to inspect or obtain copies of these resolutions.
Since 22 January 2021, clause (g) does not apply to resolutions to grant loans, give guarantees or provide security under section 179(3)(f) in the ordinary course of business by a banking company, or by prescribed classes of non-banking financial companies and housing finance companies.
G.S.R. 464(E) provides that clause (g) does not apply to a private company. Under paragraph 2A, inserted by G.S.R. 583(E), this applies only if the private company has not defaulted in filing its financial statements or annual return.
File on time
File within thirty days of passing or making, together with the section 102 explanatory statement, if any, in the prescribed manner and with the prescribed fee. Rule 24 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014, as notified in 2014, prescribed Form No. MGT.14. Check the current rules before filing.
Since 21 December 2020, a company that fails to file within the period is liable to a penalty of ten thousand rupees, plus one hundred rupees for each day after the first during which the failure continues, up to two lakh rupees. Every officer in default, including any liquidator, faces the same daily structure up to fifty thousand rupees.
Practical preparation
After each meeting, tag every resolution against the sub-section (3) list. Check any private-company or lending exception. Attach the explanatory statement. File within thirty days. Update the articles copies for any alteration.
Practical checklist
Do
- Track the thirty-day filing date from the date the resolution is passed or the agreement is made.
- Update printed and electronic copies of the articles after an alteration.
Avoid
- Do not assume section 179(3) resolutions are exempt for a private company that is in default of its financial statement or annual return filings.
- Do not omit the explanatory statement where one was annexed to the notice.
Illustrative example
Hypothetical: articles altered at an EGM
A public company passes a special resolution altering its articles.
Tag
The resolution is a special resolution under section 117(3)(a).
File
The company files it with the explanatory statement within thirty days.
Articles
Every copy of the articles issued afterwards embodies or annexes the resolution.
Outcome
- The company meets both the filing duty and the articles-copy duty under section 117(1).
Glossary
- Special resolution
- A resolution passed by the majority required under section 114(2), which section 117(3)(a) requires to be filed.
- Explanatory statement
- The section 102 statement annexed to the meeting notice, which must be filed with the resolution.
Frequently asked questions
What is the filing deadline?
Thirty days from the passing of the resolution or the making of the agreement.
Must a private company file Board resolutions under section 179(3)?
G.S.R. 464(E) says clause (g) does not apply to a private company. Under G.S.R. 583(E), this applies only if the company has not defaulted in filing its financial statements or annual return.
What is the penalty for late filing?
Ten thousand rupees plus one hundred rupees for each day after the first during which the failure continues, up to two lakh rupees for the company and fifty thousand rupees for each officer in default, including a liquidator.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 11 October 2026