IEPF Transfer and Refund Rules G.S.R. 854(E)

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016

Amounts to be credited to the Fund, transfer of unpaid dividend and the underlying shares to the Fund, the statements in IEPF-1 to IEPF-4, claims for refund in IEPF-5, and the accounting and audit of the Fund.

12 Rules

G.S.R. 854(E) Notification

IEPF-5 Refund claim

G.S.R. 854(E) Enacted 05 September 2016 Enforced 07 September 2016 Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Made under

The Companies Act, 2013 Chapter VIII

s. 124 s. 125 s. 469

12 rules

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Opening text

Preamble

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 05th September, 2016

G.S.R.854(E).-In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1), (2),(3),(4),(8),(9), (10) and (11) of section 125 and sub-section (6) of section 124 read with section 469 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:-

Chapter I

The Fund and its Accounts

7 rules

R. 1 Short title, extent and commencement

Open rule

(1) These rules may be called the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016.

(2) They shall come into force with effect from the 7th September 2016.

R. 2 Definitions

Open rule

(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “Act” means the Companies Act, 2013;

(b) “Authority” means the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority constituted under subsection (5) of section 125 of the Act;

1[(d) "Company" means a company defined in sub-section (20) of section 2 of the Act and includes 'corresponding new bank' as defined in sub-section (d) of section 2 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970) and clause (b) of section 2 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980) 2, State Bank of India constituted under section 3 of the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), 'subsidiary bank' as defined in clause (k) of section 2 of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Bank) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959) and includes any other entity which is required to transfer any fund to Investor Education and Protection Fund in accordance with any Act or statute governing it 3and any transferee company in respect of the assets and liabilities of transferor company;

3(da) "Corporate action" means any action taken by the company relating to transfer of shares and all the benefits accruing on such shares 4including, bonus shares, split, consolidation, fraction shares etc., except right issue to the Authority;

(e) “Existing IEPF” means the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) constituted under section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);

(f) “Fund” means the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) constituted under section 125 of the Act;

(h) “Member” means member of the Authority appointed under sub-section (6) of section 125 of the Act; and

(i) “Section” means the section of the Act.

(2) Words and expressions used in these rules and not defined herein but defined in the Act or in the Companies (Specification of Definitions Details) Rules, 2014, shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act or in the said rules.

2. Words ins. by G.S.R. 343(E), dated 1st May, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 1st May, 2019.

3. Clause (da) ins., and the words "and any transferee company in respect of the assets and liabilities of transferor company" ins. into clause (d), by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

4. Word ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, for the former word "namely".

5. Former clause (g), which read: "(g) 'Investor' means any person, who has committed money in shares, or debentures, bond or deposits under a scheme or plan of a company registered under the Act;", omitted by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

2. Definitions.- (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “Act” means the Companies Act, 2013;

(b) “Authority” means the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority constituted under subsection (5) of section 125 of the Act;

1[(d) "Company" means a company defined in sub-section (20) of section 2 of the Act and includes 'corresponding new bank' as defined in sub-section (d) of section 2 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970) and clause (b) of section 2 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980) [, State Bank of India constituted under section 3 of the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), 'subsidiary bank' as defined in clause (k) of section 2 of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Bank) Act, 1959 (38 of 1959) and includes any other entity which is required to transfer any fund to Investor Education and Protection Fund in accordance with any Act or statute governing it [and any transferee company in respect of the assets and liabilities of transferor company]];

[(da) "Corporate action" means any action taken by the company relating to transfer of shares and all the benefits accruing on such shares [including], bonus shares, split, consolidation, fraction shares etc., except right issue to the Authority;]

(e) “Existing IEPF” means the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) constituted under section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);

(f) “Fund” means the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) constituted under section 125 of the Act;

* * * * *

(h) “Member” means member of the Authority appointed under sub-section (6) of section 125 of the Act; and

(i) “Section” means the section of the Act.

1. Clause (d) subs. by G.S.R. 178(E), dated 28th February, 2017 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2017), w.e.f. 28th February, 2017, for the former clause, which read: "(d) 'Company' means company as defined in sub-section (20) of section 2 of the Act and includes 'corresponding new bank' as defined in sub-section (d) of section 2 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970) and clause (b) of section 2 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980);".
2. Words ins. by G.S.R. 343(E), dated 1st May, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 1st May, 2019.
3. Clause (da) ins., and the words "and any transferee company in respect of the assets and liabilities of transferor company" ins. into clause (d), by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
4. Word ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, for the former word "namely".
5. Former clause (g), which read: "(g) 'Investor' means any person, who has committed money in shares, or debentures, bond or deposits under a scheme or plan of a company registered under the Act;", omitted by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

R. 3 Fund

Open rule

(1) The Authority shall administer the Fund.

(2) There shall be credited to the Fund, the following amounts, namely:-

(a) all amounts payable as mentioned in clause (a) to (n) of sub-section (2) of section 125 of the Act;

(b) all shares in accordance with sub-section (6) of section 124 of the Act;

(d) all grants, fees and charges received by the Authority under these rules;

(e) all sums received by the Authority from such other sources as may be decided upon by the Central Government;

(f) all income earned by the Authority in any year;

1(fa) all shares held by the Authority in accordance with proviso of sub-section (9) of section 90 of the Act and all the resultant benefits arising out of such shares, without any restrictions;

2(g) all amounts payable as mentioned in sub-section (3) of section 10B of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970, section 10B of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 3, sub-section (3) of section 38A of the State Bank of India Act, 1955 and section 40A of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Bank) Act, 1959; and

(h) all other sums of money collected by the Authority as envisaged in the Act.

1. Clause (fa) ins. by G.S.R. 396(E), dated 9th June, 2021 (IEPFA (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2021), w.e.f. 9th June, 2021.

2. Clause (g) subs. by G.S.R. 178(E), dated 28th February, 2017 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2017), w.e.f. 28th February, 2017, for the former clause, which read: "(g) all amounts payable as mentioned in sub-section (3) of section 10B of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 and section 10B of Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980; and".

3. Words ins. by G.S.R. 343(E), dated 1st May, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 1st May, 2019.

4. Words "[except clause (g)]" omitted by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, from sub-rule (4)(a).

(3) In case of term deposits and debentures of companies, due unpaid or unclaimed interest shall be transferred to the Fund along with the transfer of the matured amount of such term deposits and debentures.

(4) (a) All the money, which accrue under sub section (2) 4* * of section 125 of the Act shall be deposited in the Consolidated Fund of India under the Major Head ‘0075- Miscellaneous General Services – 104 – Unclaimed and Unpaid dividends, deposits and debentures etc.’. Such sums along with amount deposited under section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 shall be transferred to the Fund in the non-interest bearing Public Account after taking due approval of Parliament through Appropriation Act. This non-interest bearing Public Account shall be termed as IEPF Fund and shall be utilised for the purposes provided under sub-section (3) of section 125 of the Act.

(b) (i) All amounts remitted by the companies shall initially be accounted for under the following heads of Accounts:-

Major Head 0075 – Miscellaneous General Services

Minor Head 104 – Unpaid dividend Of Companies.

(ii) Grants and donations given to the Fund by the State Governments, the Central Government Companies or any other institutions for the purpose of the Fund as also the interest or other income received out of the Investments made from the Fund shall be credited to a separate sub-head under “800 – Other Receipts” below the MH 0075 – Misc. General Services.

(iii) Amount booked under the above receipt head shall be transferred to the Fund account under Major Head ‘8235 – General and other Reserve Fund – 116 -IE & PF’ by the PAO, Ministry of Corporate Affairs after making suitable budget provision under Major Head ‘3451 – Secretariat Economic Services 797 – Transfer to Reserve Fund Deposit Account – Transfer to Investor’s Education and Protection Fund’. In case the amounts of receipts in a year is more than the budget provision made under Major Head 3451 transfer to the Fund, the difference shall be transferred to the Fund in subsequent year, after obtaining approval of the Budget Division of Department of Economic Affairs and after making adequate budget provision in the relevant year.

(iv) Budget provision in connection with the activities to be financed from the Fund shall be made under Major Head 3451 – Secretariat Economic Services 090 Secretariat – Investor’s Education and Protection Fund. Actual expenditure under the head shall be recouped from the Fund and the amount so recouped shall be accounted for under the Major Head ‘3451’ as Deduct entry below Minor Head ‘902 – Deduct – amount met from Investor’s Education and Protection Fund’ with contra debit to Major Head – ‘8235 – General and Other Reserve Funds -116 – Investor’s Education and Protection Fund’.

3. Fund.- (1) The Authority shall administer the Fund.

(2) There shall be credited to the Fund, the following amounts, namely:-

(a) all amounts payable as mentioned in clause (a) to (n) of sub-section (2) of section 125 of the Act;

(b) all shares in accordance with sub-section (6) of section 124 of the Act;

(d) all grants, fees and charges received by the Authority under these rules;

(e) all sums received by the Authority from such other sources as may be decided upon by the Central Government;

(f) all income earned by the Authority in any year;

[(fa) all shares held by the Authority in accordance with proviso of sub-section (9) of section 90 of the Act and all the resultant benefits arising out of such shares, without any restrictions;]

[(g) all amounts payable as mentioned in sub-section (3) of section 10B of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970, section 10B of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 [, sub-section (3) of section 38A of the State Bank of India Act, 1955] and section 40A of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Bank) Act, 1959; and]

(h) all other sums of money collected by the Authority as envisaged in the Act.

1. Clause (fa) ins. by G.S.R. 396(E), dated 9th June, 2021 (IEPFA (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2021), w.e.f. 9th June, 2021.
2. Clause (g) subs. by G.S.R. 178(E), dated 28th February, 2017 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2017), w.e.f. 28th February, 2017, for the former clause, which read: "(g) all amounts payable as mentioned in sub-section (3) of section 10B of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 and section 10B of Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980; and".
3. Words ins. by G.S.R. 343(E), dated 1st May, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 1st May, 2019.
4. Words "[except clause (g)]" omitted by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, from sub-rule (4)(a).

(4) (a) All the money, which accrue under sub section (2) [* *] of section 125 of the Act shall be deposited in the Consolidated Fund of India under the Major Head ‘0075- Miscellaneous General Services – 104 – Unclaimed and Unpaid dividends, deposits and debentures etc.’. Such sums along with amount deposited under section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 shall be transferred to the Fund in the non-interest bearing Public Account after taking due approval of Parliament through Appropriation Act. This non-interest bearing Public Account shall be termed as IEPF Fund and shall be utilised for the purposes provided under sub-section (3) of section 125 of the Act.

(b) (i) All amounts remitted by the companies shall initially be accounted for under the following heads of Accounts:-

Major Head 0075 – Miscellaneous General Services

Minor Head 104 – Unpaid dividend Of Companies.

R. 4 Accounts and audit

Open rule

(1) The Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records as given in Schedule. to these rules and prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form as may be specified by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

(2) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited annually by the Internal Audit Party of the Office of Chief Controller of Accounts and Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at Such intervals and any expenditure incurred in connection with such audit shall be payable by the Authority to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Authority shall have the same rights and privileges and authority in Connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor General generally has in connection with the audit of the Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any of the offices of the Authority.

(4) The accounts of the Authority as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government and that Government shall cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.

4. Accounts and audit,- (1) The Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records as given in Schedule. to these rules and prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form as may be specified by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

R. 5 Statement to be furnished to the Fund

Open rule

1(1) Any amount required to be credited by the companies to the Fund as provided under clauses (a) to (n) of sub-section (2) of section 125 of the Act shall be remitted online along with a Statement in Form No. IEPF 1 containing details of such transfer to the Authority within a period of thirty days of such amounts becoming due to be credited to the Fund.

3(4A) The companies which have transferred any amount referred to in clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (2) of section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) to Investor Education and Protection Fund or Central Government, but have not filed the statement or have filed the statement in any format other than in excel template, as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 5, shall submit details mentioned in sub-rule (1) of rule 5 in Form No. IEPF 1A along with excel template within sixty days of notification of these amended rule.

(5) The amount may also be remitted by Electronic Fund Transfer in such manner, as may be specified by the Central Government.

(6) (a) On receipt of the statement. the Authority shall enter the details of such receipt in a Register maintained physically or electronically by it in respect of each company every year, and reconcile the amount remitted and collected, with the concerned designated bank on monthly basis.

(b) Each designated bank shall furnish an abstract of such receipts during the month to the Authority within seven days after the close of every month.

4(c) The company shall maintain the record filed under sub – rule (1) in the same format along with all supporting documents and the Authority shall have the powers to inspect such records.

(7) The provisions of this rule shall be applicable mutatis mutandis in respect of the amounts to be credited to the Fund in pursuance of clauses (h) to (m) of sub-section (2) of section 125.

5(8) Every company shall within a period of sixty days after the holding of Annual General Meeting or the date on which it should have been held as per the provisions of section 96 of the Act, whichever is earlier and every year thereafter till completion of the seven years period, identify the unclaimed amounts, as referred in subsection (2) of section 125 of the Act, as on the date of closure of financial year the account of which are to be adopted in the Annual General Meeting as per sub-section (1) of section 137 of the Act, separately furnish and upload on its own website and also on website of Authority or any other website as may be specified by the Government, a statement or information of unclaimed and unpaid amounts separately for each of the previous seven financial years through Form No. IEPF 2, containing following information, namely:-

5(a) the names and last known addresses of the persons entitled to receive the sum;

5(b) the nature of amount;

5(c) the amount to which each person is entitled;

5(d) the due date for transfer into the Investor Education and Protection Fund; and

5(e) such other information as may be considered necessary.

2. Former sub-rules (2), (3) and (4), setting out the challan-based remittance procedure through Punjab National Bank, omitted by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

3. Sub-rule (4A) ins. by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund)Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

4. Clause (c) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, for the former clause, which read: "(c) The company shall maintain record consisting of name, last known address, amount, folio number or client ID, certificate number, beneficiary details etc. of the persons in respect of whom unpaid or unclaimed amount has remained unpaid or unclaimed for a period of seven years and has been transferred to the Fund and the Authority shall have the powers to inspect such records."

5. Sub-rule (8) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, for the former sub-rule (8).

5. Statement to be furnished to the Fund.- [(1) Any amount required to be credited by the companies to the Fund as provided under clauses (a) to (n) of sub-section (2) of section 125 of the Act shall be remitted online along with a Statement in Form No. IEPF 1 containing details of such transfer to the Authority within a period of thirty days of such amounts becoming due to be credited to the Fund.]

* * * * *

[(4A) The companies which have transferred any amount referred to in clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (2) of section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) to Investor Education and Protection Fund or Central Government, but have not filed the statement or have filed the statement in any format other than in excel template, as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 5, shall submit details mentioned in sub-rule (1) of rule 5 in Form No. IEPF 1A along with excel template within sixty days of notification of these amended rule.]

(5) The amount may also be remitted by Electronic Fund Transfer in such manner, as may be specified by the Central Government.

(b) Each designated bank shall furnish an abstract of such receipts during the month to the Authority within seven days after the close of every month.

[(c) The company shall maintain the record filed under sub – rule (1) in the same format along with all supporting documents and the Authority shall have the powers to inspect such records.]

(7) The provisions of this rule shall be applicable mutatis mutandis in respect of the amounts to be credited to the Fund in pursuance of clauses (h) to (m) of sub-section (2) of section 125.

[(8) Every company shall within a period of sixty days after the holding of Annual General Meeting or the date on which it should have been held as per the provisions of section 96 of the Act, whichever is earlier and every year thereafter till completion of the seven years period, identify the unclaimed amounts, as referred in subsection (2) of section 125 of the Act, as on the date of closure of financial year the account of which are to be adopted in the Annual General Meeting as per sub-section (1) of section 137 of the Act, separately furnish and upload on its own website and also on website of Authority or any other website as may be specified by the Government, a statement or information of unclaimed and unpaid amounts separately for each of the previous seven financial years through Form No. IEPF 2, containing following information, namely:-

(a) the names and last known addresses of the persons entitled to receive the sum;

(b) the nature of amount;

(d) the due date for transfer into the Investor Education and Protection Fund; and

(e) such other information as may be considered necessary.]

1. Sub-rule (1) subs. by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, for the former sub-rule (1), which read: "(1) Any amount required to be credited by the companies to the Fund as provided under clause (a) to (n) of sub-section (2) of section 125 of the Act shall be remitted into the specified branches of Punjab National Bank, which is the accredited Bank of the Pay and Accounts Office, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and other authorised banks engaged by the MCA-21 system, within a period of thirty days of such amounts becoming due to be credited to the Fund."
2. Former sub-rules (2), (3) and (4), setting out the challan-based remittance procedure through Punjab National Bank, omitted by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
3. Sub-rule (4A) ins. by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund)Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
4. Clause (c) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, for the former clause, which read: "(c) The company shall maintain record consisting of name, last known address, amount, folio number or client ID, certificate number, beneficiary details etc. of the persons in respect of whom unpaid or unclaimed amount has remained unpaid or unclaimed for a period of seven years and has been transferred to the Fund and the Authority shall have the powers to inspect such records."
5. Sub-rule (8) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, for the former sub-rule (8).

R. 6 Manner of transfer of shares under sub-section (6) of section 124 to the Fund

Open rule

1(1) The shares shall be credited to DEMAT Account of the Authority to be opened by the Authority for the said purpose, within a period of thirty days of such shares becoming due to be transferred to the Fund:

1Provided that, in case the beneficial owner has encashed any dividend warrant 2or any dividend amount has been credited to bank account of the owner of such shares during the last seven years, such shares shall not be required to be transferred to the Fund even though some dividend warrants may not have been encashed:

13Provided further that in cases where the period of seven years provided under sub-section (5) of section 124 has been completed or being completed during the period from 7th September, 2016 to 31st October, 2017, the due date of transfer of such shares shall be deemed to be 31st October, 2017.

14Provided further that transfer of shares by the companies to the Fund shall be deemed to be transmission of shares and the procedure to be followed for transmission of shares shall be followed by the companies while transferring the shares to the fund.

14Explanation.- For removal of all doubts, it is hereby clarified that all shares in respect of which dividend has been transferred to Investor Education and Protection Fund on or before the 7th September 2016, shall also be transferred by the company in the name of Investor Education and Protection Fund.

1(2) For the purposes of effecting transfer of such shares, the Board shall authorise the Company Secretary or any other person to sign the necessary documents.

1(3) The company shall follow the following procedure while transferring the shares, namely:-

1(a) The company shall inform, at the latest available address, the shareholder concerned regarding transfer of shares three months before the due date of transfer of shares and also simultaneously publish a notice in the leading newspaper in English and regional language having wide circulation informing the concerned that the names of such shareholders and their folio number or DP ID - Client ID are available on their website duly mentioning the website address.

1(b) In case, where there is a specific order of Court or Tribunal or statutory Authority restraining any transfer of such shares and payment of dividend or where such shares are pledged or hypothecated under the provisions of the Depositories Act, 1996 or shares already been transferred under sub-rule (1) above, the company shall not transfer such shares to the Fund:

1Provided that the company shall furnish details of such shares and unpaid dividend to the Authority in Form IEPF-4 within thirty days from the end of financial year.

1(c) For the purposes of effecting the transfer, where the shares are dealt with in a depository-

1(i) the Company shall inform the depository by way of corporate action, where the shareholders have their accounts for transfer in favour of the Authority.

1(ii) on receipt of such intimation, the depository shall effect the transfer of shares in favour of DEMAT account of the Authority.

15(d) For the purposes of effecting the transfer shares held in physical form-

15(i) the Company Secretary or the person authorised by the Board shall make an application, on behalf of the concerned shareholder, to the company, for issue of a new share certificate;

15(ii) on receipt of the application under clause (a), a new share certificate for each such shareholder shall be issued and it shall be stated on the face of the certificate that “Issued in lieu of share certificate No….. for the purpose of transfer to IEPF” and the same be recorded in the register maintained for the purpose;

15(iii) particulars of every share certificate shall be in Form No. SH-1 as specified in the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014;

15(iv) after issue of a new share certificate, the company shall inform the depository by way of corporate action to convert the share certificates into DEMAT form and transfer in favour of the Authority.

1(4) The company shall make such transfers through corporate action and shall preserve copies for its records.

16(5) While effecting such transfer, the company shall send a statement to the Authority in Form No. IEPF-4 within thirty days of the corporate action taken under clause (c) of sub-rule (3) of rule 6 containing details of such transfer and the company shall also attach a copy of the public notice published under clause (a) of sub-rule (3) of rule 6 in Form No. IEPF-4.

1(6) The voting rights on shares transferred to the Fund shall remain frozen until the rightful owner claims the shares:

1Provided that for the purpose of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011, the shares which have been transferred to the Authority shall not be excluded while calculating the total voting rights.

17(7) The company shall maintain all such statements filed under sub – rule (5) in the same format along with all supporting documents and the Authority shall have the powers to inspect such records.

18(8) All benefits accruing on such shares like bonus shares, split, consolidation, fraction shares and the like except right issue shall also be credited to such DEMAT account [by the company which shall send a statement to the Authority in Form No. IEPF-4 within thirty days of the corporate action containing details of such transfer.]

19(9) The shares held in such DEMAT account shall not be transferred or dealt with in any manner whatsoever except for the purposes of transferring the shares back to the claimant as and when he approaches the Authority or in accordance with sub-rules (10), (11) and (11A).

1(10) If the company is getting delisted, the Authority shall surrender shares on behalf of the shareholders in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Delisting of Equity Shares) Regulations, 2009 and the proceeds realised shall be credited to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

1(11) In case the company whose shares or securities are held by the Authority is being wound up, the Authority may surrender the securities to receive the amount entitled on behalf of the security holder and credit the amount to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

110(11A) In case an application for purchase of shares under section 236 is received through the company, the Authority may receive the amount entitled on behalf of the minority shareholders from the company as per procedures provided under sub-section 5 of the said section 236 and credit the amount to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds:

110Provided that Authority before such receipt of money on behalf of such shareholders shall verify that the conditions provided under the relevant section of the Act and rules framed thereunder have been satisfied and shall also call a report from the company on the following, namely:-

110(a) whether the acquirer to whom the shares held by the Authority would be transferred has fulfilled the requirements of section 236;

110(b) whether the shares have been valued in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 236 and the rules made thereunder; and

110(c) any other relevant information:

110Provided further that the company shall be liable under all circumstances whatsoever to indemnify the Authority in case of any dispute or lawsuit that may be initiated and the Authority shall not be liable to indemnify the minority shareholder or the Company or any other person for any liability arising, leading to any litigation or complaint arising thereof:

110Provided also that any claimant entitled to claim transfer of such shares from the Authority under sub-section (6) of section 124 shall only be entitled to the amount received by the Authority on behalf of the minority shareholder without any interest thereon.

1(12) Any further dividend received on such shares shall be credited to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

1(13) Any amount required to be credited by the companies to the Fund as provided under sub-rules (10), (11) and sub-rule (12) shall be remitted online to the Authority within a period of thirty days from the date such amount becomes due and the details thereof shall be furnished to the Authority in Form No. IEPF-1.

110(13A) Any amount required to be credited by the companies to the Fund as provided under sub-rule (11A) shall be remitted online to the Authority within a period of thirty days from the date such amount becomes due and the details thereof shall be furnished to the Authority in Form IEPF-1.

1(14) Authority shall furnish its report to the Central Government as and when noncompliance of the rules by companies came to its knowledge.

2. Words ins. by G.S.R. 396(E), dated 9th June, 2021 (IEPFA (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2021), w.e.f. 9th June, 2021.

3. Proviso ins. by G.S.R. 1267(E), dated 13th October, 2017 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2017), w.e.f. 13th October, 2017, for an earlier proviso deeming the due date as 31st May, 2017.

4. Proviso and Explanation ins. by the same G.S.R. 1267(E), dated 13th October, 2017, w.e.f. 13th October, 2017.

5. Clause (d) subs. by the same G.S.R. 1267(E), dated 13th October, 2017, w.e.f. 13th October, 2017, for the former clause, which provided for duplicate share certificates rather than new share certificates, and referred to a share transfer Form No. SH-4 route instead of DEMAT conversion by corporate action.

6. Sub-rule (5) subs. by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

7. Sub-rule (7) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

8. Sub-rule (8) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

9. Sub-rule (9) subs. by the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund), Third Amendment, Rules, 2021 (G.S.R. 888(E), dated 28th December, 2021), w.e.f. 28th December, 2021, for the former sub-rule (9), which did not reference sub-rule (11A).

10. Sub-rule (11A) ins., and sub-rule (13A) ins., by the same Third Amendment Rules, 2021, w.e.f. 28th December, 2021.

[6. Manner of transfer of shares under sub-section (6) of section 124 to the Fund. (1) The shares shall be credited to DEMAT Account of the Authority to be opened by the Authority for the said purpose, within a period of thirty days of such shares becoming due to be transferred to the Fund:

Provided that, in case the beneficial owner has encashed any dividend warrant [or any dividend amount has been credited to bank account of the owner of such shares] during the last seven years, such shares shall not be required to be transferred to the Fund even though some dividend warrants may not have been encashed:

[Provided further that in cases where the period of seven years provided under sub-section (5) of section 124 has been completed or being completed during the period from 7th September, 2016 to 31st October, 2017, the due date of transfer of such shares shall be deemed to be 31st October, 2017.]

[Provided further that transfer of shares by the companies to the Fund shall be deemed to be transmission of shares and the procedure to be followed for transmission of shares shall be followed by the companies while transferring the shares to the fund.

Explanation.- For removal of all doubts, it is hereby clarified that all shares in respect of which dividend has been transferred to Investor Education and Protection Fund on or before the 7th September 2016, shall also be transferred by the company in the name of Investor Education and Protection Fund.]

(2) For the purposes of effecting transfer of such shares, the Board shall authorise the Company Secretary or any other person to sign the necessary documents.

(3) The company shall follow the following procedure while transferring the shares, namely:-

(a) The company shall inform, at the latest available address, the shareholder concerned regarding transfer of shares three months before the due date of transfer of shares and also simultaneously publish a notice in the leading newspaper in English and regional language having wide circulation informing the concerned that the names of such shareholders and their folio number or DP ID - Client ID are available on their website duly mentioning the website address.

(b) In case, where there is a specific order of Court or Tribunal or statutory Authority restraining any transfer of such shares and payment of dividend or where such shares are pledged or hypothecated under the provisions of the Depositories Act, 1996 or shares already been transferred under sub-rule (1) above, the company shall not transfer such shares to the Fund:

Provided that the company shall furnish details of such shares and unpaid dividend to the Authority in Form IEPF-4   within thirty days from the end of financial year.

(i) the Company shall inform the depository by way of corporate action, where the shareholders have their accounts for transfer in favour of the Authority.

(ii) on receipt of such intimation, the depository shall effect the transfer of shares in favour of DEMAT account of the Authority.

[(d) For the purposes of effecting the transfer shares held in physical form-

(i) the Company Secretary or the person authorised by the Board shall make an application, on behalf of the concerned shareholder, to the company, for issue of a new share certificate;

(ii) on receipt of the application under clause (a), a new share certificate for each such shareholder shall be issued and it shall be stated on the face of the certificate that “Issued in lieu of share certificate No….. for the purpose of transfer to IEPF” and the same be recorded in the register maintained for the purpose;

(iii) particulars of every share certificate shall be in Form No. SH-1 as specified in the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014;

(iv) after issue of a new share certificate, the company shall inform the depository by way of corporate action to convert the share certificates into DEMAT form and transfer in favour of the Authority.]

(4) The company shall make such transfers through corporate action and shall preserve copies for its records.

[(5) While effecting such transfer, the company shall send a statement to the Authority in Form No. IEPF-4 within thirty days of the corporate action taken under clause (c) of sub-rule (3) of rule 6 containing details of such transfer and the company shall also attach a copy of the public notice published under clause (a) of sub-rule (3) of rule 6 in Form No. IEPF-4.]

(6) The voting rights on shares transferred to the Fund shall remain frozen until the rightful owner claims the shares:

Provided that for the purpose of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011, the shares which have been transferred to the Authority shall not be excluded while calculating the total voting rights.

[(7) The company shall maintain all such statements filed under sub – rule (5) in the same format along with all supporting documents and the Authority shall have the powers to inspect such records.]

[(8) All benefits accruing on such shares like bonus shares, split, consolidation, fraction shares and the like except right issue shall also be credited to such DEMAT account [by the company which shall send a statement to the Authority in Form No. IEPF-4 within thirty days of the corporate action containing details of such transfer.]]

[(9) The shares held in such DEMAT account shall not be transferred or dealt with in any manner whatsoever except for the purposes of transferring the shares back to the claimant as and when he approaches the Authority or in accordance with sub-rules (10), (11) and (11A).]

(10) If the company is getting delisted, the Authority shall surrender shares on behalf of the shareholders in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Delisting of Equity Shares) Regulations, 2009 and the proceeds realised shall be credited to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

(11) In case the company whose shares or securities are held by the Authority is being wound up, the Authority may surrender the securities to receive the amount entitled on behalf of the security holder and credit the amount to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

[(11A) In case an application for purchase of shares under section 236 is received through the company, the Authority may receive the amount entitled on behalf of the minority shareholders from the company as per procedures provided under sub-section 5 of the said section 236 and credit the amount to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds:

Provided that Authority before such receipt of money on behalf of such shareholders shall verify that the conditions provided under the relevant section of the Act and rules framed thereunder have been satisfied and shall also call a report from the company on the following, namely:-

(a) whether the acquirer to whom the shares held by the Authority would be transferred has fulfilled the requirements of section 236;

(b) whether the shares have been valued in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 236 and the rules made thereunder; and

Provided further that the company shall be liable under all circumstances whatsoever to indemnify the Authority in case of any dispute or lawsuit that may be initiated and the Authority shall not be liable to indemnify the minority shareholder or the Company or any other person for any liability arising, leading to any litigation or complaint arising thereof:

Provided also that any claimant entitled to claim transfer of such shares from the Authority under sub-section (6) of section 124 shall only be entitled to the amount received by the Authority on behalf of the minority shareholder without any interest thereon.]

(12) Any further dividend received on such shares shall be credited to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

(13) Any amount required to be credited by the companies to the Fund as provided under sub-rules (10), (11) and sub-rule (12) shall be remitted online to the Authority within a period of thirty days from the date such amount becomes due and the details thereof shall be furnished to the Authority in Form No. IEPF-1.

[(13A) Any amount required to be credited by the companies to the Fund as provided under sub-rule (11A) shall be remitted online to the Authority within a period of thirty days from the date such amount becomes due and the details thereof shall be furnished to the Authority in Form IEPF-1.]

(14) Authority shall furnish its report to the Central Government as and when noncompliance of the rules by companies came to its knowledge.]

1. Rule 6 subs. by G.S.R. 178(E), dated 28th February, 2017 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2017), w.e.f. 28th February, 2017, for the former rule 6, which credited shares to an "IEPF suspense account" rather than a DEMAT account and used a materially different transfer procedure.
2. Words ins. by G.S.R. 396(E), dated 9th June, 2021 (IEPFA (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2021), w.e.f. 9th June, 2021.
3. Proviso ins. by G.S.R. 1267(E), dated 13th October, 2017 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2017), w.e.f. 13th October, 2017, for an earlier proviso deeming the due date as 31st May, 2017.
4. Proviso and Explanation ins. by the same G.S.R. 1267(E), dated 13th October, 2017, w.e.f. 13th October, 2017.
5. Clause (d) subs. by the same G.S.R. 1267(E), dated 13th October, 2017, w.e.f. 13th October, 2017, for the former clause, which provided for duplicate share certificates rather than new share certificates, and referred to a share transfer Form No. SH-4 route instead of DEMAT conversion by corporate action.
6. Sub-rule (5) subs. by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
7. Sub-rule (7) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
8. Sub-rule (8) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
9. Sub-rule (9) subs. by the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund), Third Amendment, Rules, 2021 (G.S.R. 888(E), dated 28th December, 2021), w.e.f. 28th December, 2021, for the former sub-rule (9), which did not reference sub-rule (11A).
10. Sub-rule (11A) ins., and sub-rule (13A) ins., by the same Third Amendment Rules, 2021, w.e.f. 28th December, 2021.

R. 6A Manner of transfer of shares under sub-section (9) of section 90 of the Act to the Fund

Open rule

1Provided that transfer of shares by the companies to the Fund shall be deemed to be transmission of shares and the procedure to be followed for transmission of shares shall be followed by the companies while transferring the shares to the fund:

1Provided further that such shares shall be transferred to the Authority without any restrictions and no application shall be filed for claiming back such shares from the Authority.

1(2) For the purposes of effecting transfer of such shares, the Board shall authorise the Company Secretary or any other person to sign the necessary documents.

1(3) The company shall follow the following procedure while transferring the shares, namely:-

1(A) for the purposes of effecting the transfer, where the shares are dealt with in a depository-

1(i) the company shall inform the depository by way of corporate action, where the shareholders have their accounts for transfer in favour of the Authority,

1(ii) on receipt of such intimation, the depository shall effect the transfer of shares in favour of DEMAT account of the Authority;

1(B) for the purposes of effecting the transfer of shares held in physical form-

1(i) the Company Secretary or the person authorised by the Board shall make an application, on behalf of the concerned shareholder, to the company, for issue of a new share certificate;

1(ii) on receipt of the application under clause (a), a new share certificate for each such shareholder shall be issued and it shall be stated on the face of the certificate that

1“Issued in lieu of share certificate No….. for the purpose of transfer to IEPF under sub-section (9) of section 90 of the Act” and the same be recorded in the register maintained for the purpose;

1(iii) particulars of every share certificate shall be in Form No. SH-1 as specified in the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014;

1(iv) after issue of a new share certificate, the company shall inform the depository by way of corporate action to convert the share certificates into DEMAT form and transfer in favour of the Authority.

1(4) The company shall make such transfers through corporate action and shall preserve

1copies for its records.

1(5) While effecting such transfer, the company shall send a statement to the Authority

1in Form No. IEPF-4 within thirty days of the corporate action taken under sub-rule (4) of rule 6A containing details of such transfer and the company shall also attach a copy of order of the Tribunal under sub-section (8) of section 90 of the Act along with declaration that no application under sub-section (9) of section 90 of the Act has been made or is pending before the Tribunal.

1(6) The voting rights on shares transferred to the Fund shall remain frozen:

1(7) The company shall maintain all such statements filed under sub – rule (3) in the same format along with all supporting documents and the Authority shall have the powers to inspect such records.

1(8) All benefits accruing on such shares like bonus shares, split, consolidation, fraction shares and the like except right issue shall also be credited to such DEMAT account [by the company which shall send a statement to the Authority in Form No. IEPF-4 within thirty days of the corporate action containing details of such transfer.]

1(9) If the company is getting delisted, the Authority shall surrender shares on behalf of the shareholders in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Delisting of Equity Shares) Regulations, 2009 and the proceeds realised shall be credited to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

1(10) In case the company whose shares or securities are held by the Authority is being wound up, the Authority may surrender the securities to receive the amount entitled on behalf of the security holder and credit the amount to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

1(11) Any further dividend received on such shares shall be credited to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

12(12) Any amount required to be credited by the companies to the Fund as provided under sub-rules (9), (10) and sub-rule (11) shall be remitted online to the Authority and the details thereof shall be furnished to the Authority in Form IEPF-1 within thirty days of such amount becoming due to be credited to the Fund.

1Provided further that all such amounts shall be transferred to the Authority without any restrictions and no application shall be filed for claiming back such amounts from the Authority.

1(13) Authority shall furnish its report to the Central Government as and when non- compliance of the rules by companies came to its knowledge.

1. Rule 6A ins. by G.S.R. 396(E), dated 9th June, 2021 (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2021), w.e.f. 9th June, 2021.

2. Words subs. for "into the specified account of the IEPF Authority maintained in the Punjab National Bank" vide G.S.R. 414(E), dated 16th July, 2024 (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2024), w.e.f. 16th July, 2024.

[6A. Manner of transfer of shares under sub-section (9) of section 90 of the Act to the Fund.-

(1) The shares shall be credited to DEMAT Account of the Authority to be opened by the Authority for the said purpose, within a period of thirty days of such shares becoming due to be transferred to the Fund:

Provided that transfer of shares by the companies to the Fund shall be deemed to be transmission of shares and the procedure to be followed for transmission of shares shall be followed by the companies while transferring the shares to the fund:

Provided further that such shares shall be transferred to the Authority without any restrictions and no application shall be filed for claiming back such shares from the Authority.

(2) For the purposes of effecting transfer of such shares, the Board shall authorise the Company Secretary or any other person to sign the necessary documents.

(3) The company shall follow the following procedure while transferring the shares, namely:-

(A) for the purposes of effecting the transfer, where the shares are dealt with in a depository-

(i) the company shall inform the depository by way of corporate action, where the shareholders have their accounts for transfer in favour of the Authority,

(ii) on receipt of such intimation, the depository shall effect the transfer of shares in favour of DEMAT account of the Authority;

(B) for the purposes of effecting the transfer of shares held in physical form-

(i) the Company Secretary or the person authorised by the Board shall make an application, on behalf of the concerned shareholder, to the company, for issue of a new share certificate;

(ii) on receipt of the application under clause (a), a new share certificate for each such shareholder shall be issued and it shall be stated on the face of the certificate that

“Issued in lieu of share certificate No….. for the purpose of transfer to IEPF under sub-section (9) of section 90 of the Act” and the same be recorded in the register maintained for the purpose;

(iii) particulars of every share certificate shall be in Form No. SH-1 as specified in the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014;

(4) The company shall make such transfers through corporate action and shall preserve

copies for its records.

(5) While effecting such transfer, the company shall send a statement to the Authority

in Form No. IEPF-4 within thirty days of the corporate action taken under sub-rule (4) of rule 6A containing details of such transfer and the company shall also attach a copy of order of the Tribunal under sub-section (8) of section 90 of the Act along with declaration that no application under sub-section (9) of section 90 of the Act has been made or is pending before the Tribunal.

(6) The voting rights on shares transferred to the Fund shall remain frozen:

(7) The company shall maintain all such statements filed under sub – rule (3) in the same format along with all supporting documents and the Authority shall have the powers to inspect such records.

(8) All benefits accruing on such shares like bonus shares, split, consolidation, fraction shares and the like except right issue shall also be credited to such DEMAT account [by the company which shall send a statement to the Authority in Form No. IEPF-4 within thirty days of the corporate action containing details of such transfer.]

(9) If the company is getting delisted, the Authority shall surrender shares on behalf of the shareholders in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Delisting of Equity Shares) Regulations, 2009 and the proceeds realised shall be credited to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

(10) In case the company whose shares or securities are held by the Authority is being wound up, the Authority may surrender the securities to receive the amount entitled on behalf of the security holder and credit the amount to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

(11) Any further dividend received on such shares shall be credited to the Fund and a separate ledger account shall be maintained for such proceeds.

[(12) Any amount required to be credited by the companies to the Fund as provided under sub-rules (9), (10) and sub-rule (11) shall be remitted online to the Authority] and the details thereof shall be furnished to the Authority in Form IEPF-1 within thirty days of such amount becoming due to be credited to the Fund.

Provided further that all such amounts shall be transferred to the Authority without any restrictions and no application shall be filed for claiming back such amounts from the Authority.

(13) Authority shall furnish its report to the Central Government as and when non- compliance of the rules by companies came to its knowledge.]

1. Rule 6A ins. by G.S.R. 396(E), dated 9th June, 2021 (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2021), w.e.f. 9th June, 2021.
2. Words subs. for "into the specified account of the IEPF Authority maintained in the Punjab National Bank" vide G.S.R. 414(E), dated 16th July, 2024 (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2024), w.e.f. 16th July, 2024.

Chapter II

Transfer of Shares and Refund

6 rules

R. 7 Refunds to claimants from Fund

Open rule

3(1) Any person whose shares, unclaimed dividend, matured deposits, matured debentures, application money due for refund, or interest thereon, sale proceeds of fractional shares, redemption proceeds of preference shares etc., has been transferred to the Fund, may claim the shares under proviso to sub-section (6) of section 124 or apply for refund under clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 125 or under proviso to sub-section (3) of section 125, as the case may be, to the Authority by submitting an online application in Form IEPF-5 available on the website www.iepf.gov.in along with fee specified by the Authority from time to time in consultation with the Central Government.

4(2) Upon submission, Form No. IEPF-5 shall be transmitted online to the Nodal Officer of the company for verification of claim:

4Provided that the claimant after making an application in Form No. IEPF-5 under sub rule 1, shall send original physical share certificate, original bond, deposit certificate, debenture certificate, as the case may be, along with Indemnity Bond, any other document as enumerated in Form No. IEPF-5, duly signed by him, to the Nodal Officer of the concerned company at its registered office for verification of the claim.

5(2A) Every company which is required to credit amounts or shares to the fund or has deposited the amount or transferred the shares to the Fund shall nominate a Nodal Officer, who shall either be a Director or Chief financial Officer or Company Secretary of the company, for the purposes of verification of claims and coordination with Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority:

5Provided that a company may appoint one or more Officer as Deputy Nodal Officer to assist the Nodal Officer for the purposes of verification of claim and for coordination with Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority:

5Provided further that the Nodal Officer shall be solely liable for all actions of any officer appointed as Deputy Nodal Officer:

5Provided also that in case a company fails to appoint Nodal Officer, every director of the company shall be deemed to be nodal officer and be liable for any failure to comply with requirement of these rules.

(2B) The details of the Nodal Officer and Deputy Nodal Officer duly indicating his or her designation, postal address, telephone and mobile number and company authorized e-mail ID shall be communicated to the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority in Form No. IEPF-2 within fifteen days from the date of publication of these rules and the company shall display the name of Nodal Officer and his e-mail ID on its website:

Provided that any change in the Nodal Officer or his details shall be communicated to the Authority through Form No. IEPF-2 within seven days of such change along with board resolution thereof.

(3) The company shall, within thirty days from the date of receipt of claim, send an online verification report to the Authority after verification of details in Form No. IEPF-5 in the format specified by the Authority along with all the documents submitted by the claimant and shall attach the scanned copy of all the original documents submitted by the claimant in physical form duly certified by its Nodal Officer alongwith the e-verification report along with a scanned copy of both sides of original physical share certificate or original bond or deposit or debenture certificate/s duly cancelled and certified:

Provided that if the online verification report is not sent by the company within thirty days of filing of claim, the company may do so by paying additional fee of fifty rupees for every day subject to maximum of two thousand and five hundred rupees:

Provided further that the company shall be liable to maintain the original documents submitted to it by the claimant and shall produce such documents whenever required:

6Provided also that in case of non-receipt of verification report along with documents by the Authority after the expiry of sixty days from the date of filing of Form No. IEPF-5, the Authority may reject Form No. IEPF-5, after sending a communication to the claimant and the concerned company, on the e-mail address of the claimant and the company, to furnish response within a period of fifteen days:

6Provided also that for failure to submit verification report of the claim in accordance with these rules, the company and its Nodal Officer shall be punishable as per the provisions of the Act.

Explanation.- In case (i) loss of original physical share certificate or original bond or deposit or debenture certificate or proof of entitlement, the company and the claimant shall follow the procedure as laid down in the Companies (Share Capital and Debenture) Rules, 2014 , the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligation and Disclosure Requirements) Regulation, guidelines, procedures and circulars issued from time to time and Schedule III of these rules and attach certified copies of all documents as may be required under the said rules or guidelines with the e-verification report; (ii) In addition, the company shall attach a scanned copy of both sides of share certificate generated under clause (d) of sub-rule (3) of rule 6 of these rules along with the e-verification report;(iii) The Company shall be solely responsible for collecting original physical share certificate or original bond or deposit or debenture certificate or proof of entitlement from the claimant and shall be liable for any misuse thereof.

(4) After verification of the entitlement of the claimant-

(a) to the amount claimed, the Authority and then Drawing and Disbursement Officer of the Authority shall present a bill to the Pay and Accounts Office for e- payment as per the guidelines,

(b) to the shares claimed, the Authority shall issue a refund sanction order with the approval of the Competent Authority and shall credit the shares to the DEMAT account of the claimant to the extent of the claimant’s entitlement.

(5) The Authority shall, in its records, cause a note to be made of all the payments made under sub-rule (4).

(6) An application received for refund of any claim under this rule duly verified by the concerned company shall be disposed off by the Authority within sixty days from the date of receipt of the verification report from the company, complete in all respects and any delay beyond sixty days shall be recorded in writing specifying the reasons for the delay and the same shall be communicated to the claimant in writing or by electronic means.

7(7) Where the Authority, on examining any application for claim, finds it necessary to call for further information or finds such application or e-form or document to be defective or incomplete in any respect, the Authority shall give intimation of such information called for or defects or incompleteness, by e-mail on the email address of the claimant and the company, which has filed such application or e-form or document, directing him or it to furnish such information or to rectify such defects or incompleteness or to re-submit such application or e-Form or document within fifteen days from the date of receipt of such communication, failing which the Authority may reject the claim or e-form No. IEPF-5:

7Provided that if such information or incompleteness is called from the claimant, he shall file the e-form and shall send such documents as called for within fifteen days, duly signed by him, to the Nodal Officer of the concerned company at its registered office for verification of the claim and company shall send a revised verification report:

7Provided further that if any such information or incompleteness is called from the company, the company shall file the revised verification report and shall send such documents as called for within thirty days:

7Provided also that the provisions of sub-rule (3) of rule 7 shall apply mutatis mutandis to this sub-Rule.

8(8) In case, claimant is a legal heir or successor or administrator or nominee of the registered share holder, the claimant shall ensure to submission of self-attested scanned copy of all documents detailed in ScheduleII of these rules online along with the Form No. IEPF-5:

8Provided that in case of loss of securities held in physical form, he has to ensure to submission of self-attested scanned copy of additional documents detailed in Schedule III of these rules online along with the Form No. IEPF-5:

8Provided further that the claimant shall submit in original all these documents duly signed by him, to the Nodal Officer of the concerned company at its registered office for verification of the claim.

9(9) In case, claimant is a legal heir or successor or administrator or nominee of any other registered security or in cases where request of transfer or transmission of shares is received after the transfer of shares by company to the Authority, the company shall verify all requisite documents required for registering transfer or transmission and shall issue letter to the claimant indicating his entitlement to the said security and furnish a copy of the same to the Authority while verifying the claim of such claimant through its e-verification report.

9Provided that the authority shall dispose such request of transfer or transmission based on the e-verification report of the company subject to verification of such request.

(10) 1

(11) The company shall be liable under all circumstances whatsoever to indemnify the Authority in case of any dispute or lawsuit that may be initiated due to any incongruity or inconsistency or disparity in the verification report or otherwise and the Authority shall not be liable to indemnify the security holder or Company for any liability arising out of any discrepancy in verification report submitted etc., leading to any litigation or complaint arising thereof.

2(b) Any fraudulent claim by the claimant shall be deemed to be fraud within the meaning of section 447 of the Act and the claimant shall be liable accordingly.

2(c) If any person deceitfully personates an owner of any security or of any share warrant or coupon issued in pursuance of this Act and thereby files any claim to obtain or attempts to obtain any such security or interest or any such warrant or coupon due to the lawful owner, he shall be punishable under sections 57, 447 and 448 of the Act.

2. Clauses (b) and (c) ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

3. Sub-rule (1) subs. by G.S.R. 1265(E), dated 22nd October, 2017 (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2017), and further amended by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

4. Sub-rule (2) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

5. Sub-rule (2A) ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

6. Provisos subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, for the corresponding provisos which prescribed a ninety-day period.

7. Sub-rule (7) ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

8. Sub-rule (8) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

9. Sub-rule (9) ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

[7. Refunds to claimants from Fund. –

(1) Any person whose shares, unclaimed dividend, matured deposits, matured debentures, application money due for refund, or interest thereon, sale proceeds of fractional shares, redemption proceeds of preference shares etc., has been transferred to the Fund, may claim the shares under proviso to sub-section (6) of section 124 or apply for refund under clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 125 or under proviso to sub-section (3) of section 125, as the case may be, to the Authority by submitting an online application in Form IEPF-5 available on the website www.iepf.gov.in along with fee specified by the Authority from time to time in consultation with the Central Government.]

[(2) Upon submission, Form No. IEPF-5 shall be transmitted online to the Nodal Officer of the company for verification of claim:

Provided that the claimant after making an application in Form No. IEPF-5 under sub rule 1, shall send original physical share certificate, original bond, deposit certificate, debenture certificate, as the case may be, along with Indemnity Bond, any other document as enumerated in Form No. IEPF-5, duly signed by him, to the Nodal Officer of the concerned company at its registered office for verification of the claim.]

[(2A) Every company which is required to credit amounts or shares to the fund or has deposited the amount or transferred the shares to the Fund shall nominate a Nodal Officer, who shall either be a Director or Chief financial Officer or Company Secretary of the company, for the purposes of verification of claims and coordination with Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority:

Provided that a company may appoint one or more Officer as Deputy Nodal Officer to assist the Nodal Officer for the purposes of verification of claim and for coordination with Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority:

Provided further that the Nodal Officer shall be solely liable for all actions of any officer appointed as Deputy Nodal Officer:

Provided also that in case a company fails to appoint Nodal Officer, every director of the company shall be deemed to be nodal officer and be liable for any failure to comply with requirement of these rules.]

Provided that any change in the Nodal Officer or his details shall be communicated to the Authority through Form No. IEPF-2 within seven days of such change along with board resolution thereof.

Provided further that the company shall be liable to maintain the original documents submitted to it by the claimant and shall produce such documents whenever required:

[Provided also that in case of non-receipt of verification report along with documents by the Authority after the expiry of sixty days from the date of filing of Form No. IEPF-5, the Authority may reject Form No. IEPF-5, after sending a communication to the claimant and the concerned company, on the e-mail address of the claimant and the company, to furnish response within a period of fifteen days:

Provided also that for failure to submit verification report of the claim in accordance with these rules, the company and its Nodal Officer shall be punishable as per the provisions of the Act.]

(4) After verification of the entitlement of the claimant-

(a) to the amount claimed, the Authority and then Drawing and Disbursement Officer of the Authority shall present a bill to the Pay and Accounts Office for e- payment as per the guidelines,

(5) The Authority shall, in its records, cause a note to be made of all the payments made under sub-rule (4).

[(7) Where the Authority, on examining any application for claim, finds it necessary to call for further information or finds such application or e-form or document to be defective or incomplete in any respect, the Authority shall give intimation of such information called for or defects or incompleteness, by e-mail on the email address of the claimant and the company, which has filed such application or e-form or document, directing him or it to furnish such information or to rectify such defects or incompleteness or to re-submit such application or e-Form or document within fifteen days from the date of receipt of such communication, failing which the Authority may reject the claim or e-form No. IEPF-5:

Provided that if such information or incompleteness is called from the claimant, he shall file the e-form and shall send such documents as called for within fifteen days, duly signed by him, to the Nodal Officer of the concerned company at its registered office for verification of the claim and company shall send a revised verification report:

Provided further that if any such information or incompleteness is called from the company, the company shall file the revised verification report and shall send such documents as called for within thirty days:

Provided also that the provisions of sub-rule (3) of rule 7 shall apply mutatis mutandis to this sub-Rule.]

[(8) In case, claimant is a legal heir or successor or administrator or nominee of the registered share holder, the claimant shall ensure to submission of self-attested scanned copy of all documents detailed in ScheduleII of these rules online along with the Form No. IEPF-5:

Provided that in case of loss of securities held in physical form, he has to ensure to submission of self-attested scanned copy of additional documents detailed in Schedule III of these rules online along with the Form No. IEPF-5:

Provided further that the claimant shall submit in original all these documents duly signed by him, to the Nodal Officer of the concerned company at its registered office for verification of the claim.]

[(9) In case, claimant is a legal heir or successor or administrator or nominee of any other registered security or in cases where request of transfer or transmission of shares is received after the transfer of shares by company to the Authority, the company shall verify all requisite documents required for registering transfer or transmission and shall issue letter to the claimant indicating his entitlement to the said security and furnish a copy of the same to the Authority while verifying the claim of such claimant through its e-verification report.

Provided that the authority shall dispose such request of transfer or transmission based on the e-verification report of the company subject to verification of such request.]

(10) * * * * *

[(b) Any fraudulent claim by the claimant shall be deemed to be fraud within the meaning of section 447 of the Act and the claimant shall be liable accordingly.

(c) If any person deceitfully personates an owner of any security or of any share warrant or coupon issued in pursuance of this Act and thereby files any claim to obtain or attempts to obtain any such security or interest or any such warrant or coupon due to the lawful owner, he shall be punishable under sections 57, 447 and 448 of the Act.]

1. Former sub-rule (10) omitted by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
2. Clauses (b) and (c) ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
3. Sub-rule (1) subs. by G.S.R. 1265(E), dated 22nd October, 2017 (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Amendment Rules, 2017), and further amended by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
4. Sub-rule (2) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
5. Sub-rule (2A) ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
6. Provisos subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019, for the corresponding provisos which prescribed a ninety-day period.
7. Sub-rule (7) ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
8. Sub-rule (8) subs. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.
9. Sub-rule (9) ins. by the same G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019, w.e.f. 20th August, 2019.

R. 8 Power to direct payment of amount due to the Fund

Open rule

(3) Authority shall furnish report to the Central Government within sixty days of end of financial year giving details of who have failed to transfer the due amount to the Fund.

(4) Authority shall also furnish a report to the Central Government by end of next financial year giving details of companies who have failed to file information referred to in sub-rule (8) of rule 5.

1. Sub-rules (1) and (2) omitted by G.S.R. 571(E), dated 14th August, 2019 (Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Second Amendment Rules, 2019), w.e.f. 20th August, 2019; sub-rules (3) and (4) renumbered accordingly by the same notification.

R. 9 Transfer of assets, liabilities, etc., of the existing IEPF to the Authority

Open rule

On and from the date of establishment of the Authority,-

(a) any reference to the existing IEPF in any law other than these rules or in any contract or other instrument shall be deemed as a reference to the Authority;

(b) all properties and assets, movable and immovable, of, or belonging to, the existing IEPF, shall vest in the Authority;

(c) all rights and liabilities of the existing IEPF shall be transferred to, and be the rights and liabilities of the Authority;

(d) without prejudice to the provisions of clause (c), all debts, obligations and liabilities incurred, all contracts entered into and all matters and things engaged to be done by, with or for the existing IEPF immediately before that date, for or in connection with the purpose of the said existing IEPF shall be deemed to have been incurred. entered into, or engaged to be done by, with or for, the Authority;

(e) all sums of money due to the existing IEPF immediately before that date shall be deemed to be due to the Authority; and

(f) all suits and other legal proceedings instituted or which could have been instituted by or against the existing IEPF, immediately before that date may be continued or may be instituted by or against the Authority.

9. Transfer of assets, liabilities, etc., of the existing IEPF to the Authority.- On and from the date of establishment of the Authority,-

(a) any reference to the existing IEPF in any law other than these rules or in any contract or other instrument shall be deemed as a reference to the Authority;

(b) all properties and assets, movable and immovable, of, or belonging to, the existing IEPF, shall vest in the Authority;

(c) all rights and liabilities of the existing IEPF shall be transferred to, and be the rights and liabilities of the Authority;

(e) all sums of money due to the existing IEPF immediately before that date shall be deemed to be due to the Authority; and

R. 10 Returns and reports

Open rule

Returns and reports

(1) The Authority shall furnish to the Central Government at such time and in such form and manner as may be specified or as the Central Government may direct, such returns and statements and such particulars with regard to its activity.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-rule the Authority shall, within one hundred and eighty days after the end of each financial year, submit to the Central Government a report in such form, as may be specified, giving a true and full account of its activities during the previous financial year.

R. 11 Protection of action taken in good faith

Open rule

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Central Government or Authority or any officer of the Central Government or any member, officer or other employee of the Authority for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under these rules.

R. 12 Repeal and savings

Open rule

(1) Investor Education and Protection Fund (Awareness and Protection of Investors) Rules, 2001 and Investor Education and Protection Fund (Uploading of information regarding unpaid and unclaimed amounts lying with Companies) Rules, 2012 are hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken or purported to have been done or taken under the rules repealed by sub-rule (1) shall, in so far as it is inconsistent with the provisions of these rules, be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of these rules.

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016

Preamble

The Fund and its Accounts

Transfer of Shares and Refund

No matching sections