(1) This Act may be called the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:

Provided that different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.

10. Insertion of New Part II-AB. After Part II-A of the principal Act, the following part shall be inserted, namely

Part II-AB

SUPERSESSION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BANKING COMPANY

36-ACA. Supersession of Board of Directors in certain cases. (1) Where the Reserve Bank is satisfied, in consultation with the Central Government, that in the public interest or for preventing the affairs of any banking company being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of the depositors or any banking company or for securing the proper management of any banking company, it is necessary so to do, the Reserve Bank may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, supersede the Board of Directors of such banking company for a period not exceeding six months as may be specified in the order:

Provided that the period of supersession of the Board of Directors may be extended from time to time, so, however, that the total period shall not exceed twelve months.

(2) The Reserve Bank may, on supersession of the Board of Directors of the banking company under sub-section (1) appoint in consultation with the Central Government for such period as it may determine, an Administrator (not being an officer of the Central Government or a State Government) who has experience in law, finance, banking, economics or accountancy.

(3) The Reserve Bank may issue such directions to the Administrator as it may deem appropriate and the Administrator shall be bound to follow such directions.

(4) Upon making the order of supersession of the Board of Directors of a banking company, notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956),

(a) the chairman, managing director and other directors shall, as from the date of supersession, vacate their offices as such;

(b) all the powers, functions and duties which may, by or under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or this Act, or any other law for the time being in force, be exercised and discharged by or on behalf of the Board of Directors of such banking company, or by a resolution passed in general meeting of such banking company, shall, until the Board of Directors of such banking company is reconstituted, be exercised and discharged by the Administrator appointed by the Reserve Bank under sub-section (2):

Provided that the power exercised by the Administrator shall be valid notwithstanding that such power is exercisable by a resolution passed in the general meeting of such banking company.

(5) The Reserve Bank may constitute, in consultation with the Central Government, a committee of three or more persons who have experience in law, finance, banking, economics or accountancy to assist the Administrator in the discharge of his duties.

(6) The committee shall meet at such times and places and observe such rules of procedure as may be specified by the Reserve Bank.

(7) The salary and allowances to the Administrator and the members of the committee constituted under sub-section (5) by the Reserve Bank shall be such as may be specified by the Reserve Bank and be payable by the concerned banking company.

(8) On and before the expiration of two months before the expiry of the period of supersession of the Board of Directors as specified in the order issued under sub-section (1), the Administrator of the banking company, shall call the general meeting of the company to elect new directors and reconstitute its Board of Directors.

(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or in any contract, the memorandum or articles of association, no person shall be entitled to claim any compensation for the loss or termination of his office.

(10) The Administrator appointed under sub-section (2) shall vacate office immediately after the Board of Directors of such banking company has been reconstituted. .

11. Amendment of Section 46. In Section 46 of the principal Act,

(a) in sub-section (1), for the words and shall also be liable to fine , the words or with fine, which may extend to one crore rupees or with both shall be substituted;

(b) in sub-section (2),

(i) for the words two thousand rupees , the words twenty lakh rupees shall be substituted;

(ii) for the words one hundred rupees , the words fifty thousand rupees shall be substituted;

(c) in sub-section (4),

(i) for the words fifty thousand rupees , the words one crore rupees shall be substituted;

(ii) for the words two thousand and five hundred rupees , the words one lakh rupees shall be substituted.

12. Amendment of Section 47-A. In Section 47-A of the principal Act, in sub-section (1),

(a) in the opening portion, for the words, brackets and figures sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) , the words, brackets and figures sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) shall be substituted;

(b) for sub-clauses (a) and (b), the following sub-clauses shall be substituted, namely

(a) where the contravention or default is of the nature referred to in sub-section (2) of Section 46, a penalty not exceeding twenty lakh rupees in respect of each offence and if the contravention or default persists, a further penalty not exceeding fifty thousand rupees for everyday, after the first day, during which the contravention or default continues;

(b) where the contravention is of the nature referred to in sub-section (3) of Section 46, a penalty not exceeding twice the amount of the deposits in respect of which such contravention was made;

(c) where the contravention or default is of the nature referred to in sub-section (4) of Section 46, a penalty not exceeding one crore rupees or twice the amount involved in such contravention or default where such amount if quantifiable, whichever is more, and where such contravention or dafault it a continuing one, a further penalty which may extend to one lakh rupees for everyday, after the first day, during which the contravention or default continues. .

13. Amendment of Section 51. In Section 51 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), before the words, brackets, figures and letters sub-sections (1-B), (1-C) and (2) of Section 30 , the figures and letter 29-A, shall be inserted.

14. Amendment of Section 56. In Section 56 of the principal Act,

(a) in clause (j) relating to substitution of Section 18,

(A) in sub-section (1),

(i) for the words State Co-operative Bank , the words a co-operative bank shall be substituted;

(ii) for the brackets and words (hereinafter referred to as a scheduled State co-operative bank ) , the brackets and words (hereinafter referred to as a scheduled co-operative bank ) shall be substituted;

(iii) for the words at least three per cent , the words such per cent shall be substituted; and

(iv) after the words second preceding fortnight , the words as the Reserve Bank may specify, by notification in the Official Gazette, from time to time having regard to the needs for securing the monetary stability in the country shall be inserted;

(B) in the Explanation,

(i) in clause (a),

(1) in sub-clause (ii), the words the Development Bank shall be omitted;

(2) in sub-clauses (iii) and (iv), for the words State co-operative bank , the words Co-operative Bank shall be substituted;

(ii) in clause (c), for the words a corresponding new bank , the words and letters a corresponding new bank or IDBI Bank Ltd. shall be substituted;

(C) after sub-section (1), the following sub-sections shall be inserted, namely

(1-A) If the balance held by co-operative bank referred to in sub-clause (cci) of clause (c) of Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), at the close of business on any day is below the minimum specified under sub-section (1), such co-operative bank shall, without prejudice to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, be liable to pay to the Reserve Bank, in respect of that day, penal interest at a rate of three per cent above the bank rate on the amount by which such balance falls short of the specified minimum, and if the shortfall continues further, the penal interest so charged shall be increased to a rate of five per cent above the bank rate in respect of each subsequent day during which the default continues.

(1-B) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, if the Reserve Bank is satisfied, on an application in writing by the defaulting co-operative bank, that such defaulting co-operative bank had sufficient cause for its failure to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1), it may not demand the payment of the penal interest.

(1-C) The Reserve Bank may, for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified, grant to any co-operative bank such exemptions from the provisions of this section as it thinks fit with reference to all or any of its officers or with reference to the whole or any part of its assets and liabilities. ;

(b) in clause (o) relating to the modification of Section 22,

(A) in sub-section (1),

(i) clause (a) shall be omitted;

(ii) after the proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely

Provided further that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a primary credit society carrying on banking business on or before the commencement of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012, for a period of one year or for such further period not exceeding three years, as the Reserve Bank may, after recording the reasons in writing for so doing, extend. ;

(B) in sub-section (2),

(i) for the words every primary credit society which becomes a primary co-operative bank after such commencement shall before the expiry of three months from the date on which it so becomes a primary co-operative bank , the words, brackets and figures every primary credit society which had become a primary co-operative bank on or before the commencement of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012, shall before the expiry of three months from the date on which it had become a primary co-operative bank shall be substituted;

(ii) the words other than a primary credit society shall be omitted;

(iii) in the proviso,

(a) in clause (ii), for the words thereafter, or , the word thereafter, shall be substituted;

(b) clause (iii) shall be omitted.

(c) in clause (q) relating to modification of Section 24,

(a) sub-clause (i) shall be omitted;

(b) for sub-clause (ii), the following sub-clause shall be substituted, namely

(ii) for sub-section (2-A), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely

(2-A) A scheduled co-operative bank, in addition to the average daily balance which it is, or may be, required to maintain under Section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and every other co-operative bank, in addition to the cash reserve which it is required to maintain under Section 18, shall maintain in India, assets, the value of which shall not be less than such percentage not exceeding forty per cent of the total of its demand and time liabilities in India as on last Friday of the second preceding fortnight as the Reserve Bank may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify from time to time and such assets shall be maintained in such form and manner, as may be specified in such notification. ;

(d) after clause (ri), the following clause shall be inserted, namely

(ria) in Section 26-A, for the words banking companies , the words co-operative bank shall be substituted; ;

(e) in clause (s), in the opening portion, for the words and figures, Sections 29 and 30 , the word and figures Section 29 shall be substituted;

(f) after clause (s), the following clause shall be inserted, namely

(sa) for Section 30, the following section shall be substituted, namely

30. Audit. (1) Without prejudice to anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, where the Reserve Bank is satisfied the it is necessary in the public interest or in the interest of the co-operative bank or its depositors so to do, it may at any time by general or special order direct that an additional audit of the co-operative bank accounts, for any such transactions or class of transactions or for such period or periods as may be specified in the order, shall be conducted and may by the same or a different order appoint a person duly qualified under any law for the time being in force to be an auditor of companies to conduct such audit, and the auditor shall comply with such directions and make a report of such audit to the Reserve Bank and forward a copy thereof to the co-operative bank.

(2) The expenses of, or incidental to, the additional audit specified in the order made by the Reserve Bank shall be borne by the co-operative bank.

(3) The auditor referred to in sub-section (1) shall have such powers, exercise such functions vested in and discharge the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties imposed on auditors of companies by Section 227 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) and also that of the auditors, if any, appointed by the law establishing, constituting or forming the co-operative bank to the extent the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 are not inconsistent with the provisions of such law.

(4) In addition to the matters referred to in the order under sub-section (1) the auditor shall state in his report

(a) whether or not the information and explanation required by him have been found to be satisfactory;

(b) whether or not the transactions of the co-operative bank which came to his notice have been within the powers of the co-operative bank;

(c) whether or not the returns received from branch offices of the co-operative bank have been found adequate for the purpose of his audit;

(d) whether the profit and loss accounts, shows a true balance or profit or loss for the period covered by such account;

(e) any other matter which he considers should be brought to the notice of the Reserve Bank and the shareholders of the co-operative bank. .

AMENDMENT TO THE BANKING COMPANIES (ACQUISITION AND TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGS) ACT, 1970

15. Amendment of Section 3. In Section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970)

(a) for sub-section (2-A), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely

(2-A) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the authorised capital of every corresponding new bank shall be three thousand crores of rupees divided into three hundred crores of fully paid-up shares of ten rupees each:

Provided that the corresponding new bank may reduce the nominal or face value of the shares, and divide the authorised capital into such denomination as it may decide with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank:

Provided further that the Central Government may in consultation with the Reserve Bank and by notification in the Official Gazette increase or reduce the authorised capital as it deems fit so however that the shares in all cases shall be fully paid-up shares. ;

(b) in sub-section (2-B), in clause (c), after the words public issue , the words or rights issue or by issue of bonus shares shall be inserted;

(c) in sub-section (2-BB), after the words public issue , the words or rights issue or by issue of bonus shares shall be inserted;

(d) in sub-section (2-BBA), in clause (a), after the words public issue , the words or rights issue or by issue of bonus shares shall be inserted;

(e) in sub-section (2-C), after the words public issue , the words or rights issue or by issue of bonus shares shall be inserted;

(f) in sub-section (2-E),

(i) for the words one per cent , the words ten per cent shall be substituted;

(ii) in the second proviso, for the words no preference shareholder shall be entitled to exercise voting rights in respect of preference shares held by him in excess of one per cent , the words no preference shareholder, other than the Central Government, shall be entitled to exercise voting rights in respect of preference shares held by him in excess of ten per cent shall be substituted.

AMENDMENT TO THE BANKING COMPANIES (ACQUISITION AND TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGS) ACT, 1980

16. Amendment of Section 3. In Section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980),

(a) for sub-section (2-A), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely

(2-A) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the authorised capital of every corresponding new bank shall be three thousand crores of rupees divided into three hundred crores of fully paid-up shares of ten rupees each:

Provided that the corresponding new bank may reduce the nominal or face value of the shares, and divide the authorised capital into such denomination as it may decide with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank:

Provided further that the Central Government may, in consultation with the Reserve Bank and by notification in the Official Gazette increase or reduce the authorised capital as it deems fit so however that the shares in all cases shall be fully paid-up shares. ;

(b) in sub-section (2-B), in clause (c), after the words public issue , the words or rights issue or by issue of bonus shares shall be inserted;

(c) in sub-section (2-BB), after the words public issue , the words or rights issue or by issue of bonus shares shall be inserted;

(d) in sub-section (2-BBA), in clause (a), after the words public issue , the words or rights issue or by issue of bonus shares shall be inserted;

(e) in sub-section (2-C), after the words public issue , the words or rights issue or by issue of bonus shares shall be inserted;

(f) in sub-section (2-E),

(i) for the words one per cent , the words ten per cent shall be substituted;

(ii) in the second proviso, for the words no preference shareholder shall be entitled to exercise voting rights in respect of preference shares held by him in excess of one per cent , the words no preference shareholder, other than the Central Government, shall be entitled to exercise voting rights in respect of preference shares held by him in excess of ten per cent shall be substituted.

MISCELLANEOUS

17. Amendment of certain enactments. The enactments specified in the Schedule are hereby amended to the extent and in the manner mentioned in the third column thereof.

Chapter II

AMENDMENTS TO THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949

In Section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949) (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the principal Act), for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted, namely

(a) approved securities means the securities issued by the Central Government or any State Government or such other securities as may be specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time; .

In Section 12 of the principal Act,

(A) in sub-section (1)

(i) for clause (ii), the following clause shall be substituted, namely

(ii) that, notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the capital of such banking company consists of

(a) equity shares only; or

(b) equity shares and preference shares:

Provided that the issue of preference share shall be in accordance with the guidelines framed by the Reserve Bank specifying the class of preference shares, the extent of issue of each class of such preference shares (whether perpetual or irredeemable or redeemable), and the terms and conditions subject to which each class of preference shares may be issued:

Provided further that no holder of the preference share, issued by the company, shall be entitled to exercise the voting right specified in clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section 87 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956); ;

(ii) the proviso shall be omitted;

(B) in sub-section (2), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely

Provided that the Reserve Bank may increase, in a phased manner, such ceiling on voting rights from ten per cent to twenty-six per cent. .

After Section 12-A of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely

12-B. Regulation of acquisition of shares or voting rights. (1) No person (hereinafter referred to as the applicant ) shall, except with the previous approval of the Reserve Bank, on an application being made, acquire or agree to acquire, directly or indirectly, by himself or acting in concert with any other person, shares of a banking company or voting rights therein, which acquisition taken together with shares and voting rights, if any, held by him or his relative or associate enterprise or person acting in concert with him, makes the applicant to hold five per cent or more of the paid-up share capital of such banking company or entitles him to exercise five per cent or more of the voting rights in such banking company.

Explanation 1. For the purposes of this sub-section,

(a) associate enterprise means a company, whether incorporated or not, which,

(i) is a holding company or a subsidiary company of the applicant;

(ii) is a joint venture of the applicant; or

(iii) controls the composition of the Board of Directors or other body governing the applicant; or

(iv) exercise, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, significant influence on the applicant in taking financial or policy decisions; or

(v) is able to obtain economic benefits from the activities of the applicant;

(b) relative shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);

(c) persons shall be deemed to be acting in concert who, for a common objective or purpose of acquisition of shares or voting rights in excess of the percentage mentioned in this sub-section, pursuant to an agreement or understanding (formal or informal), directly or indirectly co-operate by acquiring or agreeing to acquire shares or voting rights in the banking company.

Explanation 2. For the purposes of this Act, joint venture means a legal entity in the nature of a partnership engaged in the joint undertaking of a particular transaction for mutual profit or an association of persons or companies jointly undertaking some commercial enterprise wherein all contribute assets and share risks.

(2) An approval under sub-section (1) may be granted by the Reserve Bank if it is satisfied that

(a) in the public interest; or

(b) in the interest of banking policy; or

(c) to prevent the affairs of any banking company being conducted in a manner detrimental or prejudicial to the interests of the banking company; or

(d) in view of the emerging trends in banking and international best practices; or

(e) in the interest of the banking and financial system in India, the applicant is a fit and proper person to acquire shares or voting rights:

Provided that the Reserve Bank may call for such information from the applicant as it may deem necessary for considering the application referred to in sub-section (1):

Provided further that the Reserve Bank may specify different criteria for acquisition of shares or voting rights in different percentages.

(3) Where the acquisition is by way of transfer of shares of a banking company and the Reserve Bank is satisfied that such transfer should not be permitted, it may, by order, direct that no such share shall be transferred to the proposed transferee and may further direct the banking company not to give effect to the transfer of shares and in case the transfer has been registered, the transferee shall not be entitled to exercise voting rights on poll in any of the meetings of the banking company.

(4) The approval for acquisition of shares may be subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank may deem fit to impose, including a condition that any further acquisition of shares shall require prior approval of the Reserve Bank and that the applicant continues to be a fit and proper person to hold the shares or voting rights.

(5) Before issuing or allotting any share to any person or registering the transfer of shares in the name of any person, the banking company shall ensure that the requirements of sub-section (1) are complied with by that person and where the acquisition is with the approval of the Reserve Bank, the banking company shall further ensure that the conditions imposed under sub-section (4), if any, of such approval are fulfilled.

(6) The decision of the Reserve Bank on the application made under sub-section (1) shall be taken within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt of the application by the Reserve Bank:

Provided that in computing the period of ninety days, the period taken by the applicant for furnishing the information called for by the Reserve Bank shall be excluded.

(7) The Reserve Bank may specify the minimum percentage of shares to be acquired in a banking company if it considers that the purpose for which the shares are proposed to be acquired by the applicant warrants such minimum shareholding.

(8) The Reserve Bank may, if it is satisfied that any person or persons acting in concert with him holding shares or voting rights in excess of five per cent of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the banking company, are not fit and proper to hold such shares or voting rights, pass an order directing that such person or persons acting in concert with him shall not, in the aggregate, exercise voting rights on poll in excess of five per cent of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the banking company:

Provided that the Reserve Bank shall not pass any such order without giving an opportunity of being heard to such person or persons acting in concert with him. .

In Section 13 of the principal Act,

(i) for the words paid-up value of the said shares occurring at the end, the words price at which the said shares are issued shall be substituted;

(ii) the following explanation shall be inserted, namely

Explanation. For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the expression price at which the said shares are issued shall include amount or value of premium on such shares. .

In Section 18 of the principal Act,

(i) in sub-section (1),

(a) for the words shall maintain in India , the words shall maintain in India on a daily basis shall be substituted;

(b) for the words at least three per cent , the words such per cent shall be substituted;

(c) after the words second preceding fortnight , the words as the Reserve Bank may specify, by notification in the Official Gazette, from time to time, having regard to the needs of securing the monetary stability in the country shall be inserted;

(d) in the Explanation, in clause (a), in sub-clause (ii), the words or from the Development Bank shall be omitted;

(ii) after sub-section (1), the following sub-sections shall be inserted, namely

(1-A) If the balance held by such banking company at the close of business on any days is below the minimum specified under sub-section (1), such banking company shall, without prejudice to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, be liable to pay to the Reserve Bank, in respect of that day, penal interest at a rate of three per cent above the bank rate on the amount by which such balance falls short of the specified minimum, and if the shortfall continues further, the penal interest so charged shall be increased to a rate of five per cent above the bank rate in respect of each subsequent day during which the default continues.

(1-B) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, if the Reserve Bank is satisfied, on an application in writing by the defaulting banking company, that such defaulting banking company had sufficient cause for its failure to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1), it may not demand the payment of the penal interest.

(1-C) The Reserve Bank may, for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified, grant to any banking company such exemptions from the provisions of this section as it thinks fit with reference to all or any of its offices or with reference to the whole or any part of its assets and liabilities. .

In Section 24 of the principal Act,

(a) in sub-section (4), in clause (a), the words, brackets and letter clause (a) of shall be omitted;

(b) in sub-section (5), in clause (b), the words, brackets and letter clause (a) of shall be omitted;

(c) in sub-section (8), the words, brackets and letter clause (a) of shall be omitted.

After Section 26 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely

26-A. Establishment of Depositor Education and Awareness Fund. (1) The Reserve Bank shall establish a Fund to be called the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (hereafter in this section referred to as the Fund ).

(2) There shall be credited to the Fund the amount to the credit of any account in India with a banking company which has not been operated upon for a period of ten years or any deposit or any amount remaining unclaimed for more than ten years, within a period of three months from the expiry of the said period of ten years:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall prevent a depositor or any other claimant to claim his deposit or unclaimed amount or operate his account or deposit account from or with the banking company after the expiry of said period of ten years and such banking company shall be liable to repay such deposit or amount at such rate of interest as may be specified by the Reserve Bank in this behalf.

(3) Where the banking company has paid outstanding amount referred to in sub-section (2) or allowed operation of such account or deposit, such banking company may apply for refund of such amount in such manner as may be specified by the authority or committee referred to in sub-section (5).

(4) The fund shall be utilised for promotion of depositors interests and for such other purposes which may be necessary for the promotion of depositors' interests as may be specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time.

(5) The Reserve Bank shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify an authority or committee, with such members as the Reserve Bank may appoint, to administer the Fund, and to maintain separate accounts and other relevant records in relation to the Fund in such forms as may be specified by the Reserve Bank.

(6) It shall be competent for the authority or committee appointed under sub-section (5) to spend moneys out of the Fund for carrying out the objects for which the Fund has been established.'.

After Section 29 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely

29-A. Power in respect of associate enterprises. (1) The Reserve Bank may, at any time, direct a banking company to annex to its financial statements or furnish to it separately, within such time and at such intervals as may be specified by the Reserve Bank, such statements and information relating to the business or affairs of any associate enterprise of the banking company as the Reserve Bank may consider necessary or expedient to obtain for the purpose of this Act.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), the Reserve Bank may, at any time, cause an inspection to be made of any associate enterprise of a banking company and its books of account jointly by one or more of its officers or employees or other persons along with the Board or authority regulating such associate enterprise.

(3) The provisions of sub-sections (2) and (3) of Section 35 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the inspection under this section.

Explanation. associate enterprise in relation to a banking company includes an enterprise which

(i) is a holding company or a subsidiary company of the banking company; or

(ii) is a joint venture of the banking company; or

(iii) is a subsidiary company or a joint venture of the holding company of the banking company; or

(iv) controls the composition of the Board of Directors or other body governing the banking company; or

(v) exercises, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, significant influence on the banking company in taking financial or policy decisions; or

(vi) is able to obtain economic benefits from the activities of the banking company. .

Prefatory Note Statements of Objects and Reasons. The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 being the law relating to banking has been in force for more than six decades. It, inter alia, empowers the Reserve Bank to regulate and supervise the banking sector. The banking companies are now operating in a liberalised environment. In this scenario, it has become necessary that the banking companies in India are enabled to raise capital in accordance with the international best practices. Therefore, it is proposed to

(a) enable the nationalised banks to increase or decrease the authorised capital with approval from the Central Government and the Reserve Bank without being limited by the ceiling of a maximum of three thousand crores of rupees;

(b) provide the nationalised banks to issue two additional instruments ( bonus shares and rights issue ) for accessing the capital market to raise capital required for expansion of banking business;

(c) raise the ceiling on voting rights of shareholders of nationalised banks from one per cent to ten per cent;

(d) make provisions to ensure that control of banking companies is in the hands of fit and proper persons, it should be mandatory for the persons to obtain prior approval from the Reserve Bank who propose to acquire five per cent or more of the share capital of a banking company;

(e) confer power upon the Reserve Bank to impose such conditions as it deems necessary while granting such approval for acquisitions of five per cent or more share capital of a banking company (including specifying acquisition of a minimum percentage of shares in a banking company) if it considers necessary; and

(f) remove the existing restriction on voting rights limited to ten per cent of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the banking company.

2. Taking advantage of the liberalised environment, banking companies are engaging in multifarious activities through the medium of associate enterprises. It has, therefore, become necessary for the Reserve Bank, as the regulator of the banking companies, to be aware of the financial impact of the business of such enterprises on the financial position of the banking companies. It is, therefore, proposed to confer power upon the Reserve Bank to call for information and returns from the associate enterprises of banking companies also and to inspect the same, if necessary.

3. Under the existing provision contained in Section 36-AA of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Reserve Bank has, inter alia, power to remove any director or other officers of a banking company, but such power is not adequate if the entire Board of Directors of a banking company is functioning in a manner detrimental to the interest of the depositors or the banking company itself. It is, therefore, proposed to confer power upon the Reserve Bank to supersede the Board of Directors of a banking company for a total period not exceeding twelve months and appoint an administrator to manage the banking company during the said period.

4. The Part V of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 applies to co-operative societies subject to modifications which, inter alia, allow a primary co-operative society to carry on business of banking till it has been granted a licence or a notice is notified that the licence cannot be granted to it. For a sound and healthy banking system and to protect the interest of depositors, it has become necessary to ensure that only the co-operative societies licensed by the Reserve Bank should carry on the business of banking by fulfilling all the requirements specified by the Reserve Bank and it has become essential to provide the time limit of one year to be extended to three year within which a primary credit society should carry on the business of banking or stop the business of banking.

5. Under the exiting provisions of the Competition Act, 2002, the Competition Commission of India has power to regulate combination, which causes or is likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within the relevant market in India. It is proposed to insert a new Section 2-A in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 so as to exempt mergers of the banking companies from the applicability of the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002. The exemption of mergers of banking companies from the scrutiny of the Competition Commission of India would allow the Reserve Bank to approve mergers of banking companies in public or depositors' interest, in the interest of the banking system in India and to secure the proper management of the banking company in a timely manner without waiting for the approval of the Competition Commission of India.

6. The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2005 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on the 13th May, 2005 to strengthen the Reserve Bank's supervisory and regulatory powers over the banking sector. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance for examination and report thereon. Based on the recommendations of the Standing Committee, it was decided to move official amendments to the Bill in the Lok Sabha, but the Bill could not be taken up for consideration and lapsed due to dissolution of the Lok Sabha. The present Bill incorporates certain provisions of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2005.

7. In addition to the changes proposed in Paragraphs 1 to 5, it is also proposed to,

(a) enable the banking companies to issue preference shares subject to regulatory guidelines of the Reserve Bank;

(b) align the restriction on commission, etc., on sale of shares to issue price rather than to the paid-up value of shares;

(c) establish a Depositor Education and Awareness Fund to take over in operative deposit accounts which have not been claimed or operated for a period of ten years or more;

(d) substantially increase the penalties and fine for some violations of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949;

(e) confer power upon the Reserve Bank to levy penal interest in case of non-maintenance of required cash reserve ratio;

(f) confer power upon the Reserve Bank to order a special audit of co-operative banks in public interest for a more effective supervision of co-operative banks.

8. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011 seeks to amend the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 and the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 to make the regulatory powers of Reserve Bank more effective and to increase the access of the nationalised banks to capital market to raise capital required for expansion of banking business and also to make certain other consequential amendments in certain other enactments.

9. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objects.

1. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

2. Ed.: Act 4 of 2013 repealed by Act 19 of 2015, S. 2 & Sch. I. See also S. 4 of the Repealing and Amending Act, 2015: 4. Savings. The repeal by this Act of any enactment shall not affect any Act in which such enactment has been applied, incorporated or referred to; and this Act shall not affect the validity, invalidity, effect or consequences of anything already done or suffered, or any right, title, obligation or liability already acquired, accrued or incurred, or any remedy or proceeding in respect thereof, or any release or discharge of or from any debt, penalty, obligation, liability, claim or demand, or any indemnity already granted, or the proof of any past act or thing; nor shall this Act affect any principle or rule of law, or established jurisdiction, form or course of pleading, practice or procedure, or existing usage, custom, privilege, restriction, exemption, office or appointment, notwithstanding that the same respectively may have been in any manner affirmed, recognised or derived by, in or from any enactment hereby repealed; nor shall the repeal by this Act of any enactment provide or restore any jurisdiction, office, custom, liability, right, title, privilege, restriction, exemption, usage, practice, procedure or other matter or thing not now existing or in force.

3. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

4. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

5. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

6. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

7. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

8. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

9. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

10. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

11. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

12. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

13. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

14. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

15. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

16. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

17. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

18. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

19. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

20. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5

21. Received the assent the President on January 5, 2013 and published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 1, dated 7th January, 2013, pp. 1 17, No. 5