High Court · 2025

W.P.Nos.23402 & 23408 of 2024IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 20.03.2025CORAM :THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAMANDTHE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKARW.P.Nos.23402 & 23408 of 2024M/S.ABAYAMBIGAI NIDHI LIMITED REP. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR MR.SUDARSHAN S/O. HARIHARASUBRAMANIAN NO.138/4, KARAIKKAL MAIN ROAD SWARNAPURI NAGAR, KADUVANGUDI KOLLUMANGUDI, THIRUVARUR 609 403..PETITIONER IN BOTH W.P'S Vs1 UNION OF INDIA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS 5TH FLOOR, 'A' WING, SHASTRI BHAWAN DR.RAJENDRA PRASAD ROAD NEW DELHI 110 001 2 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS 5TH FLOOR 'A' WING, SHASTRI BHAWAN DR.RAJENDRA PRASAD ROAD NEW DELHI 110 0013 REGIONAL DIRECTOR SOUTHERN REGION MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS SHASTRI BHAWAN, BLOCK I, V FLOOR 26 HADDOWS ROAD, CHENNAI 600 0064 REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES TAMILNADU CHENNAI BLOCK NO.6 'B' WING ____________Page 1 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23402 & 23408 of 2024 2ND FLOOR, SHASTRI BHAWAN 26 HADDOWS ROAD CHENNAI 600 006..RESPONDENTS IN BOTH W.P'SW.P.No.23402 of 2024 is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned order of the 2nd respondent dated 23.06.2023 rejecting the Application filed by the petitioner vide SRN: R36944098 dated 15.04.2020 in Form NDH-4 and quash the same as contrary to law, unfair, excessive, harsh, violative of principle of natural justice, defective and arbitrary and direct the 1st respondent to consider the application afresh after considering the reply dated 14.07.2023 of the petitioner and after providing the petitioner opportunity of hearing.W.P.No.23408 of 2024 is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of Writ of Declaration, (i) to declare the amendment made substituting Section 406 of The Companies Act 2013 with new Section 406 as per The Companies (Amendment) Act 2017 (Act 1 of 2018) published vide gazette dated 03.01.2018 and notified with effect from 15.08.2019 requiring the Nidhi Companies which are already incorporated as Nidhi Companies to once again get a declaration as Nidhi by the Central Government is illegal, excessive, arbitrary and unconstitutional and strike down the same; (ii) to declare the amendment made to Nidhi Rules 2014 by Nidhi (Amendment) Rules 2019 vide notification dated 01.07.2019 with effect from 15.08.2019 by inserting Rule 3A and Rule 23A are illegal, excessive, arbitrary and unconstitutional and strike down the same;(iii) to declare the amendment made to Nidhi Rules 2014 by Nidhi (Amendment) Rules 2022 vide notification dated 19.04.2022 with effect from 19.04.2022 by inserting provisos to Rule 3A and Rule 23A are illegal, excessive, arbitrary and unconstitutional and strike down the same.____________Page 2 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23402 & 23408 of 2024For Petitioner::Mr.S.SathishFor Respondents::Mr.K.Venkataswamy BaabuSenior Panel CounselCOMMON ORDER(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM,J.) The writ petitions have been instituted to assail the order passed by the second respondent dated 23.06.2023 rejecting the application filed by the petitioner in Form NDH-4 and to declare the amendment made substituting Section 406 of The Companies Act 2013 with new Section 406 as per The Companies (Amendment) Act 2017 (Act 1 of 2018) published vide gazette dated 03.01.2018 and notified with effect from 15.08.2019 requiring the Nidhi Companies which are already incorporated as Nidhi Companies to once again get a declaration as Nidhi by the Central Government is illegal, excessive, arbitrary and unconstitutional and strike down the same; to declare the amendment made to Nidhi Rules 2014 by Nidhi (Amendment) Rules 2019 vide notification dated 01.07.2019 with effect from 15.08.2019 by inserting Rule 3A and Rule 23A are illegal, excessive, arbitrary and unconstitutional and strike down the same; to ____________Page 3 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23402 & 23408 of 2024declare the amendment made to Nidhi Rules 2014 by Nidhi (Amendment) Rules 2022 vide notification dated 19.04.2022 with effect from 19.04.2022 by inserting provisos to Rule 3A and Rule 23A are illegal, excessive, arbitrary and unconstitutional and strike down the same.2. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the writ petitioner restricted his prayer by submitting that the second respondent passed orders on the application beyond the time limit of 45 days fixed to dispose of the application. In the present case, the application in Form NDH-4 was filed by the petitioner on 15.04.2020, but the same was rejected by the second respondent in proceeding dated 23.06.2023. 3. A perusal of the impugned order would reveal that certain observations against the petitioner are made with reference to the particulars available in the application and consequently the rejection order was passed. The learned counsel for petitioner would submit that the petitioner will be satisfied if the subsequent reply/explanation given by the petitioner is taken into consideration and a fresh order is passed, by affording opportunity to ____________Page 4 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23402 & 23408 of 2024the petitioner, on merits and in accordance with law. 4. The learned Senior Panel Counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents would submit that reasons are stated in the order impugned. The application was rejected on merits. The larger relief sought for in one of the writ petitions is to declare the provisions of law as null and void. 5. In view of the fact that the petitioner has restricted the relief as such sought for in the writ petitions, this Court is inclined to pass the following order:-(i) The petitioner states that it has submitted reply to the impugned order dated 23.06.2023 on 14.07.2023. Apart from the reply dated 14.07.2023, the petitioner is at liberty to submit a fresh reply regarding the compliance of the defects stated in the impugned order dated 23.06.2023, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.(ii) On receipt of any such reply/explanation from the petitioner, the second respondent shall provide an opportunity to the writ petitioner and ____________Page 5 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23402 & 23408 of 2024thereafter pass appropriate final orders on merits and in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible. However, the legal issue regarding the validity of the provisions of law is left open. The writ petitions are disposed of. Consequently, W.M.P.Nos.25568 & 25569 of 2024 are closed. No costs. Index : yes (S.M.S.,J.) (K.R.S.,J.)Neutral citation : yes/no 20.03.2025ssTo1 THE SECRETARY TO UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS 5TH FLOOR, 'A' WING, SHASTRI BHAWAN DR.RAJENDRA PRASAD ROAD NEW DELHI 110 001 2 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS 5TH FLOOR 'A' WING, SHASTRI BHAWAN DR.RAJENDRA PRASAD ROAD NEW DELHI 110 0013 REGIONAL DIRECTOR SOUTHERN REGION MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS SHASTRI BHAWAN, BLOCK I, V FLOOR 26 HADDOWS ROAD, CHENNAI 600 0064 REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES TAMILNADU CHENNAI BLOCK NO.6 'B' WING 2ND FLOOR, SHASTRI BHAWAN 26 HADDOWS ROAD CHENNAI 600 006____________Page 6 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.23402 & 23408 of 2024S.M.SUBRAMANIAM,J.AND K.RAJASEKAR,J.ss W.P.Nos.23402 & 23408 of 202420.03.2025____________Page 7 of 7