INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
(Definition , Requirements, Qualities)
Definition:-
According to sub-section (6) of section 149 of the Companies Act, 2013 an independent director in relation to a company, means a director other than a managing director or a whole-time director or a nominee director —
(a) who, in the opinion of the Board, is a person of integrity and possesses relevant expertise and experience;
(b) (i) who is or was not a promoter of the company or its holding, subsidiary or associate company;
(ii) who is not related to promoters or directors in the company, its holding, subsidiary or associate company;
(c) who has or had no pecuniary relationship with the company, its holding, subsidiary or associate company, or their promoters, or directors, during the two immediately preceding financial years or during the current financial year;
(d) none of whose relatives has or had pecuniary relationship or transaction with the company, its holding, subsidiary or associate company, or their promoters, or directors, amounting to two per cent. or more of its gross turnover or total income or fifty lakh rupees or such higher amount as may be prescribed, whichever is lower, during the two immediately preceding financial years or during the current financial year;
(e) who, neither himself nor any of his relatives—
(i) holds or has held the position of a key managerial personnel or is or has been employee of the company or its holding, subsidiary or associate company in any of the three financial years immediately preceding the financial year in which he is proposed to be appointed;
(ii) is or has been an employee or proprietor or a partner, in any of the three financial years immediately preceding the financial year in which he is proposed to be appointed, of—
(A) a firm of auditors or company secretaries in practice or cost auditors of the company or its holding, subsidiary or associate company; or
(B) any legal or a consulting firm that has or had any transaction with the company, its holding, subsidiary or associate company amounting to ten per cent. or more of the gross turnover of such firm;
(iii) holds together with his relatives two per cent. or more of the total voting power of the company; or
(iv) is a Chief Executive or director, by whatever name called, of any nonprofit organisation that receives twenty-five per cent. or more of its receipts from the company, any of its promoters, directors or its holding, subsidiary or associate company or that holds two per cent. or more of the total voting power of the company; or
(f) who possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed.
The definition of Independent Director as per Companies Act, 2013 provides quantitative threshold for evaluation of significance of the relationship and considers all pecuniary relationship (both material and immaterial).
REQUIREMENT OF “INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR” IN BOARD COMPOSITION:
As per sub section 4 of Section 149 of the Companies Act 2013, every listed public company is mandatorily required to have at least one-third of the total number of directors as independent directors.
Unlisted public companies must appoint at least two independent directors in the following circumstances:
i. if the paid up share capital exceeds Rs.10 crores;
ii. if the turnover exceeds Rs.100 crores;
iii. if the aggregate of all the outstanding loans, debentures and deposits exceeds Rs 50 crores.
QUALITIES OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
An independent director shall possess appropriate skills, experience and knowledge in one or more fields of finance, law, management, sales, marketing, administration, research, corporate governance, technical operations or other disciplines related to the company’s business.
Broadly one who wishes to qualify as an Independent Director has to possess following unwritten qualities:
1. Impartiality
2. Loyalty
3. Decision- making (judgment)
4. Professional repute
