Section 371: Effect of registration under this Part

Companies Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 2013
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Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 371

Section 371 of the Companies Act, 2013 defines the legal status and constitutional charter of the converted company, transforming its partnership deed, charter, or governing instrument into the statutory memorandum and articles of association.

  • Deemed Constitutional Regulations: All provisions contained in any deed of settlement, partnership deed, statute, or other instrument regulating the entity are deemed to be conditions and regulations of the company, functioning as its memorandum and articles.
  • Schedule I Table Exclusions: Table F (Articles of a company limited by shares) in Schedule I does not apply to the company unless expressly adopted by special resolution of its members.
  • Alteration of Constitutional Clauses: The company cannot alter provisions in any parent parliamentary act or letters patent, but possesses full statutory power to alter other regulations in accordance with the Companies Act.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Bacha F. Guzdar v. CIT, AIR 1955 SC 74: The Supreme Court held that once an entity is incorporated under the Companies Act, its legal character, member rights, and constitutional charters are strictly governed by statutory company law.
  • Re: C.W. Dixey & Son Ltd., [1945] Ch 402: The Chancery Division held that upon registration, the pre-existing partnership deed operates as the registered memorandum and articles, subject to overriding statutory company law provisions.
  • Holmes v. Keyes, [1958] 2 All ER 129: The English Court of Appeal established that articles of association derived from constitutive contracts must be interpreted as commercial corporate documents subject to statutory governance.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

Following registration under Section 366, immediately review the erstwhile partnership deed or charter against the mandatory requirements of the Companies Act, 2013. Pass a special resolution adopting comprehensive Articles of Association conforming to Table F, filing Form MGT-14 to supersede outdated partnership covenants.