1. A company may issue debentures with an option to convert such debentures into shares, either wholly or partly at the time of redemption:
Provided that: the issue of debentures with an option to convert such debentures into shares, wholly or partly, shall be approved by a special resolution passed at a general meeting.
2. No company shall issue any debentures carrying any voting rights.
3. Secured debentures may be issued by a company subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.
4. Where debentures are issued by a company under this section, the company shall create a debenture redemption reserve account out of the profits of the company available for payment of dividend and the amount credited to such account shall not be utilised by the company except for the redemption of debentures.
5. No company shall issue a prospectus or make an offer or invitation to the public or to its members exceeding five hundred for the subscription of its debentures, unless the company has, before such issue or offer, appointed one or more debenture trustees and the conditions governing the appointment of such trustees shall be such as may be prescribed.
6. A debenture trustee shall take steps to protect the interests of the debentureholders and redress their grievances in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed.
7. Any provision contained in a trust deed for securing the issue of debentures, or in any contract with the debenture-holders secured by a trust deed, shall be void in so far as it would have the effect of exempting a trustee thereof from, or indemnifying him against, any liability for breach of trust, where he fails to show the degree of care and due diligence required of him as a trustee, having regard to the provisions of the trust deed conferring on him any power, authority or discretion:
Provided that: the liability of the debenture trustee shall be subject to such exemptions as may be agreed upon by a majority of debenture-holders holding not less than three fourths in value of the total debentures at a meeting held for the purpose.
8. A company shall pay interest and redeem the debentures in accordance with the terms and conditions of their issue.
9. Where at any time the debenture trustee comes to a conclusion that the assets of the company are insufficient or are likely to become insufficient to discharge the principal amount as and when it becomes due, the debenture trustee may file a petition before the Tribunal and the Tribunal may, after hearing the company and any other person interested in the matter, by order, impose such restrictions on the incurring of any further liabilities by the company as the Tribunal may consider necessary in the interests of the debenture-holders.
10. Where a company fails to redeem the debentures on the date of their maturity or fails to pay interest on the debentures when it is due, the Tribunal may, on the application of any or all of the debenture-holders, or debenture trustee and, after hearing the parties concerned, direct, by order, the company to redeem the debentures forthwith on payment of principal and interest due thereon.
11. If any default is made in complying with the order of the Tribunal under this section, every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which shall not be less than two lakh rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees, or with both.
12. A contract with the company to take up and pay for any debentures of the company may be enforced by a decree for specific performance.
13. The Central Government may prescribe the procedure, for securing the issue of debentures, the form of debenture trust deed, the procedure for the debenture-holders to inspect the trust deed and to obtain copies thereof, quantum of debenture redemption reserve required to be created and such other matters.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 71
Section 71 regulates the issuance of debentures, the creation of a Debenture Redemption Reserve (DRR), the appointment of debenture trustees, and the enforcement of security interests.
Sub-sections (8) through (10) authorize debenture trustees or holders to approach the NCLT if the company defaults in principal repayment or interest, empowering the Tribunal to direct immediate redemption.
Debentures represent a vital instrument of corporate debt financing in India. Section 71 establishes extensive fiduciary obligations for debenture trustees to monitor the adequacy of security and asset coverage ratios. Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, debenture holders constitute secured financial creditors represented in the Committee of Creditors (CoC) through their authorized trustee under Section 21(6A).