Corporate governance of banks

The corporate governance of banks is different and unique from that of the other organizations. This is because the activities of the bank are less transparent than other organizations. Thus, it becomes difficult for shareholders and creditors to monitor the activities of the bank. The situation becomes even more difficult when a major part of the share capital is with government. Additionally, banks also differ from most other companies in terms of the complexity and range of their business risks, and the consequences if these risks are poorly managed.

The Banking Sector in India has definitely not remained unaffected to the developments taking place worldwide. Enhancing the level of corporate governance structure of Indian banks is imperative. The regulatory bodies in India are the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities Exchange Board India. The RBI prescribes prudential principles and norms. The RBI performs the corporate governance function under the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS).

The Basel Accord was first established in 1988 by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision under the Bank for International Settlements. The BIS was established on 17 May 1930 and is the world's oldest international financial organization. The Basel Committee was established by the central-bank Governors of the Group of Ten countries in 1974. It meets regularly four times a year. It has four main working groups. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision provides a forum for regular cooperation on banking supervisory matters. Its objective is to enhance understanding of key supervisory issues and improve the quality of banking supervision worldwide.

The Basel Accord was established to provide a set of minimum capital requirements to banks. According to this accord, the banks would be required to maintain a minimum capital requirement a propos the loans given out by them. The 1988 Basel Accord also known as Basel I primarily focused on credit risk. The Central Banks of several countries that have agreed to become signatories have been given the responsibility of enforcing the provisions. In India, the Reserve Bank of India shoulders this responsibility.

The second of the Basel Accords, Basel II was first published in June 2004 and established in 2005. This accord widened the scope of Basel I by establishing capital requirements for market risk and operational risk, in addition to credit risk. Basel II also included provisions which allowed banks to use advanced statistical methods to compute possible losses for which they were required to hold capital. Therefore, international banks had an advantage as they could lower their capital requirements through the use of advanced models.

The third of the Basel Accords, Basel III was created in response to the flaws in financial regulation which led to the crisis and also due to appeals for the reform of capital adequacy and liquidity standards for banks.

According to the Basel Committee Report of 1999, Banks have to maintain a certain level of transparency and disclosures in their statements. The annual report should disclose a number of factors relating to the operations of the banks such as accounting ratios, business per employee, related party disclosures and information.

Recent Steps Taken by Banks in India for CG

•                   Induction of non-executive members on the boards

•                   Constitution of various Committees like Management committee, Investor’s Grievances committee, ALM committee, etc.

•                   Role of Independent auditor

•                   Gradual implementation of prudential norms as prescribed by the RBI,

•                   Introduction of Citizens Charter in banks

•                   Implementation of “Know Your Customer” concept

•                   The Board of Directors and top management of the Bank are chiefly responsible for good CG.

Frauds by others

•                   Forgery and altered cheques -This type of fraud involves altering the amount on the face of a cheque for nefarious purposes

•                   Stolen cheques -This type of fraud is initiated by the theft of a few cheques. Then accounts are opened using fake identities, and the suitably altered stolen cheques are deposited, followed by convenient withdrawal of the amount. In a similar way, stolen blank cheque books are misused by fraudsters.

•                   Accounting fraud -Overstating sales and income, dishonest accounting and inflating the worth of the company’s assets to hide that the company is actually functioning in loss constitute Accounting Fraud. E.g., Satyam.

•                   Credit card fraud - Credit cards lend themselves to several opportunities for fraud. Made of three PVC sheets, of which the central sheet is known as the core stock, credit cards carry substantial data. Credit card frauds can be carried out in several ways.

•                   Frauds committed by auditors

•                   Power of Attorney fraud- A “Power of Attorney” (“POA”) is a legal document through which the donor grants the power to his attorney to ‘step into the donor’s shoes’ and conduct legal and financial matters on the donor’s behalf.

•                   Phishing- In this type of fraud, sensitive data such as account numbers, login Independent Directors (IDs), passwords, and other verifiable information are extracted from gullible individuals either through fraudulent telephone calls or emails. These data are then misused for dishonest purposes, including identity theft. Phishing is most often perpetrated through mass emails and spoofed websites.

We, "PNJ Legal Consultants" are one of the well known organizations engaged in providing Consultancy Services keeping in mind the Client Service requirements.

Our team members deliver excellent performance in providing these services and our clients can avail the services at affordable prices.

Our sophisticated team has complete knowledge of various exercises and technicalities that are used in our services. Our services includes Strategy Consulting, GST Consulting, Asset Management, Feasibility Study, International Arbitration, Due Dilligence, Franchisee Consulting, Financial Audits, Operational Audits, Tax Heaven Registrations, Shareholder Agreements, Start up Consulting, IP Consulting, Taxation Services, Accounting system design and Mergers Acquisitions.

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APPLICATION FOR RERA REGISTRATION

Ø Application of registration u/s4 to be made as per the Form ‘A’ prescribed under Rule 3(3) and along with the same declaration has to be filled in Form ‘B’ as per Rule 3(6).

Ø The concept of 70:30 is mentioned in section 4(2)(i)(d).

Ø Registration is guaranteed under section 5.

Ø Registration can be revoked u/s 7.

Registration and obligation of real estate

Ø As per RERA it now mandatory that real estate agents selling the premises in Real estate project have to register u/s9 by complying as per the form ‘G’ prescribed under Rule 11(2)

Ø As per Rule 12(4) the registration shall be valid for period of 5years.

Ø The provision for renewal in respect of Real estate agent should not be done as per Rule 13.

Ø There are various obligation caused on Real estate agent under Rule 14

Ø Revocation of registration of breach of provision mentioned in Rule15.

Ø As per the Rule 16 Real estate agents has to maintain and preserves separate books, accounts, documents. 70% of realization from allottees in a separate bank account

1.    The Act mandates that a promoter shall deposit 70% of the amount realized from the allottees, from time to time, in a separate account to be maintained in a scheduled bank. This is intended to cover the cost of construction and the land cost and the amount deposited shall be used only for the concerned project.

2.    The promoter shall be entitled to withdraw the amounts from the separate account, to cover the cost of the project, in proportion to the percentage of completion of the project. However, such withdrawal can only be made after it is certified by an engineer, an architect and chartered accountant in practice that the withdrawal is in proportion to the percentage of completion of the project

3.    The promoter is also required to get his accounts audited within six months after the end of every financial year by a practicing chartered accountant. , Further, he is required to produce a statement of accounts duly certified and signed by such chartered accountant, and it shall be verified during the audit that (i) the amounts collected for a particular project have been utilised for the project; and (ii) the withdrawal has been in compliance with the proportion to the percentage of completion of the project.

The application for registration must disclose the following information:

Ø Details of the promoter (such as its registered address, type of enterprise such proprietorship, societies, partnership, companies, competent authority)’.

Ø A brief detail of the projects launched by the promoter, in the past five years, whether already completed or being developed, as the case may be, including the current status of the projects, any delay in its completion, details of cases pending, details of type of land and payments pending.

Ø An authenticated copy of the approval and commencement certificate received from the competent authority and where the project is proposed to be developed in phases, an authenticated copy of the approval and commencement certificate of each of such phases.

Ø The sanctioned plan, layout plan and specifications of the project, plan of development works to be executed in the proposed project and the proposed facilities to be provided thereof and the locational details of the project.

Ø Performa of the allotment letter, agreement for sale and conveyance deed proposed to be signed with the allottees.

Ø Number, type and carpet area of the apartments and the number and areas of garages for sale in the project.

Ø The names and addresses of the promoter's real estate agents, if any, and contractors, architects, structural engineers affiliated with the project.

A declaration by the promoter supported by an affidavit stating that:

Ø He has a legal title to the land, free from all encumbrances, and in case there is an encumbrance, then details of such encumbrances on the land including any right, title, interest or name of any party in or over such land along with the details;

Ø The time period within which he undertakes to complete the project or the phase; and

Ø 70% of the amounts realised for the real estate project from the allottees, from time to time, shall be deposited in a separate account to be maintained in a scheduled bank to cover the cost of construction and the land cost and shall be used only for that purpose.

DUTIES OF PROMOTER

Ø Upon receiving the login id and password Promoter has to create his web page on the website of the authority

Ø To enter all the details of the proceed project on his web page

Ø Once in three months the promoter has to update the data on web page in respect of booking status, approvals, status of the project etc..

Ø Advertising material should reflect should the registration details of the promoter.

Ø Promoter has to abide by all the obligation under section 11(3) at time of time of booking

Ø As per the section 12 promoters will solely responsible for on regards as the advertisement of prospectus.

Ø As per section 13 promoter cannot accept more than 10% of the cost of apartment without executing the contract.(in MOFA it is used to be 20 %)

Ø As per section 15 promoters cannot transfer the Real estate project to the third party without obtaining the consent 2/3rd of the allotters.

Ø  As per section 16 promoters has to insure Real estate projects in respect of land and building and construction of Real Estate project.

Ø As per s.17 promoter has to transfer the title when the norms are fulfilled for its transfer.(this done with help of amendment of land titling bill 2010 which gives the entire mechanism of land titling

 BENEFITS OF THE CUSTOMER

The Authority shall in order to facilitate the growth and promotion of a healthy, transparent, efficient and competitive real estate sector make recommendations to the appropriate Government of the competent authority, as the case may be, on,—

(a) protection of interest of the allottees, promoter and real estate agent;

(b) creation of a single window system for ensuring time bound project approvals and clearances for timely completion of the project;

(c) creation of a transparent and robust grievance redressal mechanism against acts of ommission and commission of competent authorities and their officials;

(d) measures to encourage investment in the real estate sector including measures to increase financial assistance to affordable housing segment;

(e) measures to encourage construction of environmentally sustainable and affordable housing, promoting standardisation and use of appropriate construction materials, fixtures, fittings and construction techniques;

(f) measures to encourage grading of projects on various parameters of development including grading of promoters;

 (g) measures to facilitate amicable conciliation of disputes between the promoters and the allottees through dispute settlement forums set up by the consumer or promoter

associations;

(h) measures to facilitate digitization of land records and system towards conclusive property titles with title guarantee;

(i) to render advice to the appropriate Government in matters relating to the development of real estate sector;

(j) any other issue that the Authority may think necessary for the promotion of the real estate sector.

CIVIL COMPLAINT

No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any matter which the Authority or the adjudicating officer or the Appellate Tribunal is empowered by or under this Act to determine and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act.

 (1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act or the rules or regulations made there under save on a complaint in writing made by the Authority or by any officer of the Authority duly authorised by it for this purpose.

(2) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.

We, "PNJ Legal Consultants" are one of the well known organizations engaged in providing Consultancy Services keeping in mind the Client Service Mentality.

Our team members deliver excellent performance in providing these services and our clients can avail the services at affordable prices.

Our sophisticated team has complete knowledge of various exercises and technicalities that are used in our services. Our services includes Strategy Consulting, GST Consulting, Asset Management, Feasibility Study, International Arbitration, Due Dilligence, Franchisee Consulting, Financial Audits, Operational Audits, Tax Heaven Registrations, Shareholder Agreements, Start up Consulting, IP Consulting, Taxation Services, Accounting system design and Mergers Acquisitions.

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Legal Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility

With the introduction of companies’ act 2013, India has become first country to mandate CSR. The fact that CSR initiatives are taken voluntarily, has been ignored and the act has provided for compulsory spending on CSR.

As per section 135 of the new act, Every company having net worth of rupees five hundred crore or more, or turnover of rupees one thousand crore or more or a net profit of rupees five crore or more during any financial year shall constitute a CSR committee of the board consisting of three or more directors (at least one shall be independent director). The committee shall

1.        Formulate and recommend to the board a CSR policy

2.        Recommend the amount of expenditure, and

3.        Monitor the CSR policy.

The Companies Act 2013 encourages companies to spend at least 2% of their average net profit in the previous three years on CSR activities. The ministry’s draft rules, that have been put up for public comment, define net profit as the profit before tax as per the books of accounts, excluding profits arising from branches outside India

Applicability: Every company having net worth of rupees five hundred crore or more, or turnover of rupees one thousand crore or more or a net profit of rupees five crore or more during any financial year shall constitute a Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the Board consisting of three or more directors, out of which at least one director shall be an independent director.

•The Board's report under sub-section (3) of section 134 shall disclose the composition of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.

The Corporate Social Responsibility Committee shall,—

•Formulate and recommend to the Board, a Corporate Social Responsibility Policy which shall indicate the activities to be undertaken by the company as specified in Schedule VII;

•Recommend the amount of expenditure to be incurred on the activities referred to in clause (a)

•Monitor the Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of the company from time to time.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RELATED DISCLOSURE:

1)        Means of Communication

2)        Various Social Responsibilities fulfilled by Company

3)        Customer care Grievance

4)        Financial Risk Management

5)        Business Environmental Responsibility

Economic growth is possible only through consumption of inputs available in the environment and society. The harnessing of natural resources has a direct impact on the economy, the environment and society at large. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a concept whereby organizations serve the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of their operations. Corporate social responsibility is not about just giving randomly but about bringing benefits to all the stakeholders, including customers, employees and community at large.

•Respect for Worker’s Right and Welfare: The companies should provide the workplace environment that is safe, hygienic and humane to work. They should be taken care of the heath issues arising out of the work of the organization. It should conduct the training and development program within the organization for the people of the organization.

•Woman Empowerment: Empowering women and achieving gender equality – the goals of the Women’s Empowerment Principles - requires intentional actions and deliberate policies. The WEPs are based on concrete business practices and have inspired companies around the world to tailor existing policies and programmes – or establish needed new ones – to realize women’s empowerment.

 Corporate Social Responsibility Dimensions

•Sport Promotion: These include CSR initiatives and investments in the sector by leading corporate houses, and non-profit foundations. These foundations are chiefly involved in providing opportunities to children from the under-privileged sections to take up sports, supporting promising sportspersons in accessing world class training facilities and developing sporting infrastructure.

 •Employment Generated: Jobs continue to be created, needing an educated workforce and many in sunrise sub-sectors. We need to recognize new opportunities and prepare the supply side.

•Educational Employee Training: Employee training and development is a broad term covering multiple kinds of employee learning. Training is a program that helps employees learn specific knowledge or skills to improve performance in their current roles.

•Employee Grievance: refers to the dissatisfaction of an employee with what he expects from the company and its management. A company has to provide an employee with a safe working        environment, realistic job preview, adequate compensation, respect etc.                       

•Benefits of Employee Welfare: They provide better physical and mental health to workers and thus promote a healthy work environment. Facilities like housing schemes, medical benefits, and education and recreation facilities for worker's families help in raising their standards of living. This makes workers to pay more attention towards work and thus increases their productivity. Employers get stable labor force by providing welfare facilities. Workers take active interest in their jobs and work with a feeling of involvement and participation.

•Increased Sales and Customer Loyalty: The customers also recognize those companies which are socially responsible. This results in increased sales and content customers.

•Complaint Received During the year: A customer complaint highlights problems with employees or internal processes and you can fix them before further problems arise and cause a bad customer experience. One of the advantages of CRM is that you can keep a record of customer feedback, both positive and negative.

•Complaint Resolved: The complaint is closed as Resolved because the provider has met the member's request for resolution to the complaint (as outlined on the Complaint Resolution Process complaint form).

•Complaint Pending: The complaint is currently in process. No final outcome has been determined.

•Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF): is for promotion of investors’ awareness and protection of the interests of investors. This website is an information providing platform to promote awareness, and it does not offer any investment advice or evaluation.

•Financial Risk Management             

Financial Risk Management is           the practice of economic value in a firm by using financial instruments to manage  exposure  to risk, particularly credit risk and market risk. Other types include Foreign exchange risk, Shape risk, Volatility risk, Sector risk, Liquidity risk, Inflation risk, etc. Similar to general risk management, financial risk management requires identifying its sources, measuring it, and plans to address them. Profit Risk is a risk management tool that focuses on understanding concentrations within the income statement and assessing the risk associated with those concentrations from a net income perspective.

•Legal Risk Management

Legal Risk Management refers to the process of evaluating alternative regulatory and non-regulatory responses to risk and selecting among them. Even with the legal realm, this process requires knowledge of the legal, economic and social factors, as well as knowledge of the business world in which legal teams operate. In an organizational setting, risk management refers to the process, by which an organization sets the risk tolerance, identifies potential risks and prioritizes the tolerance for risk based on the organization’s business objectives, and manages and mitigates risks throughout the organization.

•Risk Management

Risk Management and Internal Control help organizations understand the risks they are exposed to, put controls in place to counter threats, and effectively pursue their objectives. They are therefore an important aspect of an organization’s governance, management, and operations. Professional accountants can and should play a leading role in helping their organizations achieve an integrated, organization-wide approach to risk management and internal control—which ultimately helps create, enhance, and protect stakeholder value.

Business Environmental Responsibility

The companies are required to utilize the Planet i.e., Natural Capital in a well manner so that it cannot be wasted, excess utilized which is also required for the other states or countries and also requires to be preserve for the future generation.

Environmental management system that offers a framework that companies and organizations can follow in order to set up an effective environmental management program. Its certificate means that the company or organization is measuring and reducing its environmental impacts. Sustainability Report is used by companies to communicate their economic, environmental and social activities to depict transparency and compliance to rules and regulations.

•Audit of Environment: There are three main types of audits which are environmental compliance audits, environmental management audits to verify whether an organization meets its stated objectives, and, functional environmental audits such as for water and electricity.

•Pollution Control: Pollution prevention is a major global concern because of the harmful effects of pollution on a person’s health and on the environment. Environmental pollution comes in various forms, such as: air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, etc.

•Project Location and Development: Project management is the discipline of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria.

•Forest and Plantation of Tress: Industrial plantations are actively managed for the commercial production of forest products. Industrial plantations are usually large-scale. Individual blocks are usually even-aged and often consist of just one or two species. These species can be exotic or indigenous. The plants used for the plantation are often genetically altered for desired traits such as growth and resistance to pests and diseases in general and specific traits.

•Plants having Child Labour: The social scenario, however, changed radically with the advent of industrialization and urbanization under the impact of the newly generated centrifugal and centripetal forces; there was an unbroken stream of the rural poor migrating to urban center in search of livelihood. The child had to work as an individual person either under an employer or independently. His work environment endangered his physical health and mental growth and led to his exploitation. The protection and welfare of these children, therefore, become an issue of paramount social significance.

We, "PNJ Legal Consultants" are one of the well known organizations engaged in providing Consultancy Services keeping in mind the Client Service Mentality.

Our team members deliver excellent performance in providing these services and our clients can avail the services at affordable prices.

Our sophisticated team has complete knowledge of various exercises and technicalities that are used in our services. Our services includes Strategy Consulting, GST Consulting, Asset Management, Feasibility Study, International Arbitration, Due Dilligence, Franchisee Consulting, Financial Audits, Operational Audits, Tax Heaven Registrations, Shareholder Agreements, Start up Consulting, IP Consulting, Taxation Services, Accounting system design and Mergers Acquisitions.

Contact at parascs@gmail.com or refer website www.pnjlegal.com

WHAT IS MLM OR MULTI LEVEL MARKETING

MLM or Multi level Marketing is an alternate form of distributing products and services. Instead of using the traditional distribution channel (distributors – retailers- consumers), MLM companies sell their products and services directly to consumers. That’s why it’s also called Direct Selling. When these consumers or customers like these products and services naturally they start sharing it with others.

MLM companies pay you when people buy their products and services from your recommendation. But the awesomeness doesn’t stop there, you are given an option to build a team of distributors (generally consisting of happy consumers recommended by you and those you recommend and those they recommend and so on.) contrary to common misconception< you are not paid to recruit people, you are paid depending on the total sales volume generate from your entire team. Instead of spending money on advertisement, MLM companies reward their consumers and distributors for their word- of- mouth advertisement efforts.

To regulate the sale of goods and services outside of retail establishments otherwise known as "Direct Selling (Multi Level Marketing)" and to provide for protection of consumers who purchase goods and services from direct sellers, following guidelines are issued with the approval of the Competent Authority. These guidelines will come into force from the date of publication in official Gazette and will remain in force till an appropriate legislation is enacted for the said purpose:

1. Definitions:-

1.    Direct Selling : Means marketing or sales of goods directly to the end user consumer using word of mouth publicity, display and/or demonstrations of the goods/products, and/or distribution of pamphlets. Explanation: Companies can open pick up points and delivery points for maintaining effective delivery system.

2.    Direct Selling Entity: Means a business entity as recognized by law for the time being in force including but not limited to a Company duly incorporated under the Indian Companies Act, a registered Partnership Firm constituted under the Indian Partnership Act.

3.    Direct Seller: Means a person who is authorized by the Direct Selling Entity to engage into the business of Direct Selling.

4.    Consumer: An individual who buys goods or services for personal use and not for manufacture or resale and shall have the same meaning as provided under the Consumer Protection Act. 1986.

5.    Goods/products: Goods/Products shall have the same meaning as defined in the Sale of Goods Act and section 3(26) of the General Clauses Act, 1897, that is, it shall include every kind of movable property other than actionable claims and money.

6.    Sales Incentive: Sale incentive means share of profit payable to the Direct Seller for effecting sale of goods/products as stipulated in the contract between the Direct Seller and the Direct Selling Entity.

Ø What is the law for setting up Multi Level Marketing Company India?

There is no separate law for setting up a Multi Level Network Marketing (MLM) in India by now it was proposed in Indian Parliament in 2005 but not yet passed as a law, however there are certain acts of Indian constitutions which we need to consider before setting up Multi Level Marketing Company:

• It should not be a only head count commission Model which falls in Pyramid Scheme which is banned in India, covers MRTP Act alias Money Rotation Trade Practice Banning ACT 1969.

• It should not be only money involved investment return format which falls in PCMC Act alias Prize Chit and Money Circulation banning Act 1978. It should be feasible Product selling Business Model.

What is the best practice to setup a Multi Level Marketing Company?

Essentials of setting up a MLM ENTITY Private Limited or Limited Company are to be setup. In India Multi Level Marketing Company involves limited risk for directors who are setting up a Multi Level Marketing Company Business.

Pertain IDSA (Indian Direct Selling Association) Membership. It’s not a government body but it’s a private setup by Amway India and other big network marketing companies which is trying to govern the whole Direct Selling Companies in India which prevents unethical and illegal MLM companies and Multi Level Network marketing Business practices to operate and destroy the MLM Business route.

Apply for Vat/Service Tax/ Tan No and all necessary license and registration required for manufacturer and product seller. Last but not the least Appoint a Legal Advisor, Consultant and a Chartered Accountant to create rules and regulation forms, manage paper works and other company related legal documents and stationary materials.

Please does not cut copy paste other company’s print materials as it may not be applicable on your product or MLM Business Model? It is also desirable to develop exclusive website content and information related to company written by legal advisor of the company to counter legal laws of the Land.

2. Conditions for Permissible Direct Selling:-

1.    Should be a Direct Selling Entity, having sales tax/Vat, Income Tax, TDS and other license as may be required as per the law/regulations of its principle place of business.

2.    Should have bank account with at least one nationalized bank.

3.    Partnership Deed or Memorandum of Association should clearly state their nature of business. (Those who do not have such specific clauses should get their memorandum of Association or Partnership Deed, as the case may be, amended within 2 months from the date of publication of these Guidelines).

4.    Pay sales incentive at the agreed rate within the agreed period.

5.    Shall display names and Identification numbers of their authorized Direct Sellers in the official websites.

6.    Should have a consumer grievance cell that should ensure redressal of consumer grievances within 7 days from the date of making such complaints.

7.    Website should provide space for registering consumer complaints hassle free.

3. Appointments/Authorisations:-

1.    Direct Selling Entity shall appoint/authorise Direct Sellers upon receipt and scrutiny of application in a prescribed format.

2.    An agreement recording terms of such appointment should be executed between the Direct Selling Entity and Direct Seller.

3.    No application should be considered unless such applicant is eligible to enter into a contract under the Indian Contract Act.

4.    Each Direct Seller shall be allotted Unique Identification Numbers before granting license/permission to start direct selling.

5.    Direct Selling Entity should not give incentive to any persons for joining of Direct Sellers.

4. Prohibition:-

1.    Payment of incentive by whatever name it is called unrelated to their respective sales volume.

2.    Supply/Distribution of goods with the knowledge that such goods/products are inferior or exceeded its validity period as per the manufacturer.

3.    Direct Selling Entity/Direct Seller will not indulge in money circulation scheme or any act barred by the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Scheme (Banning) Act, I978.

5. General Conditions:-

1.    MRP of the goods should be visibly displayed on the package.

2.    Accounts of individual Direct Sellers shall be maintained properly and should be made available through World Wide Web.

3.    Sales incentive should be distributed to the respective Seller on or before the agreed due dates.

4.    Goods sold by the Direct Selling entity should carry guarantee/warranty of the manufacturer. However consumer should be given opportunity to exchange/return the goods if he finds any manufacturing defect or the product purchased is not useful for the purpose it was meant, within 30 days from the date of purchase, provided any seal/protection on the product is kept unbroken.

6. Information Readiness (Ready Information file):-

1.    Every Direct Selling Company should maintain a file with all relevant documents that include:

2.    Certificate issued by Registrar of Companies, MOA and MOM.

3.    Xerox copies of TIN, DIN of Directors, TAN, PAN.

4.    Certificate of Sales Tax, Service Tax, CST Registrations.

5.    Copies of all Sales Tax Returns filed with the authorities.

6.    Copies of Service Tax Returns filed with the authorities.

7.    Copies of IT Returns of company filed with the authorities.

8.    TDS Statements of Distributors and respective challans paid.

9.    Every Direct Selling Company should maintain KYC/KYDS (Know Your Customer/Know Your Direct Sellers) as a mandatory process. Specific formats are to be provided on their websites to be available for all at any time.

7. Grievance Redressal Mechanism:-

1.    Every Direct Selling Company must have a complaint redressal mechanism to address any problem of their customers/Direct Sellers.

8. Breach of Guidelines:-

1.    The sale activities not following the above guidelines shall not be considered as Direct Selling and would be dealt appropriately under relevant provisions of existing laws.

We, "PNJ Legal Consultants" are one of the well known organizations engaged in providing Consultancy Services keeping in mind the Client Service Mentality.

We have a team of highly qualified professionals and time to time training is provided by us as per the requirements. Our team members deliver excellent performance in providing these services and our clients can avail the services at affordable prices.

Our sophisticated team has complete knowledge of various exercises and technicalities that are used in our services. Our services includes Strategy Consulting, GST Consulting, Asset Management, Feasibility Study, International Arbitration, Due Dilligence, Franchisee Consulting, Financial Audits, Operational Audits, Tax Heaven Registrations, Shareholder Agreements, Start up Consulting, IP Consulting, Taxation Services, Accounting system design and Mergers Acquisitions.

Contact at parascs@gmail.com or refer website www.pnjlegal.com