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PART – I
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1. This Code Vis-a-Vis the Members on the Board of Directors :- |
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Directors stand in fiduciary relationship to the Company. They act in dual Capacity – as Trustees and Agents of the Company which call for exercise of utmost care, skill and diligence while dealing with the Company. They are trustees of the Company’s funds and properties; they are agents in their transactions on behalf of the Company.
Their fiduciary relationship prohibits them from making any secret profits, from entering into any contract for personal gain and demands complete disclosure of information regarding the Company’s affairs to the Shareholders.
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2. Attendance in Meetings |
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This Code of Conduct expects the Directors of the Company to strive to attend all the Meetings of the Board/Committees. Absence from the Meetings shall be with the approval of the Chairman. Absence from attending the meetings shall be communicated to the Chairman/Managing Director/Company Secretary, the communication can be either written or oral over the phone.
Continuance absence from the Meetings for a long period without concrete and convincing reason shall be treated as a breach of this Code.
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3. Agenda for Board/Committee Meetings |
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All important matters affecting the business of the Company were particularly the items specified in the “Corporate Governance” shall be placed before the Board for discussion. Various Reports, Compliance Certificates and other documents placed before the Board shall be reviewed and discussed in the Meeting.
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4. Board Room/Committee Room Deliberations |
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Directors should keep themselves abreast with the business to be transacted in the Board/Committee Meetings. The Agenda papers should be read thoroughly and come prepared to take active part in the discussions. The deliberations should be lively and informative and constructive. The discussions should be free, frank and fearless and stick to the subject matter.
Committee Meetings shall be viewed as important tools for effective management. The Directors shall be conversant with the Constitution, Powers and functions of the various Committees constituted under “Corporate Governance. |
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5. Active participation in the Company’s Business |
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The Directors are expected to participate actively in the day to day business of the Company. They should make positive contributions with their exemplary leadership qualities and unflinching devotion to the duties. On all occasions, the Company’s interest as well as the interest of the Shareholders shall be uppermost in their mind. |
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6. Honest and Ethical Conduct |
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This Code expects all Directors to act in accordance with the highest standards of personal and professional integrity, honesty and ethical conduct, while working on the Company's premises, or at any other place where they represent the Company.
Honest conduct should be conduct that is free from fraud or deception. Ethical conduct should be conduct conforming to the accepted professional standards of conduct. Ethical conduct includes personal and professional relationships.
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7. Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest. |
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All actions of the Directors should be free from the conflicts of interest. The Directors should ensure to avoid any situation where a conflict of interest may arise or appear to arise. Even if there exists any such conflict, the same should be fully disclosed to the Board.
Conflict of Interest arises in the case of :-
- Employment/Outside Employment :
Whole time Directors are expected to devote their full attention to the business of the Company. They are prohibited from engaging in any activity that interferes with their performance or responsibilities to the Company, or is otherwise in conflict with or prejudicial to the Company. Whole time Directors shall not accept simultaneous employment with suppliers, customers, competitors of the Company, or take part in any activity that enhances or supports a competitor's position. Directors must disclose to the Company's Audit Committee, any interest that they have which may conflict with the business of the Company.
- Outside Directorships :
This Code prohibits Directors of the Company to accept any assignment with any Company or Agency that competes with the Company. Directors must first obtain approval from the Company's Audit Committee before accepting such assignment.
- Business Interests :
If a Director contemplates to enter into any business relation with any customer, supplier or competitor of the Company, he must ensure that the proposed business relation shall not compromise with his responsibilities to the Company. This Code requires that the Directors shall obtain approval from the Company's Audit Committee before entering in to such business relations.
- Related Parties :
As far as possible, the Directors should avoid conducting Company's business with a relative, or with a business in which a relative is associated in any significant role. The term relative denotes the same relationships given to Schedule I-A to Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956.
In any unavoidable circumstances if a Director has to enter into any such related party transactions, it should be fully disclosed to the Board. The Company's Board must review and approve such related party transactions in advance. The related party transactions should be reported under applicable accounting rules, Indian Companies Act and rules and regulation of the regulatory authorities.
It shall be a good Board practice if the Directors disclose at every meeting their interest, if any, in any of the agenda items listed for discussion.
- Payments or Gifts from Others :
Under no circumstances may Directors accept any offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization to pay any money, costly gift, or anything of great value from customers, vendors, consultants, etc., that is perceived as intended, directly or indirectly, to influence any business decision, any act or failure to act, any commitment or fraud, or opportunity for the commitment of any fraud. Inexpensive gifts, infrequent business meals, celebratory events and entertainment, provided that they are not excessive or create an appearance of impropriety, do not violate this policy.
- Corporate Opportunities :
Directors shall not exploit for their own personal gain, opportunities that are discovered through the use of corporate property, information or position unless the opportunity is disclosed fully in writing to the Company's Board of Directors and the Board accord its approval declines to pursue such opportunity. The above list of situations which bring about conflict within is not exhaustive, but only indicative.
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8. Compliance with Governmental Laws, Rules and Regulations |
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Directors must comply with all applicable Governmental Laws, Rules and Regulations. They must acquire appropriate knowledge of the legal requirements relating to their duties sufficient to enable them to recognize potential dangers, and to know when to seek advise from the finance/legal department. Violations of applicable Governmental Laws, Rules and Regulations may subject the Directors to individual criminal or civil liability. Such individual violations may also subject the Company to civil or criminal liability or the loss of business.
Scrupulous adherence to the Code for prevention of “Insider Trading” in the Company’s Shares is strongly recommended.
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9. Disclosures |
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The Statutory duties of the Directors include making certain disclosures to the Board at periodical intervals; this include :
- Disclosures of Directorship/Change in Directorships in other Companies.
- Disclosure of Committee Positions/Change in Committee Positions in other Companies.
- Disclosure of Partnerships in any Partnership firms.
- Disclosure of Shareholdings in the Company and in other Companies.
- Disclosure of contracts/arrangements with parties/Companies/firms in which the Directors were interested.
- Disclosure of details and violations committed by the Company in which the Director is a Director.
- Disclosure as required under the Code for prevention of Insider Trading in Shares.
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10. Violation of the Code |
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This is the ethical responsibility of all Directors to help enforce this Code. They should be alert to possible violations and report this to the management. Reprisal, threat, retribution or retaliation against any person who has, in good faith, reported a violation or a suspected violation of law, this code or other Company policies, or against any person who is assisting in any investigation or process with respect to such a violation, is prohibited.
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11. Waivers and Amendments of the Code |
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The Company reserves the right to continuously review and update this Code. Any amendment or waiver or any provision of this Code must be approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and promptly disclosed on the Company’s website and in applicable regulatory filings pursuant to applicable laws and regulations, together with details about the nature of the amendment or waiver. |
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12. Acknowledgment |
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Directors are requested to sign the enclosed acknowledgment form in token of their having received, read and accepted this Code.
The acknowledgment form may be forwarded to Secretarial Department. |
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