Voting & Roll - Company Meetings, Company Law | Company Law - B Com PDF Download

Voting and Roll

A vote is the formal expression of the will of the members of the house either for or against a proposal. The matters proposed and duly recommended in a general meeting of the company are decided by the voting of the members of the company. The procedure of voting is regulated by the Articles subject to the provisions of the Act. Members holding any share capital of the company have the right to vote on every motion placed before the company. However, the members holding preference shares can vote only on those motions which affect the rights attached to their capital. Share warrant holders, executors of a deceased member, receiver of an insolvent member can not exercise any voting right unless registered as members. The voting rights of an equity shareholder at a poll are in proportion to his share of the paid up equity capital.

Voting may take place in either of the following two ways :

1. Voting by a show of hands

At any general meeting, unless the Articles otherwise provide, a resolution put to the vote is in the first instance decided by a show of hands except when a poll is demanded [Sec. 177]. While voting by a show of hands, one member has one vote irrespective of the shares held by him. Proxies can not be counted unless the Articles otherwise provide. The Chairman will count the hands raised and will declare the result accordingly. Chairman's declaration of the result of voting by the show of hands to be conclusive evidence [Sec. 178].

2. Voting by poll [Sec. 179]

If there is dissatisfaction among the members about the result of voting by the show of hands, they can demand a poll. 'Poll' means counting the number of votes cast for and against a motion. The voting rights of a member on a poll shall be in proportion to his share of the paid-up equity capital of the company. Before or on the declaration of the result of voting on any resolution by a show of hands, a poll may be ordered to be taken by the Chairman of the meeting of his own motion, and shall be ordered to be taken by him on a demand made in that behalf by the person or persons specified below :

(a) In the case of a public company having a share capital, by any member or members present in person or by proxy and holding shares in the company:

(i) which confer a power to vote on the resolution not being less than one tenth of the total voting power in respect of the resolution, or

(ii) on which an aggregate sum of not less than fifty thousand rupees has been paid-up,

(b) In the case of a private company having a share capital, by one member having the right to vote on the resolution and present in person or by proxy if not more than seven such members are personally present, and by two such members present in person or by proxy, if more than seven such members are personally present,

(c) In the case of any other company, by any member or members present in person or by proxy and having not less than one tenth of the total voting power in respect of the resolution [Sec. 179(1)].

The demand for a poll may be withdrawn at any time by the person or persons who made the demand. [Sec. 179(2)]. The provisions of Section 179 apply to a private company, which is not a subsidiary of a public company unless the articles provide otherwise.

A poll demanded on the question of adjournment or the election of the Chairman shall be taken forth with. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time not being later than forty eight hours from the time when the demand was made, as the Chairman may direct. Where a poll is taken, the meeting will be deemed to continue until the ascertainment of the result of the poll. Even a voter who was not present at the meeting when the poll was demanded to be taken, may vote personally in a poll held on the next day.

The Chairman of the meeting shall have the power to regulate the manner in which a poll shall be taken [Sec. 185(1)]. Where a poll is to be taken, the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint two scrutiniser to scrutinise the votes given on the poll and to report thereon to him [Sec. 184 (1)]. Of the two scrutiniser, one shall always be a member present at the meeting, provided such a member is available and willing to the appointed [Sec.184 (3)].

The Articles of a company may provide that no member shall exercise any voting right in respect of any shares registered in his name on which calls or other sums presently payable by him have not been paid (Sec. 181).

Proxies

A meeting has right to vote either in person or by proxy. Any member of a company who is entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of the company can appoint another person (whether a member or not) as his proxy to attend and vote instead of himself but a proxy so appointed will have no right to speak at the meeting. Unless the articles otherwise provide, a proxy will not be allowed to vote except on a poll. A member of a private company, unless the articles provide otherwise is not entitled to appoint more than one proxy to attend on the same occasion. Besides unless the articles provide otherwise a member of a company not having a share capital is not entitled to appoint a proxy. The instrument appointing a proxy is required to be in writing and signed by the appointor or his attorney duly authorised in writing. A proxy is revocable but it should be revoked before the proxy has voted. If the member who has appointed a proxy personally attends and votes at the meeting, the proxy is revoked by such conduct of the member [Section 189]. Death of the member who has appointed a proxy revokes the authority of his proxy but if the company has no notice of such death, then the vote given by the proxy will be valid.