Govt provides clarity on CAG audit provision in new Cos Act

Further, sub-section (5) of section 143 of Cos Act provides for power to the CAG to conduct supplementary audit

To remove difficulties faced by stakeholders, the Corporate Affairs Ministry has made changes to provisions regarding appointment of auditors by CAG for 'deemed government companies' under the new companies law.

The Ministry is implementing the Companies Act, 2013, whose many provisions have come into effect from April 1 this year.

'Deemed government companies' are those entities owned or or controlled by two or more government entities.

Sub-sections (5) and (7) of section 139 under the Act provide for power of the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) to appoint an auditor in a government company.

Further, sub-section (5) of section 143 of the Act provides for power to the CAG to conduct supplementary audit.

The latest changes pertaining to section 143 have been made in the wake of companies facing difficulties with regard to applicability of the provision.

Providing more clarity, the Ministry has now included "any company owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the central government, or by any state government or governments, or partly by the central government and partly by one or more state governments," in sub-section (5) of the section 143 after the words "in the case of a government company".

For such entities, CAG should appoint the auditor under and provide directions for the manner in which the accounts of the company are required to be audited, among others.

The changes have been made by way of Companies (Removal of Difficulties) Seventh Order, 2014, dated September 4.

In July, the Ministry had clarified that provisions regarding appointment of auditors by CAG for 'deemed government companies' would remain unchanged under the new Companies Act.

As per the Act, in case of a government company or any other company directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the central or state government, the CAG would appoint an auditor within 180 days from commencement of a financial year.

The Act also says that the first auditor for such companies would need to be appointed by the CAG within 60 days from the date of registration of the company.

In case the CAG does not appoint such an auditor within the said period, the company's board would have to appoint such an auditor within the next 30 days.