Inspection, production and evidence of documents kept by Registrar
Section 399 of the Companies Act, 2013 deals with inspection, production and evidence of documents kept by Registrar. Save as otherwise provided elsewhere in this Act, any person may-- (a) inspect by electronic means any documents kept by the Registrar in accordance with the rules made, being documents filed or registered by him in pursuance of this Act, or making a record of any fact required or authorised to be r The Act came into force on 01 Apr 2014.
(1) Save as otherwise provided elsewhere in this Act, any person may--
(a) inspect by electronic means any documents kept by the Registrar in accordance with the rules made, being documents filed or registered by him in pursuance of this Act, or making a record of any fact required or authorised to be recorded or registered in pursuance of this Act, on payment for each inspection of such fees as may be prescribed;
(b) require a certificate of the incorporation of any company, or a copy or extract of any other document or any part of any other document to be certified by the Registrar, on payment in advance of such fees as may be prescribed:
Provided that the rights conferred by this sub-section shall be exercisable--
(i) in relation to documents delivered to the Registrar with a prospectus in pursuance of section 26, only during the fourteen days beginning with the date of publication of the prospectus; and at other times, only with the permission of the Central Government; and
(ii) in relation to documents so delivered in pursuance of clause (b) of subsection (1) of section 388, only during the fourteen days beginning with the date of the prospectus; and at other times, only with the permission of the Central Government.
(2) No process for compelling the production of any document kept by the Registrar shall issue from any court or the Tribunal except with the leave of that court or the Tribunal and any such process, if issued, shall bear thereon a statement that it is issued with the leave of the court or the Tribunal.
(3) A copy of, or extract from, any document kept and registered at any of the offices for the registration of companies under this Act, certified to be a true copy by the Registrar (whose official position it shall not be necessary to prove), shall, in all legal proceedings, be admissible in evidence as of equal validity with the original document.
Section 399, The Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… shows that under this provision any person may inspect the documents, which are kept in the office of the Registrar regarding the incorporation of the company, which includes the Article of Association and Memorandum of Association. "The documents which a person is entitled to get from the office of Registrar u/s 399 of the Companies Act and if he fails to see and verify it prior to entering with a contract with the company then the company is not liable for that act, if it is done by the Director, because it comes under the doctrine of constructive notice. But the question is "does the doctrine of constructive notice allow the …
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… This is for the reason that information relating to allottees in respect of real estate projects and the debenture holders and security holders in regard to the first proviso is not available. In regard to shareholders with respect to Section 399 of the Companies Act, 1956 and section 244 of the Companies Act 2013, it is pointed out that the threshold requirements can be fulfilled having regard to the documented information regarding the shareholding available in law. This is not the position it is pointed out in regard to the categories covered by …
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… This is for the reason that information relating to allottees in respect of real estate projects and the debenture holders and security holders in regard to the first proviso is not available. In regard to shareholders with respect to Section 399 of the Companies Act, 1956 and section 244 of the Companies Act 2013, it is pointed out that the threshold requirements can be fulfilled having regard to the documented information regarding the shareholding available in law. This is not the position it is pointed out in regard to the categories covered by …
Made under this section, and citing it
17 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
- G.S.R. NO. 45(E) companies registration offices and fees amendment rules 2023 dated 20.01.2023Rule 2023
- Companies Registration Offices and Fees Amendment Rules, 2022Rule 2022
- companies (Registration offices and fees) 2nd Amdt Rules 2020Rule 2020
- companies(Registration Offices and Fees) Amdt Rules 2020Rule 2020
- Companies (Region offices and Fees)Amendment Rules, 2019.Rule 2019
- Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Fifth Amendment Rules, 2019.Rule 2019
- Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2019.Rule 2019
- Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Third Amendment Rules, 2019Rule 2019
- Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Amendment Rules 2018Rule 2018
- Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Third Amendment Rules, 2018Rule 2018
- Companies (Registration of Office and Fees) 2nd Amendment Rules 2018Rule 2018
- Companies (Registration office and Fees) 5th Amendment Rules,2018Rule 2018
- Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Amendment Rules 2016Rule 2016
- Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Second Amendment Rules, 2015Rule 2015
- The Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Amendment Rules.2015Rule 2015
- Chapter XXIV - The Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.Rule 2014
- The Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Amendment Rules, 2014Rule 2014
Another 2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 399
What does Section 399 of the Companies Act deal with?
Section 399 of the Companies Act is headed "Inspection, production and evidence of documents kept by Registrar". Save as otherwise provided elsewhere in this Act, any person may-- (a) inspect by electronic means any documents kept by the Registrar in accordance with the rules made, being documents filed or registered by him in pursuance of this Act, or making a record of any fact required or authorised to be r
How do I find court cases under Section 399 of the Companies Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Companies Act 399, section 399 Companies Act, section 399 of the Companies Act. People searching for it also type companies act 399 2a and companies act 2006 section 399. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 399 of the Companies Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 26 (Matters to be stated in prospectus), section 388 (Provisions as to expert‘s consent and allotment), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 17: most recently G.S.R. NO. 45(E) companies registration offices and fees amendment rules 2023 dated 20.01.2023 (2023), then Companies Registration Offices and Fees Amendment Rules, 2022 (2022), and 15 more.
When did Section 399 of the Companies Act come into force?
Section 399 of the Companies Act, cited as Companies Act 399, came into force on 01 Apr 2014, having been enacted on 29 Aug 2013. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions5089 words
- 143. Powers and duties of auditors and auditing standards1867 words
- 230. Power to compromise or make arrangements with creditors and members1432 words
- 232. Merger and amalgamation of companies1416 words
- 149. Company to have Board of Directors1403 words
- 217. Procedure, powers, etc., of inspectors1390 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.