SIGNIFICANCE OF MEETINGS IN THE EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANIES: WITH SPECIAL REFERNECE. TO AGM & EGM UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 2013
AUTHOR – MR. MRUTYUNJAY SARAMANDAL & MR. SIDDHARTH BANKAL
STUDENTS AT HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, RAIPUR
BEST CITATION – MR. MRUTYUNJAY SARAMANDAL & MR. SIDDHARTH BANKAL, SIGNIFICANCE OF MEETINGS IN THE EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANIES: WITH SPECIAL REFERNECE. TO AGM & EGM UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 2013, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (13) OF 2025, PG. 138-146, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
This paper examines the role of company meetings—principally Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) in strengthening corporate governance under India’s Companies Act, 2013. It analyses statutory provisions, procedural mechanisms, and participatory tools such as proxy voting and electronic voting, and assesses how these institutions shape accountability, transparency, and board-shareholder relations. Drawing on doctrinal analysis of the Act, regulatory circulars, tribunal decisions, and empirical studies on shareholder participation, the study identifies persistent gaps: low retail turnout, procedural non-compliance, and technology-driven inclusion challenges.
The paper argues that meetings function not merely as formalities but as essential governance forums when supported by clear disclosure, robust procedural safeguards, and inclusive e-participation measures. Practical recommendations include standardized proxy disclosures, mandatory accessible e-participation facilities, limits on aggregated proxy authority, and targeted enforcement to ensure substantive deliberation. By situating AGMs and EGMs within a framework of fiduciary oversight and minority protection, the paper contributes to policy debates on aligning statutory meeting architecture with real-world governance outcomes. The findings inform regulators, company secretaries, and scholars seeking to enhance the deliberative quality and democratic legitimacy of corporate meetings. The study further recommends periodic independent reviews of meeting practices and empirical monitoring of reform impacts, consistently over time.
Keywords: Annual General Meeting; Extraordinary General Meeting; corporate governance; Companies Act, 2013; e-voting; proxy voting; shareholder participation.