An Executive Director can be either a Whole-time Director of the company or a Managing Director. In contrast, a non-executive Director is a Director who is neither a Whole-time Director nor a Managing Director. Independent Director is also a non executive director, but certain conditions are required to be met e.g. he should not hold more than 2% of the block of voting shares. Nominee directors appointed by institution that he has invested in, or lent money to the company, are also treated as Independent Directors. As per Section 2 (26), a managing director, means a director who is entrusted with substantial powers of management which would not otherwise be exercisable by him. The powers so conferred are alterable by the company. He is also removable the same way as he was appointed irrespective of the fact that his appointment has been approved by the Central Government. But ifhe is prematurely removed from office, he is entitled to compensation. It has been held in case of News Papers Proprietary Syndicate Ltd,Re, [1990]2Ch349 that a managing director is an employee of the company, but not to the extent so as to be entitled to preferential payments.
The Supreme Court observed that a Managing Director can be regarded as a principal employer for the purposes of the ESI Act, 1948. Employees State Insurance Corpn. Vs. Appex Engineering P. Ltd.,(1998) 1 Comp LJ 10: [19981 1 LLJ 274 (SC).
As per explanation given in Section 269 of the Companies Act, “Whole Time Director” includes a director in the whole time employment of the company.
Further, a managing director or whole time director cannot resign merely by giving a notice, as formal acceptance of the same is essential to make it complete and effective. This is because, they occupy two positions or possess two capacities, viz (i) one, that of director, and (ii) the other, that of a manager or officer of the company in the sense of wholetime employee. The notice or letter of resignation is therefore required to be approved or accepted by the company and the officer concerned has to be relieved of his duties and responsibilities attached to the office which he has resigned from (Achutha Pal Vs. Registrar of Companies (1956) 36 Comp. Cas 598). However, in case of ordinary director, formal acceptance of resignation is not needed. (Abdul Hug Vs. Katpadi Industries Ltd. A.I.R 1960 mad. 483).
Accordingly, in view of the above discussion, the managing director and whole time directors would
normally be employees of the company. This view is also corroborated from the fact that the remuneration paid to whole time directors and Managing Director are regarded as income from salary and is subjected to TDS under Section 192 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 as amended.