To overcome the non-compliance situation, the department has advised that the annual general meeting of the company to be held earlier of the following dates:-
· six months from the date of the close of the financial year.
· Within 15 months from last annual general meeting
· Last date of next calendar year.
The department has issued a circular on this stating that section 166 and section 210 to be read together so as to get a harmonious construction and if a breach of the provisions of one or the other two section is to be avoided an annual general meeting to be held on the earlier of the three relevant dates as mentioned above.
As per the circular issued by the then Department of Company Affairs where a company holds its annual general meeting within the time prescribed under section 166, though such a meeting is held beyond the period of six months from the close of its financial year {as required under section 210(3)(b)}and the company files its annual return within 60 days of the holding of the said meeting, no action should be taken against the company for default of section 159 or 166 nor additional fee be levied in such a case in respect of the filing of the annual return and audited accounts..