Section 297 , Board's sanction to be required for certain contracts in which particular directors are interested, applies to all companies, public as well as private.
The object of the Section is that the Board should have knowledge of the extent of interest of a director in any contractual dealings with the company; or of any person connected with the director and accord their consent to such dealings.
The consent of Board of Directors of the Company is required for the contracts entered with the Company, except for the contracts which are exempted under Section 297 (2), as one of the party and other party being any of the following: -
1) director of the Company; or
2) any relative of any director of the Company; or
3) any partnership firm in which any director of the Company is partner; or
4) any partnership firm in which any relative of any director of the Company is partner; or
5) any partner of the partnership firm in which any director of the Company is a partner; or
6) any partner of the partnership firm in which any relative of any director of the Company is a partner; or
7) any private company in which any director of the Company is a member; or
8) any private company in which any director of the Company is a director.
The Contract to be entered is for :
1) sale, purchase or supply of any goods or material;
2)sale, purchase or supply of any;
3) for underwriting the subscripttion of any shares in, or debentures of, the company.
In your case the contract is for sharing cost of office by the Companies., Section 297 will not be applicale in my opinion, view of other members are solicited.