Company Secretaries Act 1980 – Bare Act with Section Notes By Taxmann’s Editorial Board

Company Secretaries Act 1980 [Bare Act with Section Notes] by Taxmann provides the complete and authoritative text of the Act, supplemented with concise, precise, and contextually relevant section-wise notes. This publication is designed to offer clarity on both the foundational statutory framework and the continuously evolving regulatory, disciplinary, and governance architecture governing the profession of Company Secretaries in India. By integrating the bare statutory text with explanatory notes, definitions, and practical references, the book enables readers to understand not only the letter of the law but also its practical application.

This book is intended for the following audience:

• Company Secretaries & Practitioners – An indispensable statutory reference for day-to-day professional practice, compliance advisory, certification, and disciplinary matters
• Students of Company Secretaryship – Provides conceptual clarity through structured section notes, statutory definitions, and explanations essential for academic study and examination preparation
• Legal Practitioners & Corporate Professionals – Advocates, in-house counsels, compliance officers, and governance professionals benefit from clarity on procedural provisions, disciplinary mechanisms, penalties, and practice regulations
• Academicians & Researchers – A reliable source for teaching, academic writing, and research on professional regulation, corporate governance, ethics, and disciplinary jurisprudence

The Present Publication is the 2026 Edition, covering the amended and updated text of the Company Secretaries Act [Act No. 56 of 1980], with the following noteworthy features:

• [Complete Text of the Company Secretaries Act 1980] Presents the complete statutory text as in force, incorporating all amendments, substitutions, and insertions notified up to date
• [Section-wise Notes & Comments] Provides brief yet meaningful explanations, statutory clarifications, definitions, and cross-references under each section
• [Pre-amendment Provisions] Includes the text of provisions as they stood prior to amendment in the relevant amendment footnotes, enabling readers to understand the earlier legal position and transitional applicability
• [Updated with Recent Amendments] Reflects recent legislative changes affecting disciplinary procedures, monetary penalties, governance of the Institute, firm registration, and regulatory oversight
• [Practical & Interpretative Insights] Highlights relevant definitions, procedural clarifications, and judicial references to aid deeper statutory comprehension
• [User-friendly Layout] Clearly demarcated headings, legislative references, chapter flow, and an updated subject index ensure ease of navigation and efficient use

The structure of the book is as follows:

• Bare Act Text – The complete, authentic, and unaltered statutory provisions of the Company Secretaries Act 1980
• Section Notes, covering:
  • Definitions and interpretative clauses
  • Incorporation, functioning, and regulation of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India
  • Council of the Institute – Composition, election, powers, functions, and committees
  • Registration and maintenance of Registers (Members and Firms)
  • Disciplinary mechanism, professional and other misconduct, and appellate framework
  • Quality Review Board
  • Regional Councils and Co-ordination Committee
  • Penalties, offences, sanctions, and prosecution
  • Transitional, rule-making, regulation-making, and miscellaneous provisions
• Schedules
  • First Schedule – Professional misconduct relating to Company Secretaries in practice, in service, and generally
  • Second Schedule – Serious professional misconduct and the consequences thereof
• Subject Index – A detailed, alphabetically arranged index enabling quick reference to sections, concepts, and statutory themes