Repealed or not in force · As amended up to 2026-08
61. In the event of a Company formed under this Act being wound up, every present and past member of such Company shall be liable to contribute to the assets of the Company to an amount sufficient for payment of the debts and liabilities of the Company and the costs, charges and expenses of the winding-up, and for the payment of such sums as may be required for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories amongst themselves, with the qualifications following (that is to say):—
(a) No past member shall be liable to contribute to the assets of the Company if he has ceased to be a member for a period of one year or upwards prior to the commencement of the winding-up:
(b) No past member shall be liable to contribute in respect of any debt or liability of the Company contracted after the time at which he ceased to be a member:
(c) No past member shall be liable to contribute to the assets of the Company unless it appears to the Court that the existing members are unable to satisfy the contributions required to be made by them in pursuance of this Act:
(d) In the case of a Company limited by shares, no contribution shall be required from any member exceeding the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares in respect of which he is liable as a present or past member:
(e) In the case of a Company limited by guarantee, no contribution shall be required from any member exceeding the amount of the undertaking entered into on his behalf by the memorandum of association:
(f) Nothing in this Act contained shall invalidate any provision contained in any policy of insurance or other contract whereby the liability of individual members upon any such policy or contract is restricted, or whereby the funds of the Company are alone made liable in respect of such policy or contract:
(g) No
Companies. [ACT VI
(g) No sum due to any member of a Company in his character of a member, by way of dividends, profits or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a debt of the Company payable to such member in a case of competition between himself and any other creditor not being a member of the Company; but any such sum may be taken into account for the purposes of the final adjustment of the rights of the contributors amongst themselves.
Explanation I.—The liability of past members is a liability to contribute to the general assets of the Company, against which assets creditors (at whatever time their debts may have been contracted) have equal rights.
Explanation II.—In estimating the debts to which a past member is liable, all dividends paid on these debts under the winding-up must be deducted.
Source: India Code