Lawgist23Restrictions on opening of new, and transfer of existing, places of business
1[23. Restrictions on opening of new and transfer of existing, places of business.--(1) Without obtaining the prior permission of the Reserve Bank--
(a) no banking company shall open a new place of business in India or change otherwise than within the same city, town or village, the location of an existing place of business situated in India; and
(b) no banking company incorporated in India shall open a new place of business outside India or change, otherwise than within the same city, town or village in any country or area outside India, the location of an existing place of business situated in that country or area:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to the opening for a period not exceeding one month of a temporary place of business within a city, town or village or the environs thereof within which the banking company already has a place of business for the purpose of affording banking facilities to the public on the occasion of an exhibition, a conference or a mela or any other like occasion.
(2) Before granting any permission under this section, the Reserve Bank may require to be satisfied by an inspection under section 35 or otherwise as to the financial condition and history of the company, the general character of its management, the adequacy of its capital structure and earning prospects and that public interest will be served by the opening or, as the case may be, change of location, of the place of business.
(3) The Reserve Bank may grant permission under sub-section (1) subject to such conditions as it may think fit to impose either generally or with reference to any particular case.
(4) Where, in the opinion of the Reserve Bank, a banking company has, at any time, failed to comply with any of the conditions imposed on it under this section, the Reserve Bank may, by order in writing and after affording reasonable opportunity to the banking company for showing cause against the action proposed to be taken against it, revoke any permission granted under this section.
2[(4A) Any regional rural bank requiring the permission of the Reserve Bank under this section shall forward its application to the Reserve Bank through the National Bank which shall give its comments on the merits of the application and send it to the Reserve Bank:
Provided that the regional rural bank shall also send an advance copy of the application directly to the Reserve Bank.]
(5) For the purposes of this section "place of business" includes any sub-office, pay office, sub-pay office and any place of business at which deposits are received, cheques cashed or moneys lent.]
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1. Subs. by Act 33 of 1959, s. 14, for section 23 (w.e.f. 1-10-1959).
2. Ins. by Act 61 of 1981, s. 61 and the Second Schedule (w.e.f. 1-5-1982).
- 6 Form of business in which banking companies may engage
- 7 Use of words "bank", "banker", "banking" or "banking company"
- 8 Prohibition of trading
- 9 Disposal of non-banking assets
- 10 Prohibition of employment of managing agents and restrictions on certain forms of employment
- 10A Board of directors to include persons with professional or other experience
- 10B Banking company to be managed by whole time chairman
- 10BB Power of Reserve Bank to appoint chairman of the Board of directors appointed on a whole-time basis or a managing director of a banking company
- 10C Chairman and certain directors not to be required to hold qualification shares
- 10D Provisions of sections 10A and 10B to override all other laws, contracts, etc
- 11 Requirement as to minimum paid-up capital and reserves
- 12 Regulation of paid-up capital, subscribed capital and authorised capital and voting rights of shareholders
- 12A Election of new directors
- 12B Regulation of acquisition of shares or voting rights
- 13 Restriction on commission, brokerage, discount, etc., on sale of shares
- 14 Prohibition of charge on unpaid capital
- 14A Prohibition of floating charge on assets
- 15 Restrictions as to payment of dividend
- 16 Prohibition of common directors
- 17 Reserve Fund
- 18 Cash reserve
- 19 Restriction on nature of subsidiary companies
- 20 Restrictions on loans and advances
- 20A Restrictions on power to remit debts
- 21 Power of Reserve Bank to control advances by banking companies
- 21A Rates of interest charged by banking companies not to be subject to scrutiny by courts
- 22 Licensing of banking companies
- 23 Restrictions on opening of new, and transfer of existing, places of business
- 24 Maintenance of a percentage of assets
- 25 Assets in India
- 26 Return of unclaimed deposits
- 26A Establishment of Depositor Education and Awareness Fund
- 27 Monthly returns and power to call for other returns and information
- 28 Power to publish information
- 29 Accounts and balance-sheet
- 29A Power in respect of associate enterprises
- 30 Audit
- 31 Submission of returns
- 32 Copies of balance-sheets and accounts to be sent to registrar
- 33 Display of audited balance-sheet by companies incorporated outside India
- 34 Accounting provision of this Act not retrospective
- 34A Production of documents of confidential nature
- 35 Inspection
- 35A Power of the Reserve Bank to give directions
- 35AA Power of the Central Government to authorize Reserve Bank for issuing directions to banking companies to initiate insolvency resolution process
- 35AB Power of Reserve Bank to issue directions in respect of stressed assets
- 35B Amendments of provisions relating to appointments of managing directors, etc., to be subject to previous approval of the Reserve Bank
- 36 Further powers and functions of Reserve Bank
- 36A Certain provisions of the Act not to apply to certain banking companies
