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Company Law

By Dr. Mohammad Nasir   |   Aligarh Muslim University
Learners enrolled: 454
ABOUT THE COURSE:
The ‘company’ is a dominant institution our society today. In fact, the operation of modern economies and businesses is inconceivable without companies. While we know a lot about companies through their products and services, however, there is a generalized lack of knowledge about the law which regulates them. 
Blending abstract legal concepts with experiential learning, this course provides a comprehensive overview of the legal architecture of a company’s life-cycle.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: 
• Students of UG and PG courses such as BALLB, LLB, BBA, B.Com, etc. 
• Students of PG courses such as LLM, MBA, M.Com, Masters in Insurance & Risk Management (MIRM), Masters in Human Resource Management (MHRM), Diplomas in Corporate Law / Finance / Business / Management, etc.
• Others such as Entrepreneurs, Company Professionals, Lawyers, Competitive Exam Aspirants for CA/CS/Judiciary etc.


PREREQUISITES: Class XII
Enrolled or Completed any UG Course

INDUSTRY SUPPORT:
1. Companies 
2. Autonomous Public and Financial Institutions
3. Entrepreneurs
4. Startups
5. Businesses
6. Lawyers
7. Dispute Resolution Forums (NCLT/NCLAT)
8. Company Professionals
9. Competitive Exam Aspirants
10. Higher Education Professionals/Academicians


Summary
Course Status : Upcoming
Course Type : Core
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Law
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date : 21 Jul 2025
End Date : 10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends : 28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends : 15 Aug 2025
Exam Date : 25 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level   : 6.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.


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Course layout

Week 1:  Introduction to Company Law
1. Rationale of Company Law 
2. Sources of Company Law 
3. Key Terms and Expressions 
4. Overview of Companies Act, 2013 

Week 2: Characteristics of a Company
1. What is a Company?
2. Separate Legal Personality 
3. Limited Liability and Asymmetry in Risks and Rewards for Shareholders and Creditors 
4. Theories of ‘Owner Shielding’ and ‘Entity Shielding’ 
5. Delegated Management, Transferability of Shares, Raising Finances and Perpetual Succession 

Week 3: 
Doctrine of Lifting the Corporate Veil and Theories of Corporate Personality
1. Doctrine of Lifting the Corporate Veil
• Concept, Rationale and Effects 
• Case Studies
• Statutory Remedies
2. Theories of Corporate Personality 
• Basis and Dimensions
• Concession Theory, Aggregate Theory, Realist Theory, Corporate Nominalism and Corporate Realism 

Week 4: Legal Position of a Company and Comparison with Other Business Organizations
1. Fundamental Rights of Companies 
• Conceptual Overview
• Cases
2. Comparison of Company with Other Business Organizations
• Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Hindu Undivided Family, Corporation, Enterprise, Cooperative, Special Purpose Vehicle and Sole Proprietorship

Week 5: Kinds of Company
• Basis of Classification of Companies 
1. Mode of Incorporation
2. Liability
3. Ownership
4. Nationality
5. Control
6. Access to Capital
7. Number of Members 
8. Size 
9. Other Companies

Week 6: Company Constitution (Part I)
1. Memorandum of Association (MoA): Contents, Alteration and Form 
2. Articles of Association (AoA): Contents, Form and Alteration 
3. Soft Law Aspects of Company Law
4. Effects of MoA and AoA
5. Difference between MoA and AoA 
6. Doctrine of Ultra Vires
• Objects Clause, Rationale and Scope of the Doctrine 
• Case Laws 
• Effects and Exceptions 

Week 7: Company Constitution (Part II)
1. Doctrine of Constructive Notice 
• Concept, Legal Fiction and Functions 
• Cases and Effects 
2. Doctrine of Indoor Management
• Basis, Operation and Function 
• Cases and Exceptions
• Comparison with Constructive Notice

Week 8: Formation of Company and Prospectus
1. Promoter 
• Who is a Promoter?
• Promoter as an Entrepreneur 
2. Formation of Company
• Pre-incorporation Contracts, Registration and Incorporation of Company and Commencement of Business
3. Prospectus 
• Meaning, Functions, Essentials, Public Offer & Private Placement 
• Kinds and Contents
• Liability for Mis-statement

Week 9: Shares, Debentures and Dividends
1. Shares 
• Meaning, Nature and Features
• Capital – Different Kinds
• Preference Shares – Types and Redemption 
• Equity Shares – Differential Voting Rights (DVRS) and Kinds of Equity Shares 
2. Debentures
• Characteristics and Classification
• Rights of Debenture Holders
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Debentures
• Difference with Shares
3. Dividend
• Concept and Sources of Dividend 
• Principles for Distribution of Dividend

Week 10: Corporate Governance (Part I) 
1. Directors
• Concept and Legal Position
• Duties, Liability and Qualification
• Appointment, Removal and Powers
2. Meetings 
• Concept and Role 
• Kinds of Meetings 
• Reality of Shareholder Participation in Meetings of Public Companies 

Week 11: Corporate Governance (Part II) 
1. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Background, Rationale and Dimensions 
• Legal Framework 
2. Majority and Minority Shareholders 
3. Oppression and Mismanagement
4. National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)
• Introduction and Rationale
• Legal Framework
• Constitutionality 

Week 12: Insolvency and Winding Up
1. Key Concepts 
2. Legal Framework under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016
3. Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP)
4. Liquidation of Companies 
5. Cases


Books and references

Core Readings
1. Reading material to be uploaded by the course instructor
2. Companies Act 2013 (Bare Act)

Supplementary Reading 
1. Principles of Modern Company Law by Gower & Davies (Publisher: Sweet & Maxwell:11th edition 2023)
2. Company Law & Practice by Dr. G. K. Kapoor and Dr. Sanjay Dhamija (Publisher: Taxman / 27th edition 2024)
3. The Anatomy of Corporate Law by Reinier Kraakman et.al. (Publisher: Oxford University Press/3rd edition 2017)
4. Company Law by Avtar Singh (Publisher: Eastern Book Company/13th edition 2024)
5. Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act 1956
6. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016

Instructor bio

Dr. Mohammad Nasir

Aligarh Muslim University
DR. MOHAMMAD NASIR is Assistant Professor of Law at the Aligarh Muslim University (India). His teaching interests are Corporate Law, Business Law and Law & Development. Besides, he teaches corporate law and legal aspects of business as a visiting faculty at the Indian Institute of Management, Uttarakhand, where he engages with entrepreneurs and business executives on the points of intersection between law and management. His recent research interests have led him to undertake three ICSSR sponsored research projects – latest on empirical analysis of ‘Startup India’ & ‘Atal Innovation Mission’ initiatives in the context of Green Tech Startups.

In 2022, he authored a book titled ‘Syed Mahmood: Colonial India’s Dissenting Judge’ published by Bloomsbury. The book was released by three judges of the Supreme Court of India—Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice S. Ravindra Bhat and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia on 28 August 2022 at the India International Centre, New Delhi. Reviewed in the Economic & Political Weekly of India, Hindustan Times, Business Standard, The New Indian Express, The Book Review, OPEN Magazine the book was shortlisted for the best book of the year 2023 in English Non-Fiction Category by the Valley of Words Book Awards 2023.

His opinion pieces on legal and socio-political issues have been carried by the Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Wire, The Print, Scroll and OPEN.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: 25 October 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup. It will have the logos of INI and AMU.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- INI team


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