Nominees under the Companies Act acquire exclusive ownership rights over shares post the holder's death, distinguishing them from other laws.

1. The plaintiff married one Nitin Kokate on 3rd December, 2004. Her husband expired on 5th July, 2007. Nitin Kokate held certain shares in D - mat Account with the Depository Participant Cell of defendant No. 1. Her husband executed a nomination in the prescribed form following the prescribed procedure set out by the Depository Participant, defendant No. 1 Bank in favour of the defendant No. 3, his nephew on 11th July, 2006. The plaintiff claims an interest in the said shares as his heir and legal representative. She claims to have them sold.

2. This Suit is not concerned with the reason why she claims the sale of the shares. The plaintiff must show her legal right, title and interest in those shares. If that is shown, the plaintiff would be entitled to sell or transfer those shares or to hold them as her own.

3. The defendant No. 3 claims right, title and interest in the shares pursuant to the nomination executed in his favour. The nomination has been executed well prior to the death of the deceased and well after his marriage with the plaintiff. The defendant No. 1 Bank has stated that the nomination is executed as required and has been so registered with the Depository Participant. The effect of the nomination is, therefore, to be seen. The nomination form itself shows that the rights of transfer and / or the amount payable in respect of the securities held by Nitin Kokate, defendant No. 3 vests in him as the said nominee.

4. The law relating to nomination is set out in 109A of the Companies Act pursuant to the amendment which came into effect on 31st October, 1998. It is common knowledge that prior to 1996 shares were not held in dematerialised form. Consequent upon the Dematting of the shares the Share Certificates in physical form are not mandatorily required to be issued by the Limited Companies listed on the Stock Exchanges. Shares can be transferred by word of mouth or on the Internet from person to person. Upon such transfer the membership rights of the holder of the shares changes. Since the share is an intangible movable property it is bequeathable estate. The nomination in respect of the shares is, therefore, important. S.109A sets out the rights of the holder of shares to nominate as well as the rights of the nominees thus: - S.109A. Nomination of shares - (1) Every holder of shares in, or holder of debentures of a company may, at any time, nominate, in the prescribed manner, a person to whom his shares in or debentures of the company shall vest in the event of his death.
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(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any disposition, whether testamentary or otherwise, in respect of such shares in, or debentures of, the company, where a nomination made in the prescribed manner purports to confer on any person the right to vest the shares in, or debentures of the company, the nominee shall, on the death of the shareholder or holder of debentures of the company or, as the case may be, on the death of the joint holders become entitled to all the rights in the shares or debentures of the company or, as the case may be, all the joint holders, in relation to such - shares in, or debentures of the company to the exclusion of all other persons, unless the nomination is varied or cancelled in the prescribed manner.
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It can be seen from the aforesaid provision that nomination is required to be made in the prescribed manner. Upon such nomination the shares would vest in the nominee in the event of the death of the holder. Further upon it being made in the prescribed manner the nominee would become entitled to all the r