LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP ACT 2008
(1) This Act may be called the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:
Provided that different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
(a) "address", in relation to a partner of a limited liability partnership, means-
(i) if an individual, his usual residential address; and
(ii) if a body corporate, the address of its registered office;
(b) "advocate" means an advocate as defined in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Advocates Act, 1961(25 of 1961);
(c) "Appellate Tribunal" means the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal constituted under sub-section (1) of section 10FR of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956);
(d) "body corporate" means a company as defined in section 3 of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956) and includes -
(1) A limited liability partnership is a body corporate formed and incorporated under this Act and is a legal entity separate from that of its partners.
(2) A limited liability partnership shall have perpetual succession.
(3) Any change in the partners of a limited liability partnership shall not affect the existence, rights or liabilities of the limited liability partnership.
Save as otherwise provided, the provisions of the Indian Partnership Act, 1932(9 of 1932) shall not apply to a limited liability partnership.
Any individual or body corporate may be a partner in a limited liability partnership:
Provided that an individual shall not be capable of becoming a partner of a limited liability partnership, if--
(a) he has been found to be of unsound mind by a Court of competent jurisdiction and the finding is in force;
(b) he is an undischarged insolvent; or
(c) he has applied to be adjudicated as an insolvent and his application is pending.
(1) Every limited liability partnership shall have at least two partners.
(2) If at any time the number of partners of a limited liability partnership is reduced below two and the limited liability partnership carries on business for more than six months while the number is so reduced, the person, who is the only partner of the limited liability partnership during the time that it so carries on business after those six months and has the knowledge of the fact that it is carrying on business with him alone, shall be liable personally for the obligations of the limited liability partnership incurred during that period.
(1) Every limited liability partnership shall have at least two designated partners who are individuals and at least one of them shall be a resident in India:
Provided that in case of a limited liability partnership in which all the partners are bodies corporate or in which one or more partners are individuals and bodies corporate, at least two individuals who are partners of such limited liability partnership or nominees of such bodies corporate shall act as designated partners.
Explanation.-- For the purposes of this section, the term "resident in India" means a person who has stayed in India for a period of not less than one hundred and eighty-two days during the immediately preceding one year.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1),--
Unless expressly provided otherwise in this Act, a designated partner shall be--
(a) responsible for the doing of all acts, matters and things as are required to be done by the limited liability partnership in respect of compliance of the provisions of this Act including filing of any document, return, statement and the like report pursuant to the provisions of this Act and as may be specified in the limited liability partnership agreement; and
(b) liable to all penalties imposed on the limited liability partnership for any contravention of those provisions.
A limited liability partnership may appoint a designated partner within thirty days of a vacancy arising for any reason and provisions of sub-section (4) and sub-section (5) of section 7 shall apply in respect of such new designated partner:
Provided that if no designated partner is appointed, or if at any time there is only one designated partner, each partner shall be deemed to be a designated partner.
(1) If the limited liability partnership contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 7, the limited liability partnership and its every partner shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees.
(2) If the limited liability partnership contravenes the provisions of sub-section (4) and sub-section (5) of section 7, section 8 or section 9, the limited liability partnership and its every partner shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees.
(1) For a limited liability partnership to be incorporated,--
(a) two or more persons associated for carrying on a lawful business with a view to profit shall subscribe their names to an incorporation document;
(b) the incorporation document shall be filed in such manner and with such fees, as may be prescribed with the Registrar of the State in which the registered office of the limited liability partnership is to be situated; and
(c) there shall be filed along with the incorporation document, a statement in the prescribed form, made by either an advocate, or a Company Secretary or a Chartered Accountant or a Cost Accountant, who is engaged in the formation of the limited liability partnership and by any one who subscribed his name to the incorporation document, that all the requirements of t
(1) When the requirements imposed by clauses (b) and (c) of sub-section (1) of section 11 have been complied with, the Registrar shall retain the incorporation document and, unless the requirement imposed by clause (a) of that sub-section has not been complied with, he shall, within a period of fourteen days--
(a) register the incorporation document; and
(b) give a certificate that the limited liability partnership is incorporated by the name specified therein.
(2) The Registrar may accept the statement delivered under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 11 as sufficient evidence that the requirement imposed by clause (a) of that sub-section has been complied with.
(3) The certificate issued under clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be signed b
(1) Every limited liability partnership shall have a registered office to which all communications and notices may be addressed and where they shall be received.
(2) A document may be served on a limited liability partnership or a partner or designated partner thereof by sending it by post under a certificate of posting or by registered post or by any other manner, as may be prescribed, at the registered office and any other address specifically declared by the limited liability partnership for the purpose in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(3) A limited liability partnership may change the place of its registered office and file the notice of such change with the Registrar in such form and manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed and any such change shall take effect only upon such filing.
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On registration, a limited liability partnership shall, by its name, be capable of--
(a) suing and being sued;
(b) acquiring, owning, holding and developing or disposing of property, whether movable or immovable, tangible or intangible;
(c) having a common seal, if it decides to have one; and
(d) doing and suffering such other acts and things as bodies corporate may lawfully do and suffer.
(1) Every limited liability partnership shall have either the words "limited liability partnership" or the acronym "LLP" as the last words of its name.
(2) No limited liability partnership shall be registered by a name which, in the opinion of the Central Government is --
(a) undesirable; or
(b) identical or too nearly resembles to that of any other partnership firm or limited liability partnership or body corporate or a registered trade mark, or a trade mark which is the subject matter of an application for registration of any other person under the Trade Marks Act, 1999(47 of 1999).
(1) A person may apply in such form and manner and accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed to the Registrar for the reservation of a name set out in the application as--
(a) the name of a proposed limited liability partnership; or
(b) the name to which a limited liability partnership proposes to change its name.
(2) Upon receipt of an application under sub-section (1) and on payment of the prescribed fee, the Registrar may, if he is satisfied, subject to the rules prescribed by the Central Government in the matter, that the name to be reserved is not one which may be rejected on any ground referred to in sub-section (2) of section 15, reserve the name for a period of three months from the date of intimation by the Registrar.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 15 and 16, where the Central Government is satisfied that a limited liability partnership has been registered (whether through inadvertence or otherwise and whether originally or by a change of name) under a name which --
(a) is a name referred to in sub-section (2) of section 15; or
(b) is identical with or too nearly resembles the name of any other limited liability partnership or body corporate or other name as to be likely to be mistaken for it,
the Central Government may direct such limited liability partnership to change its name, and the limited liability partnership shall comply with the said direction within three months after the date of the direction or such longer period as the Central Government may allow.
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(1) Any entity which already has a name similar to the name of a limited liability partnership which has been incorporated subsequently, may apply, in such manner as may be prescribed, to the Registrar to give a direction to any limited liability partnership, on a ground referred to in section 17 to change its name.
(2) The Registrar shall not consider any application under sub-section (1) to give a direction to a limited liability partnership on the ground referred to in clause (b) of subsection (1) of section 17 unless the Registrar receives the application within twenty-four months from the date of registration of the limited liability partnership under that name.
Any limited liability partnership may change its name registered with the Registrar by-filing with him a notice of such change in such form and manner and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.
If any person or persons carry on business under any name or title of which the words "Limited Liability Partnership" or "LLP" or any contraction or imitation thereof is or are the last word or words, that person or each of those persons shall, unless duly incorporated as limited liability partnership, be punishable with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees.
(1) Every limited liability partnership shall ensure that its invoices, official correspondence and publications bear the following, namely:-
(a) the name, address of its registered office and registration number of the limited liability partnership; and
(b) a statement that it is registered with limited liability.
(2) Any limited liability partnership which contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees but which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees.
On the incorporation of a limited liability partnership, the persons who subscribed their names to the incorporation document shall be its partners and any other person may become a partner of the limited liability partnership by and in accordance with the limited liability partnership agreement.
(1) Save as otherwise provided by this Act, the mutual rights and duties of the partners of a limited liability partnership, and the mutual rights and duties of a limited liability partnership and its partners, shall be governed by the limited liability partnership agreement between the partners, or between the limited liability partnership and its partners.
(2) The limited liability partnership agreement and any changes, if any, made therein shall be filed with the Registrar in such form, manner and accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed.
(3) An agreement in writing made before the incorporation of a limited liability partnership between the persons who subscribe their names to the incorporation document may impose obligations on the limited liability partnership, provided such agreement is ratified by all the partners after the
(1) A person may cease to be a partner of a limited liability partnership in accordance with an agreement with the other partners or, in the absence of agreement with the other partners as to cessation of being a partner, by giving a notice in writing of not less than thirty days to the other partners of his intention to resign as partner.
(2) A person shall cease to be a partner of a limited liability partnership-
(a)-on his death or dissolution of the limited liability partnership; or
(b) if he is declared to be of unsound mind by a competent court; or
(c) if he has applied to be adjudged as an insolvent or declared as an insolvent.
(3) Where a person has ceased to be a partner of a limited liability pa
(1) Every partner shall inform the limited liability partnership of any change in his name or address within a period of fifteen days of such change.
(2) A limited liability partnership shall--
(a) where a person becomes or ceases to be a partner, file a notice with the Registrar within thirty days from the date he becomes or ceases to be a partner; and
(b) where there is any change in the name or address of a partner, file a notice with the Registrar within thirty days of such change.
(3) A notice filed with the Registrar under sub-section (2)--
(a) shall be in such form and accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed;
(b) shall be signed by the designated p
Every partner of a limited liability partnership is, for the purpose of the business of the limited liability partnership, the agent of the limited liability partnership, but not of other partners.
(1) A limited liability partnership is not bound by anything done by a partner in dealing with a person if--
(a) the partner in fact has no authority to act for the limited liability partnership in doing a particular act; and
(b) the person knows that he has no authority or does not know or believe him to be a partner of the limited liability partnership.
(2) The limited liability partnership is liable if a partner of a limited liability partnership is liable to any person as a result of a wrongful act or omission on his part in the course of the business of the limited liability partnership or with its authority.
(3) An obligation of the limited liability partnership whether arising in contract or otherwise, shall be solely the obligation of the li
Section 27 of the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act, 2008, delineates the extent of liability of an LLP and its partners, establishing the legal framework for accountability in cases of wrongful acts or omissions. It is fundamental in defining the liability boundaries of LLPs and their partners, ensuring clarity in legal obligations and protections.
Section 27 states that:- The LLP itself is liable for obligations arising from contracts or wrongful acts, solely out of its property (sub-section 3).- The liabilities of the LLP are to be met from the property of the LLP (sub-section 4).- A partner is not personally liable solely because of their partnership status for obligations of the LLP, unless involved in wrongful acts or omissions [Source: "Jayamma Xavier VS Registrar of Firms"].- The LLP's liability is limited to its property, and partners are personally liable only in cases of wrongful acts or omissions [Source: ""].
In conclusion, Section 27 of the LLP Act, 2008, provides a clear framework limiting the liability of LLPs and their partners, emphasizing that liabilities are confined to the LLP’s property unless wrongful acts or omissions are involved, in which case personal liability can be invoked. The section fosters a balanced environment for business operations while safeguarding partners from undue personal exposure, except in cases of misconduct.
(1) A partner is not personally liable, directly or indirectly for an obligation referred to in sub-section (3) of section 27 solely by reason of being a partner of the limited liability partnership.
(2) The provisions of sub-section (3) of section 27 and sub-section (1) of this section shall not affect the personal liability of a partner for his own wrongful act or omission, but a partner shall not be personally liable for the wrongful act or omission of any other partner of the limited liability partnership.
(1) Any person, who by words spoken or written or by conduct, represents himself, or knowingly permits himself to be represented to be a partner in a limited liability partnership is liable to any person who has on the faith of any such representation given credit to the limited liability partnership, whether the person representing himself or represented to be a partner does or does not know that the representation has reached the person so giving credit:
Provided that where any credit is received by the limited liability partnership as a result of such representation, the limited liability partnership shall, without prejudice to the liability of the person so representing himself or represented to be a partner, be liable to the extent of credit received by it or any financial benefit derived thereon.
(2) Where after a partner's death t
(1) In the event of an act carried out by a limited liability partnership, or any of its partners, with intent to defraud creditors of the limited liability partnership or any other person, or for any fraudulent purpose, the liability of the limited liability partnership and partners who acted with intent to defraud creditors or for any fraudulent purpose shall be unlimited for all or any of the debts or other liabilities of the limited liability partnership:
Provided that in case any such act is carried out by a partner, the limited liability partnership is liable to the same extent as the partner unless it is established by the limited liability partnership that such act was without the knowledge or the authority of the limited liability partnership.
(2) Where any business is carried on with such intent or for such purpose as mentioned
(1) The Court or Tribunal may reduce or waive any penalty leviable against any partner or employee of a limited liability partnership, if it is satisfied that--
(a) such partner or employee of a limited liability partnership has provided useful information during investigation of such limited liability partnership; or
(b) when any information given by any partner or employee (whether or not during investigation) leads to limited liability partnership or any partner or employee of such limited liability partnership being convicted under this Act or any other Act.
(2) No partner or employee of any limited liability partnership may be discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed or in any other manner discriminated against the terms and conditions of his limited liability partnership or e
(1) A contribution of a partner may consist of tangible, movable or immovable or intangible property or other benefit to the limited liability partnership, including money, promissory notes, other agreements to contribute cash or property, and contracts for services performed or to be performed.
(2) The monetary value of contribution of each partner shall be accounted for and disclosed in the accounts of the limited liability partnership in the manner as may be prescribed.
(1) The obligation of a partner to contribute money or other property or other benefit or to perform services for a limited liability partnership shall be as per the limited liability partnership agreement.
(2) A creditor of a limited liability partnership, which extends credit or otherwise acts in reliance on an obligation described in that agreement, without notice of any compromise between partners, may enforce the original obligation against such partner.
(1) The limited liability partnership shall maintain such proper books of account as may be prescribed relating to its affairs for each year of its existence on cash basis or accrual basis and according to double entry system of accounting and shall maintain the same at its registered office for such period as may be prescribed.
(2) Every limited liability partnership shall, within a period of six months from the end of each financial year, prepare a Statement of Account and Solvency for the said financial year as at the last day of the said financial year in such form as may be prescribed, and such statement shall be signed by the designated partners of the limited liability partnership.
(3) Every limited liability partnership shall file within the prescribed time, the Statement of Account and Solvency prepared pursuant to sub-section (
(1) Every limited liability partnership shall file an annual return duly authenticated with the Registrar within sixty days of closure of its financial year in such form and manner and accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed.
(2) Any limited liability partnership which fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees.
(3) If the limited liability partnership contravenes the provisions of this section, the designated partner of such limited liability partnership shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees.
The incorporation document, names of partners and changes, if any, made therein, Statement of Account and Solvency and annual return filed by each limited liability partnership with the Registrar shall be available for inspection by any person in such manner and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
If in any return, statement or other document required by or for the purposes of any of the provisions of this Act, any person makes a statement--
(a) which is false in any material particular, knowing it to be false; or
(b) which omits any material fact knowing it to be material,
he shall, save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to five lakh rupees but which shall not be less than one lakh rupees.
(1) In order to obtain such information as the Registrar may consider necessary for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act, the Registrar may require any person including any present or former partner or designated partner or employee of a limited liability partnership to answer any question or make any declaration or supply any details or particulars in writing to him within a reasonable period.
(2) In case any person referred to in sub-section (1) does not answer such question or make such declaration or supply such details or particulars asked for by the Registrar within a reasonable time or time given by the Registrar or when the Registrar is not satisfied with the reply or declaration or details or particulars provided by such person, the Registrar shall have power to summon that person to appear before him or an inspector or any other public officer whom the
The Central Government may compound any offence under this Act which is punishable with fine only, by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence, a sum which may extend to the amount of the maximum fine prescribed for the offence.
The Registrar may destroy any document filed or registered with him in physical form or in electronic form in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed.
(1) If any limited liability partnership is in default in complying with--
(a) any provisions of this Act or of any other law which requires the filing in any manner with the Registrar of any return, account or other document or the giving of notice to him of any matter; or
(b) any request of the Registrar to amend or complete and resubmit any document or to submit a fresh document, and fails to make good the default within fourteen days after the service on the limited liability partnership of a notice requiring it to be done, the Tribunal may, on application by the Registrar, make an order directing that limited liability partnership or its designated partners or its partners to make good the default within such time as specified in the order.
(2) Any such order may provide that all the cost
(1) The rights of a partner to a share of the profits and losses of the limited liability partnership and to receive distributions in accordance with the limited liability partnership agreement are transferable either wholly or in part.
(2) The transfer of any right by any partner pursuant to sub-section (1) does not by itself cause the disassociation of the partner or a dissolution and winding up of the limited liability partnership.
(3) The transfer of right pursuant to this section does not, by itself, entitle the transferee or assignee to participate in the management or conduct of the activities of the limited liability partnership, or access information
(1) The Central Government shall appoint one or more competent persons as inspectors to investigate the affairs of a limited liability partnership and to report thereon in such manner as it may direct if--
(a) the Tribunal, either suo motu, or on an application received from not less than one-fifth of the total number of partners of limited liability partnership, by order, declares that the affairs of the limited liability partnership ought to be investigated; or
(b) any Court, by order, declares that the affairs of a limited liability partnership ought to be investigated.
(2) The Central Government may appoint one or more competent persons as inspectors to investigate the affairs of a limited liability partnership and to report on them in such manner as it may direct.
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An application by partners of the limited liability partnership under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 43 shall be supported by such evidence as the Tribunal may require for the purpose of showing that the applicants have good reason for requiring the investigation and the Central Government may, before appointing an inspector, require the applicants to give security, of such amount as may be prescribed, for payment of costs of the investigation.
No firm, body corporate or other association shall be appointed as an inspector.
(1) If an inspector appointed by the Central Government to investigate the affairs of a limited liability partnership thinks it necessary for the purposes of his investigation to investigate also the affairs of an entity which has been associated in the past or is presently associated with the limited liability partnership or any present or former partner or designated partner of the limited liability partnership, the inspector shall have the power to do so and shall report on the affairs of the other entity or partner or designated partner, so far as he thinks that the results of his investigation thereof are relevant to the investigation of the affairs of the limited liability partnership.
(2) In the case of any entity or partner or designated partner referred to in sub-section (1), the inspector shall not exercise his power of investigating into, and reporting on, its or his aff
(1) It shall be the duty of the designated partner and partners of the limited liability partnership-
(a) to preserve and to produce before an inspector or any person authorised by him in this behalf with the previous approval of the Central Government, all books and papers of, or relating to, the limited liability partnership or, as the case may be, the other entity, which are in their custody or power; and
(b) otherwise to give to the inspector all assistance in connection with the investigation which they are reasonably able to give.
(2) The inspector may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, require any entity other than an entity referred to in sub-section (1) to furnish such information to, or produce such books and papers before him or any person authorised by him in th
(1) Where in the course of investigation, the inspector has reasonable ground to believe that the books and papers of, or relating to, the limited liability partnership or other entity or partner or designated partner of such limited liability partnership may be destroyed, mutilated, altered, falsified or secreted, the inspector may make an application to the Judicial Magistrate of the first class, or, as the case may be, the Metropolitan Magistrate, having jurisdiction, for an order for the seizure of such books and papers.
(2) After considering the application and hearing the inspector, if necessary, the Magistrate may, by order, authorise the inspector --
(a) to enter, with such assistance, as may be required, the place or places where such books and papers are kept;
(b) to search that plac
(1) The inspectors may, and if so directed by the Central Government, shall make interim reports to that Government, and on the conclusion of the investigation, shall make a final report to the Central Government and any such report shall be written or printed, as the Central Government may direct.
(2) The Central Government-
(a) shall forward a copy of any report (other than an interim report) made by the inspectors to the limited liability partnership at its registered office, and also to any other entity or person dealt with or related to the report; and
(b) may, if it thinks fit, furnish a copy thereof, on request and on payment of the prescribed fee, to any person or entity related to or affected by the report.
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