16. INQUIRY INTO WORKING OF SICK INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES.

(1) The Board may make such inquiry as it may deem fit for determining whether any industrial company has become a sick industrial company -

(a) upon receipt of a reference with respect to such company under section 15; or

(b) upon information received with respect to such company or upon its own knowledge as to the financial condition of the company.

(2) The Board may, If it deems necessary or expedient so to do for the expeditious disposal of an inquiry under sub-section (1), require by order any operating agency to enquire into and make a report with respect to such matter as may be specified in the order.

(3) The Board or, as the case may be the operating agency shall complete its inquiry as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made to complete the inquiry within sixty days from the commencement of the inquiry.

Explanation : For the purposes of this sub section, an  inquiry shall be deemed to have commenced upon the receipt by the Board of any reference or information or upon its own knowledge reduced to writing by the Board. 

(4) Where the Board deems it fit to make an inquiry or to cause an inquiry to be made into any industrial company under sub-section (1) or, as the case may be, under sub-section (2), it may appoint one or more persons to be a special director or special directors of the company for safeguarding the financial and other interests of the   company or in the public interest.

(4A) The Board may issue such directions to a special director appointed under sub-section (4) as it may deem necessary or expedient for proper discharge of his duties.

(5) The appointment of a special director referred to in sub-section (4) shall be valid and effective notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or in any other law for the time being in force or in the memorandum and articles of association or any other instrument relating to the industrial company, and any provision regarding share qualification, age limit, number of directorships, removal from office of directors and such like conditions contained in any such law or instrument aforesaid, shall not apply to any director appointed by the Board.

(6) Any special director appointed under sub-section (4) shall -

(a) hold office during, the pleasure of the Board and may be removed or substituted by any person by order in writing by the Board;

(b) not incur any obligation or liability by reason only of his being a director or for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in the discharge of his duties as a director or anything in relation thereto;

(c) not be liable to retirement by rotation and shall not be taken into account for computing, the number of directors liable to such retirement;

(d) not be liable to be prosecuted under any law for anything, done or omitted to be done in good faith in the discharge of his duties in relation to the sick industrial company.