The Registrar of Companies has affirmed that holding more than one DIN is strictly prohibited under Section 155 of the Companies Act. Penalties have been imposed even after the surrender of the duplicate DIN through DIR-5.
Surrender of Duplicate Director Identification Number (DIN)
The Registrar of Companies has clarified that Section 155 of the Companies Act exclusively prohibits an individual from holding more than one Director Identification Number (DIN). Recent penalties were imposed on a company despite the subsequent surrender of a duplicate DIN through the DIR-5 form.
In accordance with Section 155, holders of more than one DIN are subject to penalties. The authority emphasizes strict adherence to maintaining only one DIN to ensure compliance with corporate governance norms.
This ruling reinforces the importance of compliance for corporate directors, indicating that actions taken post-violation do not absolve the penalties incurred for holding duplicate DINs. Practitioners should ensure strict adherence to DIN regulations to avoid penalties.
Citations
- Registrar of Companies (2026)
