Introduction about CS (Company Secretary)

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is constituted under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980, to develop and regulate the profession of Company Secretaries in India. The origin of this profession can be traced back to 1960, when the Company Law Board started a course in Company Secretaryship leading to a Government Diploma in Company Secretaryship. A tremendous growth in the number of Company Secretaries led to the formation, in 1969, of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India has been converted into a statutory body under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.

Behind every successful man there is a woman. This saying can be twisted a little to suit our purpose- 'Behind every successful company is a dedicated Company Secretary'.

A company secretary is the one who corresponds with the public and hence is also termed as the 'spokesperson' of the company. So let's embark on a journey to unveil about the happenings in the life and making of a company secretary.

A Company Secretary is a person who ensures compliance of all laws, which relate to the working of a company. Hence, knowledge about corporate laws and the rules related to it are mandatory to formalise business deals. Apart from being responsible to the shareholders and directors of the company, a company secretary also communicates with the outside world on behalf of the Company Secretary. Hence, he/she is the 'face of the company'.

A company secretary's role starts from the very moment when the idea of formation of a Company is conceived. Although the idea of formation of a company Secretary (CS) may vary from company to company the knowledge and training acquired by company secretaries make them versatile to carry out various functions in Finance, Accounts, Legal Administration and Personnel areas in addition to their own secretarial duties and responsibilities. A company secretary is recognized as one of the principal officers of the company by various enactments. Company secretaries, thus occupy a pivotal and versatile position in companies. Companies having a paid up share capital of above Rs. 50 lakhs for more are statutorily required to appoint a whole-time CS.

The career course of Company Secretary is not only prestigious but is financially rewarding too. The post of a Company Secretary is considered a respectable one in the hierarchy and this is one of the most important posts a person handles. This is because, in this position, one acts as the mediator between the company and its Board of Directors, government, shareholders and regulatory authorities. He or she guides the Chairman and the Directors on how to make the best use of their responsibilities under various laws.

A company secretary is a top level employee in a company whose responsibility is to ensure that the company adheres to all the legalities set by the government therefore advises the directors on various policies and operations of the company. To have a company secretary has been made compulsory by a Government Act for large companies. Since the boost in economy in the recent years many companies have grown tremendously and new companies have emerged. Therefore the need and scope for company secretaries has also increased tremendously over the years. To become a company secretary one needs to do a professional course under the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

The use of the word secretary in the name of this specialization is a bit misleading for one who is new to the concept. A Company Secretary has nothing to do with regular secretarial work. A Company Secretary is a professional whose role in a corporate set up is that of an advisor for legal matters. As per the Companies Act, a statutory requirement is that companies with a paid up share capital of a minimum of Rs 50 lakh are required to appoint a Company Secretary. A Company Secretary is a very important member of the company's management.