# Inspection of Minutes of General Meetings (Sec 119)
## 1. Right of Inspection
General meeting minutes kept at the registered office.
Open for inspection by any member during business hours, free of charge.
AoA / general meeting may impose reasonable restrictions.
Minimum inspection time: at least 2 hours per business day.
## 2. Right to Obtain Copies
Member can request a copy; company must furnish within 7 working days of request, on payment of prescribed fee.
## 3. Penalty for Refusal / Delay
Party
Penalty
Company
₹25,000
Officer in default
₹5,000 for each refusal/failure
## 4. Tribunal's Power
NCLT may order immediate inspection of minute books or direct that a copy be sent to the requesting member.
## 5. Rule 26 — Fees and Free Copies
Max fee: ₹10 per page (as per AoA).
Soft copy FREE: for minutes of meetings held in the last 3 financial years.
## Quick Recall Box
Inspection: 2 hours/day minimum, free.
Copy: 7 working days to provide.
Fee cap: ₹10/page (hard); soft copy FREE for last 3 FYs.
Penalty: Company ₹25,000 | Officer ₹5,000.
Worked example
### Example 1
Example 1 — Soft copy: Ms. P requests soft copy of last year's AGM minutes. Answer: Free of charge for meetings held in last 3 FYs.
### Example 2
Example 2 — Refusal: Company repeatedly denies inspection. Answer: Company ₹25,000; each officer in default ₹5,000. Member may approach NCLT.
### Example 3
Example 3 — Inspection hours: Company allows only 30 minutes/day. Answer: Violates Sec 119 — minimum 2 hours/day required.
⚠️ Common exam mistakes
Stating inspection requires payment — it is FREE; only copies attract a fee.
Quoting copy fee as ₹100/page — cap is ₹10/page.
Forgetting that soft copies of last-3-FY minutes are FREE.
Confusing 7 working days with calendar days.
Restricting inspection rights to directors — any MEMBER has the right.
Bare-Act text Section 119 read with Rule 26 · Companies Act, 2013 · click to expand
Section 119: (1) The books containing the minutes of the proceedings of every general meeting of a company shall be kept at the registered office of the company and shall be open, during business hours, to the inspection by any member without charge, subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may, by its articles or in general meeting, impose, so however, that not less than two hours in each business day are allowed for inspection. (2) Any member shall be entitled to be furnished, within seven working days after he has made a request in that behalf to the company, and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, with a copy of any minutes referred to in sub-section (1)...