Section 20 - Companies not to be registered with undesirable names - Companies Act, 1956

Provisions with respect to names of companies 20. Companies not to be registered with undesirable names [1] (1). No company shall be registered by a name which, in the opinion of the Central Government, is undesirable. [2] [(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, a name which is identical with, or too nearly resembles, (i) the name by which a company in existence has been previously registered, or (ii) a registered trade mark, or a trade mark which is subject of an application for registration, of any other person under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, may be deemed to be undesirable by the Central Government within the meaning of sub-section (1). (3) The Central Government may, before deeming a name as undesirable under clause (ii) of sub-section (2), consult the Registrar of Trade Marks.] ----------------------------------------- Notes:- [1] See rule 4A, Companies (Central Government's) General Rules and Forms, 1956. [ See e-Form No. 1A of General Rules Forms. Is prescribed with fee of Rs. 500. For rectification of mistake, e-Form 68 with fees of Rs. 1000 ]. [2] Substituted by the Trade Marks Act, 1999, Sub-section (2) and (3) substituted for sub-section (2) by the Trade Marks Act, 1999, w.e.f. 15-9-2003. Prior to its substitution, sub-section (2) read as under: "(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, a name which is identical with, or too nearly resembles, the name by which a company in existence has been previously registered, may be deemed to be undesirable by the Central Government within the meaning of sub-section (1)."