In a significant judgment underscoring the principles of vicarious liability, the Supreme Court of India has stayed criminal proceedings against the directors of Attica Gold Pvt Ltd. The case, Shamim Sulthana & Ors. v. State by Tavarekere PS & Anr. (SLP(Crl) No. 20621 of 2024), was heard by a Bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh. The decision provides a crucial precedent in corporate law, protecting directors from criminal liability without specific allegations of personal misconduct.
Case Background
The case arose after gold articles, later alleged to be stolen, were sold or mortgaged by customers at one of the branches of Attica Gold Pvt Ltd, a prominent gold trading company with over 200 branches across five states. The directors of the company were named as accused based solely on their positions within the company, despite no specific claims of their personal involvement in the transactions.
The directors challenged their implication, arguing that the criminal proceedings were unjustified as they were included only due to their roles as directors and not because of any direct wrongdoing. They sought relief from the Supreme Court, contending that directors cannot be held vicariously liable for the acts of their employees or company unless clear allegations of personal involvement are made.
Key Legal Issues
The Supreme Court’s stay revolves around two critical legal principles:
1. Vicarious Liability of Directors: The crux of the petitioners’ argument was that vicarious liability cannot be imposed on directors merely by virtue of their position within a company. In support of this, they relied on several landmark rulings:
– In Maksud Saiyed v. State of Gujarat (2008), the Court held that vicarious liability must be explicitly provided by statute and cannot be assumed based solely on a person’s corporate title.
– The petitioners also invoked S.M.S. Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. Neeta Bhalla (2005), where the Supreme Court ruled that a director’s liability in a criminal case must be based on specific allegations of involvement in the alleged offence.
– Furthermore, in Aneeta Hada v. Godfather Travels & Tours (2012), the Court had held that the criminal intent of a company must first be established before liability can be extended to its directors.
2. Corporate Criminal Responsibility: A related issue was whether criminal proceedings could continue against directors without any allegations of their personal intent or involvement. The petitioners’ counsel, A. Velan (Advocate on Record) and Mrs. Navpreet Kaur (Advocate), argued that unless criminal intent is attributed to the company first, the directors cannot be held liable for the company’s actions.
Supreme Court’s Decision
After hearing the arguments, the Bench ordered a stay on all criminal proceedings against the directors until further notice. In its interim ruling, the Court observed that the mere position of an individual as a director of a company does not automatically make them vicariously liable for the actions of the company or its employees.
The Court stressed that vicarious liability, especially in criminal matters, cannot be assumed unless there is clear statutory backing or explicit allegations of personal involvement in the wrongdoing. The judgment echoes the principle that corporate officers are not automatically criminally responsible for a company’s acts unless specific evidence suggests otherwise.
Observations of the Court
In its order, the Court stated:
“Vicarious liability in criminal law cannot be fastened on a person merely because of their designation within the company. The law demands specific allegations that tie an individual’s actions to the alleged offence before criminal liability can be imposed.”
Counsel and Parties Involved
– Petitioners: Shamim Sulthana & Others, Directors of Attica Gold Pvt Ltd
– Respondents: State by Tavarekere Police Station & Another
– Counsel for Petitioners: A. Velan (Advocate on Record), Mrs. Navpreet Kaur (Advocate)
