1. Introduction
- This Code of Conduct (hereinafter referred to as the “Code”) shall be called “The
Code of Conduct for Board Members and Senior Management Personnel” of Indian Oil
Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”).
- This Code envisages that the Board of Directors of the Company (“Board”) and Senior
Management Personnel (as hereinafter defined) (collectively referred to as “Officers”)
must act within the bounds of the authority conferred upon them and with a duty
to comply with the requirements of applicable law.
- The purpose of this Code is to enhance ethical and transparent process in managing
the affairs of the Company, and thus to sustain the trust and confidence reposed
in the Officers by the shareholders of the Company. Officers are expected to understand,
adhere to, comply with and uphold the provisions of this Code and the standards
laid down hereunder in their day-to-day functioning.
- The principles prescribed in this Code are general in nature and lay down broad
standards of compliance and ethics, as required by Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement
with The Stock Exchange of Mumbai and the National Stock Exchange (collectively
referred to as “Stock Exchanges”). The Officers should also review other applicable
policies and procedures of the Company for specific instructions and guidelines,
which are to be read in conjunction with this Code.
- The Company currently has in place Conduct, Discipline & Appeal Rules, (the
“CDA Rules”), which govern the conduct of all employees of the Company including
Whole-time Directors but excluding Non Whole-time Directors. This Code has now been
framed specifically in compliance with the provisions of Clause 49 of the Listing
Agreement with the Stock Exchanges. In respect of the Company’s Whole-time Directors
and Senior Management Personnel this Code is to be read in conjunction with the
CDA Rules.
- This Code shall come into force with effect from the 1st day of January 2006.
- All Officers should sign the acknowledgment form annexed as Appendix IV hereto and
return the form to the Company Secretary indicating that they have received, read,
understood and agree to comply with the Code. All Officers shall be required affirm
compliance with this Code on an annual basis, within 30 days of close of every financial
year to the Company Secretary, in the form annexed hereto as Appendix III.
2. Definitions & Interpretation
In these Code, unless repugnant to the meaning or context thereof, the following
expressions, wherever used in this Code, shall have the meaning assigned to them
below:
- "Board" shall mean the board of Directors of the Company.
- "Board Members" shall mean the Directors on the board of Directors of the Company.
- "Company" shall mean the Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
- "Government" shall mean Govt. of India.
- "Officers" shall collectively refer to the Board Members and the Senior Management
Personnel
- "Relative" shall have the same meaning assigned to the term in Sections 2(41) and
6 of the Companies Act, 1956, read with Schedule IA of the Companies Act, 1956,
and as more specifically detailed in Appendix I.
- "Senior Management Personnel" shall mean personnel of the Company who are members
of its core management team excluding the Board of Directors and would comprise
of all members of management one level below the Whole Time Directors, including
head of departments directly reporting to Whole Time Directors.
- "Whole Time Directors" shall mean the Board Members who are in the whole-time employment
of the Company.
- "Non Whole Time Directors" shall mean the Board Members who are part-time Directors
and not in the whole time employment of the Company.
In this Code words importing masculine shall include feminine and words importing
singular shall include plural or vice versa.
3. Applicability
This Code shall be applicable to the following persons:
- Board Members
- Senior Management Personnel.
4. Ethical Conduct
Every Officer shall act within the authority conferred upon him by the Company and
under applicable law, keeping the best interests of the Company in view and shall:
- Act with professionalism, utmost care, skill, diligence, honesty, good faith and
integrity as well as high moral and ethical standards;
- Fulfil their fiduciary obligations without allowing their independence of judgment
to be compromised;
- Act fairly and transparently and not participate in any decision-making process
on a subject matter in which a conflict of interest exists or is likely to exist
such that an independent judgment of the Company’s best interest cannot be exercised;
- Avoid conducting business with (a) a relative or (b) a private limited company in
which he or his relative is a member or a director (c) a public limited company
in which he or his relative holds 2% or more shares or voting right and (d) with
a firm in which the relative is a partner, except with the prior approval of the
Board;
- Avoid having any personal and/or financial interest in any business dealings concerning
the Company;
- Not engage in any business, relationship or activity with anyone who is a party
to a transaction with the Company;
- Avoid any dealings with a contractor or supplier that compromises the ability to
transact business on a professional, impartial and competitive basis or influences
decisions to be made by the Company;
- Not hold any positions or jobs or engage in other businesses or interests that are
prejudicial to the interests of the Company;
- Not exploit for his own personal gain, opportunities that are discovered through
use of corporate property, information or position, unless the opportunity is disclosed
fully in writing to the Board and the Board declines to pursue such opportunity;
- Not seek, accept, or offer or make, directly or indirectly, any gifts, illegal payments,
remuneration, donations or comparable benefits which are intended to or perceived
to obtain business or uncompetitive favours for the conduct of business save as
otherwise provided under the CDA Rules;
- Not commit any offence involving moral turpitude or any act contrary to law or opposed
to public policy.
5. Disclosures
- Notwithstanding that any instances of conflict of interest exist due to any historical
reasons, adequate and full disclosure by the interested Officer should be made to
the Company. It is also incumbent upon every Officer to make a full disclosure of
any interest which the Officer or the Officer’s immediate family, which would include
parents, spouse and children, may have in a company or firm which is a supplier,
customer, distributor of or has other business dealings with the Company.
- With respect to related party disclosures, Board Members shall make disclosure to
the Board and Senior Management Personnel shall make disclosure to the Chairman
under the provisions of Accounting Standard 18 annexed hereto as Appendix II.
- If an Officer fails to make a disclosure as required herein, and the Company of
its own accord becomes aware of an instance of conflict of interest that ought to
have been disclosed by the Officer, the Company would take a serious view of the
matter and consider suitable disciplinary action against the Officer.
6. Other Directorships
- Unless specifically permitted by the Chairman of the Board, Officers shall not serve
as director of any other company or as partner of a firm that is engaged in a competing
business with the Company. This clause is not applicable to Non-Whole Time Directors.
- Whole Time Directors shall not accept any appointment or post, whether advisory
or administrative, in any firm or company, whether Indian or foreign, having competing
interests with the Company within two years from the date of cessation of Directorship
of the Company unless approved by the Government.
7. Insider Trading
Every Officer shall comply with the Code of Internal Procedures and Conduct in dealing
with the securities of the Company.
8. Public Representation and Confidentiality of Information
- The Company honours the information requirements of the public and its stakeholders.
In all its public appearance with respect to disclosing information in relation
to the Company’s activities to public constituencies such as the media, the financial
community, employees and shareholders, the Company shall be represented only by
specifically authorised Officers.
- Any information concerning the Company’s business, its customers, suppliers, etc.
to which the Officers have access or which is possessed by the Officers, must be
considered privileged and confidential and should be held in confidence at all times,
and should not be disclosed to any person, unless (i) authorised by the Board; or
(ii) the same is part of the public domain at the time of disclosure; or (iii) is
required to be disclosed in accordance with applicable laws
9. Regulatory Compliance
Every Officer shall, in his business conduct, comply with all applicable laws, rules
and regulations, both in letter and in spirit, in all the territories in which he
operates. If the ethical and professional standards set out in the applicable laws
and regulations are below that of the Code, then the standards of the Code shall
prevail.
10. Health, Safety And Environment
The Company and the Officers shall strive to provide a safe and healthy working
environment and comply, in the conduct of its business affairs, with all regulations
regarding the preservation of the environment of the territory it operates in. The
Officers shall be committed to prevent the wasteful use of natural resources and
minimize any hazardous impact of the development, production, use and disposal of
any of its products and services on the ecological environment.
11. Protection Of Assets
The Officers shall not misuse, for personal gain or otherwise, the assets of the
Company, including tangible assets such as equipment and machinery, systems, facilities,
materials, resources as well as intangible assets such as proprietary information,
relationships with customers and suppliers, etc., and shall employ them for the
purpose of conducting the business for which they are duly authorised.
12. Amendments To The Code
The provisions of this Code can be amended and modified by the Board of Directors
of the Company from time to time and all such amendments and modifications shall
take effect from the date stated therein. All Officers shall be duly informed of
such amendments and modifications.
13. Placement Of The Code On Website
Pursuant to Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement, this Code and any amendments thereto
shall be posted on the website of the Company.
14. Enforcement Of Code Of Conduct
Each Officer shall be accountable for fully complying with this Code.
15. Consequences Of Non-Compliance Of This Code
- In case of breach of this Code by the Non Whole Time Directors, the same shall be
considered by the Board for initiating appropriate action, as deemed necessary.
- In case of breach of this Code by the Whole Time Directors and Senior Management
Personnel, the same shall be dealt with in accordance with the CDA Rules.
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