Oppression and mismanagement

Oppression and mismanagement is the shorthand for the relief that sections 241 and 242 of the Companies Act, 2013 give a member who complains that the company's affairs are being conducted in a manner prejudicial or oppressive to members, or prejudicial to the company. The National Company Law Tribunal may make any order it thinks fit to end the matters complained of, including an order for the purchase of a member's shares.

In Shailja Krishna v. Satori Global Limited, decided on 2 September 2025, the Supreme Court held that the tribunal has full jurisdiction to decide whether a transfer of shares was valid where that question is central to the complaint, so forgery, coercion and a transfer contrary to the articles are triable within the petition. What the tribunal enforces is what binds the company: a right that lives only in a shareholders' agreement and never reached the articles binds the signatories but not the company. The position is stated as at 21 September 2026.