The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (‘MCA’) by way of the Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Amendment Rules, 2024, dated August 5, 2024, had amended the Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Rules, 2014, which came into effect on September 16, 2024 (‘Effective Date’). Pursuant to this amendment, adjudication of all proceedings before the Adjudicating Officer and the Regional Director are to be mandatorily conducted through the e-adjudication platform developed by the Central Government. Further to this, MCA by way of the Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Second Amendment, Rules, dated October 9, 2024, has further amended the Companies (Adjudication of Penalties) Rules, 2014, and has clarified that the proceedings pending before the Adjudicating Officer and the Regional Director as of the Effective Date, would continue as per the rules applicable prior to the Effective Date and, therefore, those proceedings do not have to be adjudicated on the e-adjudication platform.