Only 307 firms complied with gender diversity in boardrooms

All listed firms were required to have at least one woman director on board from April 1, 2015.

New Delhi:

A total of 307 companies have complied with the mandate of nominating women to the board of directors, aimed at ensuring gender diversity in boardrooms. All listed firms were required to have at least one woman director on board from April 1, 2015, as per a SEBI directive, as also under the Companies Act, 2013.

"There are 307 companies who have complied with the mandate of law of nominating women to the board of directors," Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

He further noted that prosecution has been launched against 169 companies for failing to comply with the mandate. Besides, 16 companies have filed compounding applications against prosecutions for offence relating to non-appointment of women directors.

To a query on details of investors in electronic media including prominent news channels, Jaitley said this information is "not available" with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

"Industrial activity wise classification of companies do not include 'electronic media' as a specific activity. However, number of active companies covered under television activities as on March 24 stood at 364 with total paid up capital of around Rs 4,044 crore," he added.