JUDGMENT : P.K. Mohanti, J. - On December 24, 1959, there was an order for winding up of the company called M/s. Rajendra Paper Mills Ltd., having its registered office at Titilagarh in the district of Balangir under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, and the official liquidator was directed to function as the liquidator. 2. u/s 545(3) of the Act, the directors of the company were to submit a statement of affairs of the company within twenty-one days from the date of the winding-up order or within such extended time not exceeding three months from the date as the official liquidator or the court may, for special reasons, appoint. The petitioner who is an ex-director of the company was called upon by the official liquidator to submit the statement of affairs, books and records of the company. In response to the notice, the petitioner has come up with this application for a declaration that he has no liability for submitting the statement of affairs, books and records of the company. His contention is that he was only a nominal director and shareholder ; and he was not in charge of the books of account or the records of the company. He had no knowledge or information if the company functioned at all. There was no meeting of the directors at any time and, hence, he has no liability to submit any statement of affairs or the books and the records. 3. Though the petitioner as an ex-director of the company is liable to submit the statement of affairs of the company, it still remains for consideration whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, there is any reasonable excuse for not filing a statement of affairs as required by Section 454(1) of the Act. It appears from the winding-up order passed in Companies Act Case No. 5 of 1957 that the company did not commence its business. It was not at all functioning or capable of functioning. No general body meeting was held at any time and no statutory return was ever filed. Thus, it appears, the company really ceased to exist, except on the records, and there was no question of maintaining any accounts or any other records. It was not at all functioning or capable of functioning. No general body meeting was held at any time and no statutory return was ever filed. Thus, it appears, the company really ceased to exist, except on the records, and there was no question of maintaining any accounts or any other records. That being so, the petitioner would be unable to submit a statement of affairs of the company containing the particulars mentioned in Section 454(1) of the Act, after a period of about twenty-three years since the company was wound-up. 4. The petition is allowed. Final Result : Allowed