New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI): As many as 179 government-owned companies, including public sector enterprises, do not have a single woman director as required under the companies law, the government said on Monday.

Under the Companies Act, 2013, a certain class of companies are required to have at least one woman director.

Every listed company and every other public company having paid-up share capital of Rs 100 crore or more or having a turnover of Rs 300 crore or more is required to appoint at least one woman director on its board.

"Out of 708 government-owned companies, including Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs), which are required to appoint at least one woman director on their boards, 529 companies have appointed at least one woman director and 179 companies have not appointed at least one woman director.

"The non-compliance of minimum threshold limit of appointment of woman director are company specific and other administrative reasons," Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The specific time period was not disclosed.

He also said separate data in respect of penalties collected from government-owned companies is not maintained centrally.

Till March 13 in the current fiscal year, there were 668 female and 3,423 male directors on the boards of government-owned companies, according to data provided in the written reply.

(PTI)

This report was published from a syndicated wire feed. Apart from the headline, the EdexLive Desk has not edited the copy.