The Registrar of Companies (ROC) is an officer appointed under Section 396 of the Companies Act, 2013, working under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, who registers companies and LLPs in a state or region, maintains their records and filings, and exercises powers such as calling for information, inspection and striking off defunct companies under Section 248. Each company's master data on mca.gov.in shows its ROC code, for example RoC-Delhi or RoC-Mumbai.
What the ROC does
- Registers companies and LLPs and issues the CIN or LLPIN
- Receives and records annual returns, financial statements, charge filings and event-based forms
- Registers charges and maintains the index of charges
- Records changes in directors, registered office and capital
- Calls for information and carries out inquiries and inspections in specified cases (Section 206)
- Strikes off companies under Section 248 and LLPs under the LLP Act, after notice and objections
- Prosecutes certain offences under the Companies Act
The ROC is an administrative registrar, not a debt recovery forum. It does not order a company to pay a supplier. Recovery happens through notices, the MSME Facilitation Council, civil courts, Section 138 courts, arbitration or the NCLT.
How to find a buyer's ROC
- Open mca.gov.in > MCA Services > Master Data > View Company or LLP Master Data.
- Enter the CIN or name and the captcha.
- Read the ROC code field, for example RoC-Ahmedabad or RoC-Chennai.
- The state code inside the CIN (for example GJ, TN, MH) also indicates the state of registration, though a later shift of office can change the ROC.
When a supplier writes to the ROC
The main occasion is a strike-off notice. If your buyer appears in a public strike-off notice, or its status shows under process of striking off, send a written objection to the concerned ROC with the company name, CIN, the notice reference and proof of your dues, before the deadline in the notice. Keep proof of delivery.
A supplier may also bring to the ROC's notice that a company is not functioning from its registered office or has filed false statements, for instance a strike-off application claiming no liabilities. These are matters for the ROC's own powers; they do not replace your recovery action.
Why the ROC record matters in recovery
Everything you rely on to name the buyer in a notice comes from the ROC: the exact legal name, registered office, directors and status. The registered office recorded with the ROC is the address at which documents may be served on the company under Section 20 of the Companies Act. That is why FundRaksha Legal serves notices to the MCA registered office as well as the place of business, by registered post AD and e-notice, within 24 hours. See also MCA master data.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-20. Information for Indian businesses; not legal advice.