Royal Chemicals Limited (RCL), a company listed with National Stock Exchange (NSE) is having 60% market share in paint manufacture industry. It also deals in petrochemicals, which are used in numerous household products

Royal Chemicals Limited (RCL), a company listed with National Stock Exchange (NSE) is having 60% market share in paint manufacture industry. It also deals in petrochemicals, which are used in numerous household products like wax, detergents, dyes, carpeting, safety glasses, etc. RCL is one among the top 1000 companies listed on NSE. As per the latest audited financial statements as on March 31, 2024, its paid-up capital stood at ₹300 crore against its authorized Capital of ₹500 crore and it had a revenue of ₹2,250 crore. RCL has thirteen Directors on its Board, of which five were independent directors. The Articles of Association of the Company restricts the maximum number of Directors to fifteen. RCL remains ever-conscious to corporate governance and ensures compliance with the statutory and legal provisions in both letter and spirit. Roya, an executive director, is chairperson of the Company and Minu is the only woman Director. The Company has constituted requisite committees as per the requirements of Companies Act, 2013 and SEBI LODR. The Audit Committee consists of five Directors as members—Aman, Jatin, Rohan, Keyn and Jitu. Among the five independent directors, Rohan was reappointed on August 1, 2019 after completing his term of 5 years. His efficient performance was ranked first in the performance evaluation carried out as per SEBI guidelines. To recognise the outstanding results towards the Company's growth, the Board wanted to reappoint Rohan for the third term. The Board also sought Company Secretary's opinion in this regard. The Company had successfully concluded its Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the financial year ending March 31, 2024, on May 25, 2025, at its registered office at Pune. On the fateful day of AGM, while returning to Mumbai from Pune by road, after her re-appointment at AGM, a fatal accident claimed the life of Minu, thus snatching an efficient and trustworthy Director from the Company. Later on, a Board Meeting was held on August 9, 2024 and Neeru, a finance professional and daughter of deceased director Minu, was appointed as Director to fill the vacancy of woman director. RCL is a growing company which wants to diversify its business into the sphere of agrochemicals and therefore, desires to bring on its Board Ojas, who is a chemical engineer with hands-on experience of about twenty years post his qualification in the field of agrochemicals and other petroleum products. Besides production, he is well versed in marketing of agrochemicals, both in India and abroad. It is hoped that he shall prove to be a valuable asset to the Company. Accordingly, in the Board Meeting held on August 9, 2024, Ojas was appointed as an additional Director. Ojas already held directorships in one dormant company, two Section 8 companies, eight public limited companies and nine private limited companies. However, out of nine private limited companies, two are subsidiaries of public limited companies. Based on the above facts, answer the following questions: Referring to the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, examine the decision of the Board to appoint Ojas as an additional director of the Company. Has Ojas violated the provisions relating to maximum number of directorships? If yes, what would be the penalty?