The Registrar can strike a company's name off the register under s.248 of the Companies Act 2013 where it has not commenced business within one year of incorporation, or has not carried on business or operations for two immediately preceding financial years — with the company also able to apply voluntarily under s.248(2). The struck-off list (STK-7) is published on MCA's website, which this checker searches.

Once struck off, the company ceases to exist as a legal entity from the date of the Registrar's notice under s.248 — its property vests in the Registrar or the central government, and its directors can be held liable for fraud in the application under s.248(5). Any transaction with a struck-off company is high-risk because it has no capacity to contract.

Yes — under s.252 of the Companies Act 2013, the company, a member, or a creditor can apply to the NCLT for restoration within three years (five years in cases involving fraud) of the strike-off. The tribunal can order restoration on terms, including payment of fees and penalties. Until then, the company has no legal standing to enter transactions.

A struck-off counterparty can't sign contracts, hold property, or sue or be sued in its own name — and a payment to it may be unrecoverable. The checker lets you search a name or CIN against MCA's published STK-7 list before you extend credit, sign an agreement, or acquire shares from such an entity.

Strike-off under s.248 is a summary removal for dormant companies with no assets, liabilities, or operations. Voluntary liquidation under s.59 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 is a formal solvent winding-up with a liquidator, for a company that can pay its debts in full. For a genuinely dormant shell, strike-off is cheaper and faster; see the wind-down checklist tool for the full comparison.