Inspector - Kensayaku

An inspector is a joint-stock company organ temporarily appointed to investigate statutory matters. The court appoints an inspector upon application by a person who meets certain requirements. The statutory matters referred to here are the following three: (1) investigation of irregular incorporation matters and contributions in kind (Companies Act, Articles 33, 207, and 284); (2) investigation of procedures for convening general meetings and methods of resolution (Companies Act, Articles 306 and 325); and (3) investigation of the company's business and financial status (Companies Act, Article 358). Incorporators and the company are obligated to apply for (1), certain minority shareholders have the right to apply for (2) and (3), and the company may also apply for (2). There are no legal requirements for the qualifications of inspectors, but in many cases, lawyers are appointed.

Under the old Commercial Code, there were inspectors appointed at the general shareholders' meeting, but under the Companies Act, they are not called inspectors. It is permitted to appoint investigators of materials to be submitted to the general shareholders' meeting by resolution of the general shareholders' meeting (Articles 316, 94, and 325 of the Companies Act). In addition, there is a system of investigators appointed by the court at the request of certain persons or on its own initiative to investigate the business and financial status of the company in special liquidation (Articles 522 and 533 of the Companies Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

法定の事項を調査するために臨時に選任される株式会社の機関。一定の要件を備える者による申立てにより、裁判所が選任する。ここでいう法定の事項の調査とは以下の三つである。(1)変態設立事項・現物出資の調査（会社法33条、207条、284条）、(2)総会の招集手続・決議方法の調査（同法306条、325条）、(3)会社の業務・財産状況の調査（同法358条）。(1)は発起人や会社に申立て義務があり、(2)(3)は一定の少数株主に申立て権限があり、(2)は会社も申立てができる。検査役の資格は法定されていないが、弁護士が選任される場合が多い。

　旧商法では株主総会で選任する検査役があったが、会社法では、それは検査役とよばれていない。株主総会等の決議によって、株主総会提出資料等の調査者を選任することが認められている（同法316条、94条、325条）。このほかに、特別清算における会社の業務・財産状況の調査等をするため、一定の者の申立てまたは職権により裁判所が選任する調査委員制度もある（同法522条、533条）。

［戸田修三・福原紀彦］

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