R v Registrar of Companies, ex parte Attorney General

[1991] BCLC 476

判决理由

A company registered for an unlawful purpose (in this case, prostitution) may be struck off the register. The Registrar has a duty to refuse or cancel registration where the company's objects are wholly unlawful.

事实

A company called 'Lindi St Claire (Personal Services) Ltd' was registered with the object of providing prostitution services. The Attorney General applied for judicial review.

判决摘要

The court held the registration should be cancelled as the company's sole object was to carry on a trade that was unlawful. The Registrar had a duty not to register companies with wholly illegal objects.

关键引述

"A company cannot be validly formed for an illegal purpose."
— Ackner LJ

后续处理

Good law

Authority on the limits of company registration where objects are unlawful.