Notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956, when any limited company is wound up and any tax assessed on the companyunder this Act for any period, whether before or in the course of or after it  liquidation, can not be recovered, then every person who was a director of the limited company at any time during the period for which the tax is due shall be jointly and severally liable for the payment of such tax unless he proves that the non-recovery cannot be attributed to any gross neglect, misfeasance or breach of duty on his part in relation to the affairs of the company.