June 2021

High Court Pronouncements

1. Wilful defaulter proceedings are beyond the purview of Section 14 of the
IBC

Matter – Ruling of the Calcutta HC in the matter of Gouri Prasad Goenka v. State Bank of India.

Order dated – 21 June 2021

Bench – Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya

Relevant sections – Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Section 14

Brief background – State Bank of India had issued two show cause notices asking the petitioner to show cause as to why he shall not be declared as a wilful defaulter. They were sent to the petitioner, the first, in the capacity of guarantor of Duncans Industries Ltd. (Corporate Debtor undergoing CIRP) and the second, in the capacity of Whole-time Director and Promoter (since suspended after imposition of moratorium under Section 14) of Duncans Industries Ltd. The petitioner had challenged both the notices in the present writ petition.

Issue – The issue before the HC was whether any proceeding could be instituted or continued for declaration of wilful defaulter in respect of the Corporate Debtor company while moratorium has been declared under Section 14 of the IBC.

Decision – The HC held that “a wilful defaulter proceeding does not come within the contemplation of Section 14 of the IBC, which primarily pertains to legal actions to foreclose, recover or enforce security interest, or recovery of any property or the debt-in-question.”

The contention of the petitioner that while CIRP is pending, the suspended directors cannot be proceeded against prematurely for declaration of wilful defaulter, has been rejected by the Court. It has time and again been affirmed by the SC in various judgements that Section 14 of the IBC creates no hindrance to a wilful defaulter declaration proceeding since its aim is to “disseminate credit information pertaining to wilful defaulters for cautioning banks and financial institutions so as to ensure that further bank finance is not made available to them” and not recovery of debts or assets of the corporate debtor, which could obstruct the CIRP.

The HC noted that Section 14 does not give protection to the whole-time directors and promoters who were in charge of the affairs of the defaulting company during the relevant period when the default was committed. It does not absolve them of their acts of wilful default, committed before final approval and acceptance of a resolution plan. A guarantor of the Corporate Debtor can also be proceeded against for committing such acts since Section 14(3)(b) carves out an exception for a surety in a contract of guarantee to a corporate debtor from the purview of such moratorium. Likewise, an OTS for settlement of the debt, ipso facto, cannot obliterate the wilful default of a promoter/director or guarantor, if committed.

Comments –

The position is already settled in law that a proceeding could be instituted for declaration of wilful defaulter when moratorium is in place in respect of the corporate debtor under Section 14 of the IBC. The primary logic behind this being that moratorium is imposed against the debtor and not on the debt, thereby, creating no obstruction in instituting a wilful defaulter proceeding, since its purpose is not to recover the debt from the assets of the corporate debtor. The position has been reiterated by the SC in previous judgements and has once again been affirmed by the HC in the present case, giving it a finality.

“Abhismita Goswami

NCLAT Pronouncements

2. Once the ineligibility under Section 29A is proved, the approved Resolution Plan becomes null And void.

Matter – Ruling of NCLAT in the matter of Navneet Jain v. Manoj Sehgal and Ors

Order Dated - 01 June 2021

Bench – Justice A.I.S. Cheema, The Officiating Chairman and Dr. Alok Srivastava, Member (Technical)

Relevant Sections – Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Section 29A, Section 30, Section 30(1), Section 30(2), Section 30(4), Section 60(5).

Brief Background – Section 29A, IBC 2016, discusses conditions that make a person ineligible to be a resolution applicant. If a person filing a resolution plan is related to the Corporate Debtor, the person will become ineligible under Section 29A. In this very case, the Appellant contended that the Tejinder Singh Kocher, Resolution Applicant (Respondent No. 2), and suspended Director Bhupinder Singh Mann Sarbat Cotfab Pvt. Ltd., a corporate debtor (Respondent No.3), were partners in two businesses and worked together during the CIRP and the Respondent No. 2 submitted a resolution plan. Thus, as per the Appellant, Tejinder Singh is a related party to the corporate debtor, and hence under Section 29A IBC, he is ineligible to submit a resolution plan.

Issue – Whether the resolution applicant and the corporate debtor are related parties. If so, what is the validity of the resolution plan filed by the resolution applicant concerning the corporate debtor?

Decision – The tribunal observed that the GST and income tax returns submitted by the Appellant are public records that show the relation between the resolution applicant and corporate debtor are matters of public record. The retirement deeds presented by the applicant in the face of a continuing connection as evidenced by Income Tax and GST filings, the validity of retirement documents is questionable. Thus, the Tribunal rejected the case cited by the Respondent of Arcelormittal India Private Limited v. Satish Kumar Gupta & Ors [1] , as the retirement deeds are not found authentic and reliable. Thus, in the opinion of the NCLAT, Tejinder Singh is a related party to the corporate debtor, and hence under Section 29A IBC, he is ineligible to submit a resolution plan. This means that the resolution plan that was approved during the CIRP will be under question. The NCLAT believed that this resolution is bad in law and thus declared this accepted resolution plan null and void. Therefore, once the ineligibility under Section 29-A is proved, the approved resolution plan will become void and every action and implementation taking place in furtherance will not be valid.

Comments –

As per the provisions of the Code, a related party cannot submit a resolution plan and it is a well settled principle now after the insertion of Section 29A of IBC. If a related party is allowed to submit a resolution plan, it becomes the fault of the Resolution Professional (“RP”), who is appointed for smooth functioning of the CIRP, while conforming to the provisions under the Code and the Regulations thereunder. In such an event, the RP must be held accountable for his/her actions in violation of the provisions

.”Anubhav Singh

3. Notification changing criteria for classification of MSMEs under MSMED
Act, 2006, is applicable to the Corporate Debtor under liquidation and the
Promoters are eligible to file a Scheme u/s 230 of the Companies Act, 2013

Matter – Ruling of the NCLAT in the matter of Mr. Rakesh Kumar Agarwal v. Mr. Devendra P. Jain Liquidator of M/s Asis Logistics Limited

4. Once CIRP is commenced, provisions prevailing on the date of admission of petition would continue to apply.

Matter – Ruling of NCLAT in the matter of Martin S.K Golla v. Wig Associates Pvt. Ltd. and Ors.

Order dated – 04 June 2021

Bench – Justice A.I.S. Cheema, The Officiating Chairman and Mr. Kanthi Narahari, Member (Technical)

Relevant Section – Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Section 10, Section 240A, Section 29-A, Section 29-A(c), Section 29A, Section 29A(c), Section 30(4), Section 31, 2016 Section 33, Section 7, Section 9

Brief Background – CIRP was filed under Section 10 of IBC by the Wig Associates (Corporate Debtor). The Bank (Financial Creditor) had asked the RP, the appellant in the present case, the option of treating One-time Settlement Offer (“OTS”) issued by the Corporate Debtor as of the Resolution Plan, which was approved by the CoC and later by the Adjudicating Authority. It was contended that while approving the Resolution plan, the Adjudicating Authority was aware of the insertion of Section 29A of IBC, which laid down certain conditions that make a person ineligible to be Resolution Applicants. Despite agreeing that the Corporate Debtor is a connected party under the provisions of Section-29A, the Adjudicating Authority examined the resolution plan, which is the OTS, and accepted the resolution plan.

The Appellant claimed that after this Tribunal had given orders, he had sought clarification from IBBI and pleaded that the Impugned Order may be quashed. In the earlier appeal, filed by IBBI against the Impugned Order, this Tribunal had passed orders holding that IBBI does not have locus to file the Appeal. The NCLAT had further directed IBBI to ask the RP to file the present appeal.

Issue – Would Section 29A of IBC be applicable with retrospective effect in Section 10 proceedings initiated before Section 29A came into force?

Decision – The NCLAT held that ineligibility to submit a resolution plan under Section 29A of IBC attaches when the resolution applicant submits the resolution plan. The bench held that the Bank of Baroda had also accepted Section 29A from 23-11-2017 in one of its arguments. The bench cited the case of Swiss Ribbons v. Union of India [3] , wherein the insertion of Section 29A with retrospective effect was upheld. Thus, the introduction of Section 240A of IBC will not eradicate the ineligibility while submitting a Resolution plan, which is basically an OTS-cum-Resolution Plan, that is not allowed under the IBC. The Tribunal believed that Resolution Plan submitted by the Respondent could not have been acted upon, and the Appellant made an error in presenting the same before the CoC. Hence, NCLAT rejected the Resolution Plan while setting aside the Impugned Order of the Adjudicating Authority. The matter was remitted back to the Adjudicating Authority, and they were requested to pass the order of liquidation under Section 33 of the IBC

Comments –

The very purpose of IBC is to protect the company and avoid the company’s liquidation. So, if there are two possible interpretations of some provision, such that one is preventing the liquidation and the other one is facilitating the same, then the one who is saving the company from the liquidation must be adopted. The present case was filed under Section 10, IBC, and the withdrawal of the process under Section 12-A had come in the year 2019. Therefore, the option of withdrawal was not available to the promoter. Consequently, the benefit of doubt must have been given to them to save the company from liquidation; otherwise, it would defeat the purpose of induction of this Code.

“Manisha Sarade, Anubhav Singh

5.Decision of a COC, apprehended to be tainted, cannot be validated on the pretext of commercial wisdom

Matter – Ruling of the NCLAT in the matter of Jayanta Banerjee v. Shashi Agarwal, Liquidator of INCAB Industries Ltd.

Order Dated –04 June 2021

Bench – Justice A.I.S. Cheema, The Officiating Chairperson and Mr. V. P. Singh, Member (Technical)

Relevant Section – Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Section 5(24)(f), Section 21(2) and Regulation 12(3) of the CIRP Regulations.

Brief background –

A resolution to liquidate INCAB Industries Ltd. (“Corporate Debtor”) was adopted by the CoC. The appellant filed an opposition against it before NCLT, Kolkata. The Appellant had also filed an application under Section 60(5) of the IBC to remove the respondent as the RP, working in collusion with the majority of the creditors of the Corporate Debtor. Further, Mr. Ramesh Ghamandiram Gowani, one of the directors of the Corporate Debtor, who managed and owned Kamla Mills Private Limited and Fasqua Investment Private Limited (which cumulatively held 77.20 % voting share of the CoC), had resigned from the management of the Corporate Debtor after the initiation of CIRP. Both the applications were rejected by NCLT. Consequently, the present appeal was filed.

Issues – There were twofold issues before the NCLAT. First, whether Kamla Mills Pvt. Ltd. and Fasqua Investment Pvt. Ltd. who were made part of CoC were related parties in terms of proviso to Section 21(2) of the IBC? Second, whether IRP/RP can constitute CoC based on submission of claims only, without verifying and admitting or rejecting the claims?

NCLAT, while setting aside the NCLT order, concluded that Kamla Mills Pvt. Ltd. and Fasqua Investment Pvt. Ltd. were related parties of the Corporate Debtor according to Section 5(24)(f) and first proviso to Section 21(2) of the IBC. It further ordered the appointment of another IRP/RP on the ground that the RP in the present case failed to act impartially and discharge his duties and responsibilities as per the IBC and the Regulations.

Mr. Ramesh Ghamandiram Gowani had a substantial shareholding of 99.74% in Kamla Mills Pvt. Ltd. and was also director and shareholder of the Fasqua Investment Pvt. Ltd. While dealing with the first issue, the NCLAT referred to the recent judgement of the Hon’ble SC in the case of Phoenix ARC Private Limited v. Spade Financial Services Limited [4], where it was held that the related party Financial Creditors that cease to be related parties in order to circumvent the exclusion under the first proviso to Section 21(2) should also be considered as being covered by the exclusion thereunder. Mr. Ramesh’s resignation from the Corporate Debtor’s Board, much after the initiation of the CIRP, did not circumvent the exclusion under the first proviso to Section 21(2). Thus, Kamla Mills Pvt. Ltd. and Fasqua Investment Pvt. Ltd. were related parties of the Corporate Debtor in terms of Section 5(24)(f) and first proviso to Section 21(2); and hence, were not entitled to represent, participate and vote in the CoC of the Corporate Debtor.

Regarding the second issue, it was noted that there were grave irregularities in the conduct of the CIRP. The CoC had resolved to liquidate the Corporate Debtor even without the valuation of the Corporate Debtor. The IRP/RP had constituted the CoC without admitting/rejecting the claims of the financial creditors and determined their voting percentage without any basis. All the mandatory requirements of determination of fair market value, liquidation value and preparation of information memorandum were ignored. The Appellate Tribunal, thus, noted that without verification and admission of a claim, the IRP could not have assigned the voting share to a creditor, and without that, there could not have been a meeting of the CoC.

In light of the above issues, the NCLAT found that the CoC was constituted in violation of the first proviso to Section 21(2) read with Regulation 12(3) of CIRP Regulations. Therefore, the constitution of the CoC was a nullity in the eye of law that vitiated the entire CIRP. The impugned order of liquidation passed by the NCLT was thus set aside considering that the liquidation was based on the resolution of the CoC, which consisted of related party Financial Creditors having 77.20 % voting share. It further added that all the statutory provisions for the conduct of CIRP are intertwined; it doesn’t leave any scope to the IRP/ RP to skip any of the provisions.

Comments – In the words of the Appellate Tribunal, “liquidation is like a death knell for the corporate entity/corporate person”. By setting aside the liquidation order of NCLT, NCLAT has provided the Corporate Debtor with a chance to revive, which is in the spirit of the IBC. Further, conducting the CIRP strictly in terms of provisions of the Code, and Regulations made thereunder, is an essential element of the CIRP. Skipping any statutory process would have serious consequences and impact on the entire CIRP. Thus, affirming that the IRP/RP cannot skip any of the provisions during the conduct of the CIRP has been a welcome move.

The RP has a responsibility to act in good faith, perform as per the provisions of the IBC and the Regulations thereunder; and not work in any manner that would hamper the CIRP. The NCLAT has taken a good step by forwarding the order to IBBI so that disciplinary action can be taken against the RP, who has worked in collusion with the majority of the creditors. The RP should be held accountable for his acts. It would set a good example and hopefully, prevent recurrence of similar incidents in future.

“Abhismita Goswami

Order dated– 08 June 2021

“Abhismita Goswami

7. Procedure for filing a claim under IBC must be adhered and merely sending a letter fails to meet this threshold

Matter – Ruling of NCLAT in the matter of The Assistant Commissioner of Central Tax v. Mr. V. Shanker and Ors.

Order Dated – 11 June 2021

Bench – Justice A.I.S. Cheema, The Officiating Chairperson and Mr. V.P. Singh, Member (Technical)

Relevant Sections – Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Section 60; IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016; Part III of NCLT Rules, 2016

Brief Background – The Appeal was filed by the Assistant Commissioner of Central Tax contending that the Adjudicating Authority did not include the claim made by the department for operational dues, while passing the resolution plan which approved the order.

Issue – Whether appellant can claim statutory dues by sending a letter?

8. Fresh claims cannot be entertained belatedly when Resolution Application is before the CoC, as it may affect the CIRP

Matter – Ruling of NCLAT in the matter of Harish Polymer Product v. Mr. George Samuel, RP of Jason Dekor Pvt. Ltd

Order Dated - 18 June 2021

Bench – Justice A.I.S. Cheema, The Officiating Chairperson and Dr. Alok Srivastava Member (Technical)

Relevant Sections – Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 – Regulation 12; Regulation 40C

Brief Background – On 19.12.2019, the CIRP was initiated against the Corporate Debtor. The Operational Creditor (Appellant) filed a claim (Form B), through sending an email on 15.09.2019 to the RP, which was rejected by the RP. Further the Adjudicating Authority also rejected the claim on the ground of delay.

Issue – Whether new claims can be entertained when the Resolution Applicants are already before the CoC?

Decision – NCLAT while upholding the decision of the Adjudicating Authority noted that the CIRP would be jeopardized and Resolution Process may become more difficult if at belated stage when the Resolution Applicants are already before the CoC, with their Resolution Plans, new claims arise and are entertained. One of the objectives of the ‘I&B Code is Resolution of the Corporate Debtor in time bound manner to maximize the value. If such requests of applicants are accepted this object would be defeated.

Comments –

It is a good judgement in the eyes of law. One of the core objectives of IBC is Resolution of the Corporate Debtor in time bound manner so that value can be maximized. Hence the court valued the principles of IBC while rejecting the claims at belated stage as that would jeopardize CIRP.

“Megha Kamboj

9. Application for initiation of Corporate Insolvency is maintainable if the notice of ‘pre-existing Dispute’ is found to be spurious

Matter – Ruling of NCLAT in the matter of M/s. Manipal Media Network Ltd. v. M/s. Vishwakshara Media Pvt. Ltd

Order Dated - 21 June 2021

Bench – Justice A.I.S. Cheema, The Officiating Chairman and Dr. Alok Srivastava, Member (Technical)

Bench – Justice A.I.S. Cheema, The Officiating Chairman and Dr. Alok Srivastava, Member (Technical)

Brief background – The appellant acting as the financial creditor entered into three agreements with the respondent for printing of the newspaper ‘Vishwavani’ in the cities of Hubli, Gulbarga and Manipal, on 4.12.2015. The Contract was set to expire after two years (3.12.2017). The appellant claimed that the respondent continued to make requests for printing after the expiry of the Contract, and the applicant kept raising invoices even after the same. The respondent paid for all requests until January 2018, but refused to pay from January through November, claiming that they were not under any contractual obligation to do so after 3.12.2017. Appellant and Respondent exchanged a series of emails in between November 2018 and February 2019, primarily with the appellant demanding remittance of all operational credit. On 7.06.2019 the Applicant Filed an Application for initiation of corporate insolvency resolution, but was dismissed on the ground of a ‘pre-existing dispute’ when the respondent claimed a ‘high percentage of wastage of newsprint’ and ‘non-delivery of newsprint’ by the appellant.

Issue – Whether the NCLT order which dismissed the applicant’s application for initiation of corporate insolvency resolution dated 16/12/2019 is valid and whether the agreement that had allegedly lapsed on 3.12.2017 was extended by conduct of the parties?

Decision – This order of the NCLAT is against the order passed by the NCLT on 16 December 2019; wherein Application for initiation of corporate insolvency resolution filed by the Operational Creditor M/s. Manipal Media Network Limited was dismissed on the ground of a ‘pre-existing dispute’.

The appellate tribunal took into view the 66 emails exchanged between the appellant and the respondent which were proof of exchange of order and invoice for the same, and held that even though there was no explicit written mutual agreement for the extension of the agreement, the conduct of both the parties shows that both the parties were working together even after 3.12.2017 as if the agreements continued to be in force.

The court examined the existence of a ‘dispute’ claimed by the respondent and which was the primary reason for the NCLT dismissing the insolvency appeal. The court, after taking into view the various emails sent by the respondents as assurance for making pending payments to the applicant;  held that the ‘dispute’ pointed by the respondent (non-delivery of newsprint and  high percentage of wastage of newsprint by the appellant) was a spurious dispute, and was raised to ward off the responsibility of repayment of debt, and because the arguments made by the respondent were dubious and mere ‘bluster’, the impugned order of the NCLT dated 16/12/2019 was set aside and the application for initiation of corporate insolvency was declared maintainable.

Comments –

This judgement will, by a considerable amount, reduce the number of farce claims of ‘pre-existing disputes’ made by the corporate debtors to save themselves from entering into insolvency proceedings. This also defines the law laid down in Section 8(2)(a) read with Section 9(1) of the IBC to exclude dubious claims of ‘pre-existing disputes’; and ensures that more corporate debtors pay their credits or enter into insolvency proceedings, thus fulfilling the objects and purposes of the code.

“Rohan Phadke

10. Financial lease does not qualify as a final debt when rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying assets were not transferred

Matter – Ruling of NCLAT in the matter of Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority v. Pramod Agarwal and Ors.

Order dated – 21st June 2021

Bench – Justice A.I.S. Cheema, The Officiating Chairman and Dr. Alok Srivastava, Member (Technical)

Relevant Sections – Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Section 5(8)(f)

Brief Background – The Appellant (Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority) had leased the land by Registered Lease Deed dated 29.09.2011 in favour of the Corporate Debtor. It was the appellant’s contention that it is evident from the recitals of the Lease Deed, the land had been leased for 99 years and ownership rights were retained by the Corporate Debtor. It was, thereby, submitted that since the Lease transferred all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset, it is required to be categorized as ‘Financial Lease’ as per the ‘Indian Accounting Standards’. Meanwhile, the appellant was removed as a financial creditor from the CoC in its 6th meeting. The NCLT, New Delhi had held that the claim of the appellant cannot be treated as a financial claim. The present appeal has been filed against the said order of the Adjudicating Authority.

Issue – Whether the Lease Deed between the parties is to be considered to be a Financial Lease if all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset have not been transferred?

Decision – The NCLAT dismissed the appeal while upholding the decision of the Adjudicating Authority. It referred to a similar Lease Deed in the matter of New Okhla Industrial Development Authority v. Mr. Anand Sonbhadra (RP) [11]. Referring to Section 5(8)(f) of IBC, it stated that, “we are unable to persuade ourselves to accept the submission that when land is leased out, if premium is fixed and instalments are given, it should be treated as a financial lease.” Moreover, a Lease Deed from a development authority which has the object of developing the township and thus wants to control the manner in which the constructions of housing come up, does not qualify to be a financial lease as per the requirements of Indian Accounting Standards. Moreover, it denied dwelling into the technicalities of the manner in which the appellant was excluded from the CoC.

Decision –

The NCLAT dismissed the appeal while upholding the decision of the Adjudicating Authority. It referred to a similar Lease Deed in the matter of New Okhla Industrial Development Authority v. Mr. Anand Sonbhadra (RP). Referring to Section 5(8)(f) of IBC, it stated that, “we are unable to persuade ourselves to accept the submission that when land is leased out, if premium is fixed and instalments are given, it should be treated as a financial lease.” Moreover, a Lease Deed from a development authority which has the object of developing the township and thus wants to control the manner in which the constructions of housing come up, does not qualify to be a financial lease as per the requirements of Indian Accounting Standards. Moreover, it denied dwelling into the technicalities of the manner in which the appellant was excluded from the CoC.

“Divya Prabha Singh

NCLT Pronouncements

11. No notice is required to be issued to the Personal Guarantor at the initial stage when the Resolution Professional is appointed

Matter – Ruling of the NCLT, New Delhi Bench in the matter of M/s Siemens Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. v. Mr. Vinod Sehwag

Order dated - 09 June 2021

Bench – Abni Ranjan Kumar Sinha, Member (Judicial) and Mr. L. N. Gupta Member (Technical)

Relevant Sections – Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Section 100(1), Section 101 (2), Section 7, Section 94, Section 95, Section 96, Section 97, Section 99

Brief background – The Respondent had filed an application under Section 95 of IBC 2016 for initiation of CIRP against the appellant who is a Personal Guarantor. The RP was directed by the Adjudicating Authority to inspect the application and make recommendation in consort with the reasons in writing for acceptance or rejection of the same Application within the time as specified under Section 99 of IBC, 2016. The Applicant contended that the previous order of this Adjudicating Authority was passed for one party and without issuing notice to the Applicant.

Issue – Whether this Adjudicating Authority was bound to issue notice to the Personal Guarantor at the time of appointing RP under Section 97 of IBC, 2016 for the purpose of examining the Application preferred under Section 95 of IBC, 2016?

Decision – The NCLT scrutinised the contents of Section 96(1) (b) of IBC 2016 and observed that the interim-moratorium only restrains any ongoing or fresh legal action or proceeding regarding any debt pertaining to the Personal Guarantor. Yet, dissimilar to the provision of final moratorium as specified under Section 101 (2)(c) of IBC 2016, which is initiated after the admission of the Application, there is no provision under interim-moratorium, which detains Personal Guarantor from transfer, alienation, encumbering or disposing of any of the assets or his legal right or beneficial interest and therefore, causes no prejudice to the Personal Guarantor.

Further, the NCLT referred to the 2005 SC case of Ajit Kumar Nag v. G.M. (P.J.) India Oil Corporation Ltd [12] and noted that the non-issuance of notice at the time of appointment of RP cannot be held to be a violation of the Principles of Natural Justice, since these cannot be encompassed into a straightjacket formula. The NCLT concluded that there was no error in the previous order passed by this Adjudicating Authority. Also, the Scheme of Insolvency Resolution Process in Chapter III of the IBC, 2016 does not warrant and provide issuance of notice at the stage of appointing RP under Section 97 of IBC, 2016 for the purpose of examining an Application preferred under Section 95 of IBC, 2016.

Comments –

Section 99 of IBC, very evidently, intends to protect the interest of Personal Guarantor. Section 99(2) of IBC accords the Personal Guarantor with an opportunity to demonstrate before RP if the debt has already been discharged and the Personal Guarantor can provide evidence to the RP concerning such payment of debt. Additionally, through Section 99(3), Personal Guarantors have been enabled to dispute the validity of such a debt except when the debt is registered with the information utility. Going by these provisions, it is clear that it seeks to protect the interest of Personal Guarantor, which the RP has to consider before giving the report comprising his recommendation for approval or rejection of the application.

“Manisha Sarade

12. The CoC Member can only accept or reject a Resolution Plan as there is no such provision in IBC to vote “Under Protest”

Matter – Ruling of the NCLT, Chennai Bench, in State Bank of India v. Subrata M Maity

Order Dated - 10 June 2021

13. The 90 days period under the CIRP Regulation 12(2) cannot be condoned for an unreasonable period without establishing the reason for the delay in submission

Matter – Ruling of the NCLT, Chennai Division Bench-II, in the matter of The Assistant Commissioner of Customs v. Leo Primecomp Private Limited and Ors

Order Dated - 10 June 2021

Bench – Ms. R. Sucharitha, Member (Judicial) and Mr. Anil Kumar B, Member (Technical)

Relevant Sections – Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Section 15(1), Section 21, Section 60(5)

Brief background – The Applicant contended that Leo Primecomp, i.e., Respondent 2, had obtained 5 EPCG authorizations and received an exemption on customs duty worth 14,62,12,894 rupees. The Applicant had filed a claim before the 1st Respondent on 12/03/2020, which the 1st Respondent received on 14/03/2020, exceeding the 90 days limit from the day of the beginning of insolvency proceedings which ended on 22/10/2019. The Applicant requested the Adjudicating Authority to condone the delay. As per the Regulation 12(2) of the CIRP, the creditor fails to submit a claim within the stipulated time of the public announcement and is allowed to file for their claim after 90 days of initiation of the insolvency proceedings. Many benches have considered this period of 90 days as directory.

Issue – Whether the 90 days period under CIRP Regulation 12(2) a mandatory timeline for filing a claim that had to be adhered to, or could any delay beyond 90 days be condoned by the IRP/RP or the NCLT?

Decision – After the amendment of 2018, a period of 90 days was introduced for creditors who can file a claim with proof to IRP or the RP if they failed to submit it in the public announcement, and this time-bound process is necessary to ensure the purpose of CIRP under IBC should not be defeated. In various recent judgments, 90 days deadline was condoned as they argued that CIRP Regulation 12(2) are directory. But the question in the present case is whether a delay of 270 days can be condoned as the applicant was informed of the commencement of CIRP by the Respondent and the applicant has failed to provide a valid reason for the delay in submitting the claim. The Respondent stated alleged dues are not quantified, and litigations under various authorities are pending, and also the resolution plan is pending approval before the Committee of Creditors (CoC). In this case, the bench dismissed the request by the Applicant to condone the delay of 217 days in submitting their claim against the 2nd Respondent as the applicant has failed to establish the reason for this delay.

Comments –

The NCLAT has rightly rejected the condonation of the delay of 217 days in filing the insolvency claims and upheld the principles on which IBC is formed, to fast track the insolvency resolution of debtors and conduct the CIRP in a time-bound manner. Multiple benches of NCLT have previously held the CIRP Regulation 12(2) to be merely directory, which states the last date for filing for insolvency claims are 90 days from initiation of Insolvency Proceedings. However, the same shall be considered to be mandatory, having similar binding effect as that of IBC provisions. The time period of 90 days must be considered as a deadline and any delay beyond that must not be condoned.