Accepting OTS Payments While Simultaneously Pursuing CIRP Proceedings Is An Attempt To Use IBC For Debt Recovery: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai bench comprising Ms. Reeta Kohli, Member (Judicial) and Ms. Madhu Sinha, Hon'ble Member (Technical) has held that the conduct of the Financial Creditor in accepting substantial 'one-time settlement' (OTS) payments while simultaneously pursuing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (“CIRP”) proceedings represents an attempt to use the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“Code”) as a 'recovery mechanism', which goes against the very...

Threshold Limit For Initiating Insolvency Process Against Personal Guarantors Shall Also Be ₹1 Crore: NCLT Chennai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Chennai bench of Shri. Sanjiv Jain (Judicial Member) Shri. Venkataraman Subramaniam (Technical Member) has held that the threshold limit for initiating the Personal Insolvency Resolution Process (PIRP) under Sections 94 or 95 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code), shall be the same as that for a Corporate Debtor under Section 4 of the Code, i.e., ₹1 crore. Brief Facts: Mr. Keerthan Kumar Upadhya (Applicant) has filed this ...

Payment Received In Advance By Corporate Debtor For Future Supply Of Goods Is Considered Operational Debt Under IBC: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai bench of Justice V. G. Bisht (Retd.) (Judicial Member) and Sh. Prabhat Kumar (Technical Member) has held that The payment received in advance by the Corporate Debtor for the future supply of goods constitutes an operational debt. An application under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (the Code) can be admitted if it exceeds the threshold limit prescribed under Section 4 of the Code. Brief Facts: Armaco Infralinks...

Consent Terms Can Only Be Legally Enforced If Ratified By Court: NCLAT New Delhi

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Principal Bench, New Delhi, consisting of Justice Ashok Bhushan (Chairperson), Barun Mitra (Member - Technical) and Arun Baroka (Member - Technical), dismissed an appeal filed against an order passed by the NCLT, Jaipur. The bench held that once the entire debt had been liquidated by the corporate debtor, the corporate debtor could not be put into insolvency. The tribunal ruled consent terms can only be legally enforced if ratified by the...

Liquidator Must Not Restrict Sale Of Corporate Debtor's Assets Through Private Sale To Single Buyer, Must Strategise To Attract Multiple Buyers: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai bench of Shri Anil Raj Chellan (Judicial Member) and Shri K. R. Saji Kumar (Technical Member) while disallowing the Liquidator's application for the private sale of the Corporate Debtor's assets, it was held that the Liquidator must not restrict the private sale to a single buyer but should strategize to attract the maximum number of buyers to maximize realization from the asset sale. Brief Facts: The Corporate Debtor was admitted to...

Corporate Debtor Not Barred From Raising Pre-Existing Dispute Even When No Reply Was Given To Demand Notice Within 10 Days U/S 8 Of IBC: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai bench of Hon'ble Shri K. R. Saji Kumar (Judicial Member) and Hon'ble Shri Sanjiv Dutt (Technical Member) has held that failure to respond to a demand notice within 10 days under Section 8 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (the Code) does not bar the Corporate Debtor from asserting the existence of a pre-existing dispute especially when such dispute was raised before the issuance of the demand notice. Brief Facts: The default...

Imposition Of Moratorium Bars Recovery Of Pre-CIRP Tax Dues During CIRP: NCLT Hyderabad

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Hyderabad Bench-I, consisting of Dr. Venkata Ramakrishna Badrinath (Member - Judicial) and Shri Charan Singh (Member - Technical), disposed of an application filed by Resolution Professional (RP) against the Commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), and held that once the CIRP has commenced, proceedings for property tax arrears cannot be initiated against the Corporate Debtor. The tribunal also emphasized the overriding effect...

Petition U/S 7 Of IBC Against Corporate Guarantor Cannot Be Admitted Unless Valid Delivery Of Guarantee Invocation Notice Is Established: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai bench of Hon'ble Reeta Kohli (Judicial Member) and Hon'ble Madhu Sinha (Technical Member) has held that an insolvency application under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (the Code) against the corporate guarantor of the corporate debtor cannot be admitted unless the delivery of the demand-cum-guarantee invocation notice is properly established. Only when the delivery is proven can the default on the part of the corporate...

All Claims Which Are Not Part Of Resolution Plan Shall Stand Extinguished, No Person Entitled To Initiate Any Proceedings Over Such Claims: Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court bench of Justice Sharmila U. Deshmukh dismissed an Interim Application filed by the Appellant seeking the release of the bank guarantees, stating that all claims which are not part of the Resolution Plan shall stand extinguished and no person will be entitled to initiate or continue any proceedings in respect of any such claim. Brief Facts The present case involves Garden Silk Mills Limited as the appellant and Gayatri Industries along with other respondents....

Google Abused Dominant Position Through Restrictive App Store Billing Policy But Didn't Deny Market Access: NCLAT Reduces Penalty From ₹936 Cr To ₹216 Cr

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), New Delhi bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan (Chairperson) and Mr. Barun Mitra (Technical Member) has partially upheld the decision of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) that Google leveraged its dominance in the Play Store ecosystem to promote Google Play which violates section 4(2)(e) of the Competition Act, 2002. The Tribunal however held that there was no violation of section 4(2)(c) as conduct of Google did not deny market...

Any Default Falling Within Section 10-A Period Of IBC Must Be Excluded When Calculating Total Outstanding Debt: NCLT Hyderabad

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Hyderabad Bench comprising of Sri Rajeev Bhardwaj, Member (Judicial) and Sri Sanjay Puri, Member (Technical) dismissed Section 9 petition filed by the Operational Creditor (Noveltech Feeds Private Limited) stating that the default amount falls within the Section 10-A period and there is presence of non-compliance of Rule 5 which is fatal to the initiation of insolvency proceedings. Brief Facts The case involves Noveltech Feeds Private...

Demand Notice Issued U/S 13(2) Of SARFAESI Act Without Obligating Guarantor To Make Payment Is Not An Invocation Of Guarantee: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai bench of Shri K. R. Saji Kumar (Judicial Member) and Sanjiv Dutt (Technical Member) has held that Both the demand notice issued under Rule 7(1) of the Personal Guarantors Rules, 2019, and the notice under Section 13(2) of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) cannot be considered as an invocation of the guarantee. It further held that therefore, an...