Approved Resolution Plan Can't Be Set Aside Merely Due To Dissenting Financial Creditor's Dissatisfaction With Asset Valuation: NCLAT

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), New Delhi Bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Mr. Barun Mitra (Technical Member) has held that approval of a resolution plan cannot be interfered with merely on the grievance of a single financial creditor regarding improper asset valuation of the corporate debtor, when the valuer has, in fact, duly considered all assets and submitted its report. The present two appeals have been filed against two orders passed by the National Company...

Litigants Can't Be Forced To Argue On Merits When They Did Not File Reply To RP's Report U/S 99 Of IBC: NCLAT

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), New Delhi Bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Mr. Barun Mitra (Technical Member) has held that when a litigant has not filed a reply to the Resolution Professional's report submitted under Section 99 of the IBC, due to sufficiently explained causes, requiring them to argue on merits would be premature and unjustified. The present appeal has been filed against an order passed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) New Delhi by...

[Byju's Insolvency] No Adjudicatory Power Under IBC To Reconstitute CoC Or “Provisional Constitution” Of CoC: NCLAT, Chennai

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) Chennai bench comprising Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain (Judicial Member) and Jatindranath Swain (Technical Member) has held that a Resolution Professional has no adjudicatory power under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”). Once the Committee of Creditors (“CoC”) is constituted, the Resolution Professional cannot reconstitute the CoC on his own accord. The scope of updating claims is limited only to determination of quantum and...

NCLT Is Not Competent Forum To Adjudicate Disputes Relating Copyrights Violations Or Contract Termination: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai Bench of Shri Sameer Kakar (Hon'ble Member Technical) and Shri Nilesh Sharma (Hon'ble Member Judicial ) has held that it is not the appropriate forum to adjudicate matters related to copyright violations and contract termination. Such disputes must be pursued before a competent forum having jurisdiction The present application has been filed under section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 seeking initiation of the Corporate...

Mere Denial That Invoices Were Not Received Cannot Override Signed Acknowledgements From Operational Creditor: NCLT Chandigarh

The National Company Tribunal Chandigarh, bench of Justice Harnam Singh Thakur and Shri Kaushalendra Kumar Singh, have held that a mere bald denial that invoices forming the basis of the claim were not received cannot prevail over specific, dated communications and signed acknowledgements originating from within the operational creditors' finance department. The operational creditor Pierian Services Private Limited filed an application under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy...

Power Of Attorney Can Be Executed By Officers Nominated By Designation, Not Necessarily By Name: NCLAT New Delhi

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi, comprising Justice N. Seshasayee (Member – Judicial) and Arun Baroka (Member – Technical), has held that a power of attorney (POA) executed by bank officers nominated by their designation, rather than by name, is legally valid for instituting proceedings under the IBC, 2016. Background of the Case The appeal was filed against the decision of the adjudicating authority, by which it had dismissed the appellant's...

Insolvency Resolution Professional Is Public Servant, Sanction Needed To Prosecute Him Under Prevention Of Corruption Act: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has recently directed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India to consider granting sanction for prosecuting a Resolution Professional for allegedly mismanaging funds of a company during a resolution process. Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy noted that the resolution professional performed duties in connection with the administration of justice, was a person from whom a report was called for by the court of justice, and was performing a public duty. Thus, the...

Conversion Of Corporate Debtor To Private Company Can't Be Denied On Grounds Of Pending SFIO Probe After Approval Of Resolution Plan: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai Bench of Sh. Prabhat Kumar (Technical Member) and Sh. Sushil Mahadeorao Kochey (Judicial Member)has held that an application for conversion of a company from a public limited company to a private limited company under an approved resolution plan cannot be rejected on the ground that prosecutions or SFIO investigations are pending against the corporate debtor, as all such investigations abate once the plan is approved. The present...

Pooling Of Debt By Multiple Operational Creditors Is Prohibited U/S 9 Of IBC: NCLT New Delhi

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), New Delhi Bench of Shri Manni Sankariah Shanmuga Sundaram (Judicial Member) and Shri Atul Chaturvedi (Technical Member) has held that a petition under Section 9 of the IBC cannot be admitted based on the pooling of debt by multiple operational creditors, as such pooling is prohibited under the IBC. While a composite application under Section 7 of the IBC is permitted, no provision concerning the pooling of debt exists under Section 9 of the IBC. ...

Electricity Connection Can't Be Denied To Purchaser Of Corporate Debtor's Properties Due To Past Dues When Claims Are Filed Before Liquidator: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai Bench of Justice Ms. Lakshmi Gurung and Sh. Hariharan Neelakanta Iyer, Technical Member has held that electricity connection cannot be denied to the successful auction purchaser of the corporate debtor's properties on account of past dues, when such claims have already been filed before the Liquidator and will be addressed as per Section 53 of the IBC. The present application has been filed under section 60(5) of the Insolvency and...

Set-Off Of Pre-CIRP Tax Dues Is Not Permitted Against Post-CIRP Tax Refund In Absence Of Pre-Existing Contractual Provision: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai Bench of Sh. Prabhat Kumar (Technical Member) and Sh. Sushil Mahadeorao Kochey (Judicial Member) has held that pre-CIRP tax dues cannot be adjusted against post-CIRP tax refunds determined during the CIRP, in the absence of any pre-existing contractual set-off provision. The present application has been filed by the Resolution Professional under section 60(5) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) seeking declaration that...

NCLT Under IBC Is Not Empowered To Direct De-Attachment Of Property Attached Under PMLA By ED: NCLT Bengaluru

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Bengaluru Bench of Justice Shri. Sunil Kumar Aggarwal (Judicial Member) and Shri. Radhakrishna Sreepada (Technical Member) has held that the NCLT under the IBC is not empowered to direct the de-attachment of property attached under the PMLA by the Enforcement Directorate, as such power falls within the realm of public law over which the NCLT has no jurisdiction. The present application has been filed by the Resolution Professional under...