"Insolvency Professionals Acting Like Scavengers Must Be Dealt With Severely": Delhi High Court Slams Practitioner's Misconduct

The Delhi High Court recently slammed the conduct of a senior insolvency professional, warning that such individuals must not become “predators” of companies already in financial distress. In a scathing judgment, the Court said professionals under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) must uphold the highest ethical standards and 'even a single act of negligence' is sufficient for a disciplinary actionThe judgment, delivered by Justice Subramonium Prasad on September 9, contained strong...

Civil Courts Cannot Grant Ex-Parte Injunction In Shareholder Disputes Due To Bar U/S 430 Companies Act: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court bench presided over by Justice Aniruddha Roy, has observed that a civil court cannot grant an ex parte ad interim injunction in a shareholder dispute, in light of the bar under section 430 of the Companies Act, 2013. The plaintiff filed a civil suit before the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Alipore, alleging that his shares in the Power Tools and Appliances Co. Pvt. Ltd. had been illegally reduced, usurping his control over the company. The court passed an...

Arbitral Proceedings Cannot Continue Once Moratorium Under IBC Is In Effect, Creditors' Recourse Lies Before Liquidator: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court bench of Justice N. Anand Venkatesh held that arbitration proceedings cannot continue after commencement of liquidation, any order passed thereafter is not legally sustainable. However, considering that continuation of arbitration proceedings would be futile and that the petitioner had not been informed of the commencement of the liquidation, the court allowed the petitioner to file its claim before the liquidator. Background: M/s. AL Tirven Steels Ltd. had...

Under SARFAESI & RDB Acts, Dues Of Secured Creditors Take Precedence Over Govt Dues: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that under Section 26-E of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 and Section 31B of the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993, the debts of the secured creditors will take precedence over all over debts including crown debts.The bench of Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Praveen Kumar Giri held “Upon a perusal of the judgments cited above, the first principle that emerges is that a...

Tax Demands Raised Post Approval Of IBC Resolution Plan Are Not Enforceable: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court recently reiterated that tax demands raised by revenue authorities after the approval of a resolution plan under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) are unenforceable if the claims were not submitted during the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP).A single bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna observed,“There is no jurisdiction to parallelly initiate proceedings and raise a demand. In the light of CIRP becoming moratorium kicking in resolution plan...

Bank Can Assign Debt Even If NPA Classification Is Later Declared Invalid: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court dismissed a writ petition filed against SBI's assignment of debt in favor of Alchemist Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd. (AARC) holding that even if NPA classification is later declared invalid, it does not affect the validity of assignment of debt. Justice Rekha Borana held that “the assignment cannot be invalidated merely because the NPA classification was later declared invalid. The writ petition being totally misconceived does not deserve any interference...

SARFAESI Charge Created Before GST Charge Takes Precedence Over It: Karnataka High Court

'If a claim is made under the IBC Act and there is no claim under the SARFAESI Act, RDB Act, or GST Act, the claim under the IBC Act can be implemented without issue. Similarly, if a claim is made under the GST Act and there are no claims under the SARFAESI Act, RDB Act, or IBC Act, the claim under the GST Act can be executed without difficulty'

Prior IBC Proceedings Don't Bar Criminal Prosecution Of Directors Under S. 138 Negotiable Instruments Act: Bombay High Court

The High Court of Bombay, Nagpur Bench, comprising Justice M.M. Nerlikar, has held that the prior initiation of IBC proceedings does not bar criminal prosecution of directors under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Background of the Case The petitioner extended a short-term loan of Rs. 15 lakhs to the respondent through its directors. A post-dated cheque was issued as a security by the director. The NCLT admitted the respondent company into the CIRP, and its failure ...

Delhi High Court Transfers Winding-Up Petitions Against Vigneshwara Developwell Pvt Ltd To NCLT

The Delhi High Court has transferred winding-up petitions filed against Vigneshwara Developwell Pvt Ltd to the NCLT. The petition was filed under Sections 433(e), 434, and 439 of the Companies Act, 1956, seeking winding up of the respondent company due to its inability to pay the debt of the petitioner. During the pendency of the petition, an application was filed for the transfer of the matter to NCLT, New Delhi and the court was pleased to transfer the matter. The Companies...

Gujarat High Court Stays IBBI Disciplinary Committee's Order Suspending Resolution Professional For 6 Months

The Gujarat High Court last week stayed an order issued by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) which had suspended the registration of an insolvency resolution professional for six months pursuant to disciplinary proceedings. The court passed the order after the petitioner questioned the procedure by which the disciplinary proceedings were conducted. Justice Mauna M Bhatt issued notice on the petitioner's plea challenging an August 20 order passed by the Disciplinary...

State Gains Revenue Only If Businesses Operate; Cancelling GST Registration On Procedural Grounds Serve No Purpose: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court stated that the state gains revenue only if business operates; GST registration cancellation on procedural grounds serves no purpose. Justice Aniruddha Roy stated that the cancellation of GST registration of the assessee on the procedural ground would not enure any benefit either to the revenue authority or to the assessee. On the contrary, if the GST certificate stands restored and the assessee is allowed to carry on its business, the State can earn revenue to...

Absence Of Disciplinary Proceedings Bars NCLT From Rejecting Proposed IRP Under IBC: Madras High Court

The Division Bench of Madras High Court, comprising Justice Dr. Anita Sumanth and Mr. Justice N. Senthilkumar, has held that in the absence of disciplinary proceedings pending against the professional, NCLT is bound to appoint the IRP proposed by the applicant under sections 7 and 10 of the IBC, 2016. Background of the Case The petition under Article 226 was filed to quash the appointment of Mr. Thangamuthu as the IRP of the corporate debtor. The petitioner is an insolvency ...