Only Existing Members Of Company Can Seek Relief Against Oppression & Mismanagement: NCLAT Chennai

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) at Chennai has recently ruled that only existing members of a company are entitled to seek relief for oppression and mismanagement under Section 244 of the Companies Act, 2013, even in so-called "exceptional circumstances."The tribunal set aside an order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Chennai which had allowed two former members of the Madras Race Club to pursue such a claim.A coram of Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma and Technical...

ESI Amounts Are 'Trust Property', Not Part Of Corporate Debtor's Liquidation Estate: NCLAT New Delhi

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Principal Bench, New Delhi, comprising Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain (Member-Judicial), Justice Mohammad Faiz Alam Khan (Member-Judicial), and Naresh Salecha (Member-Technical), has held that the ESI amounts are the “trust property” and not part of the corporate debtor's liquidation estate. The appeal was filed by the Regional Director, ESI Corporation, against the decision of the adjudicating authority. The adjudicating authority by the...

Assignment Of Tax Dues By GST Dept Doesn't Violate Article 265 Or GST Act If CIRP Has Been Initiated: NCLAT New Delhi

The NCLAT, Principal Bench, New Delhi, comprising Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain (Member-Judicial) and Mr. Naresh Salecha (Member-Technical), has held that the assignment of tax dues by the GST Department doesn't violate Article 265 or the GST Act if CIRP has been initiated. The corporate debtor was admitted into CIRP, and Ms. Dilip Mehta was appointed as the interim resolution professional, later confirmed as the resolution professional in furtherance to a section 10 application. The...

NCLAT Upholds Unilateral Set-Off In Commercial Transactions Based On Nominee Director's Signature On Financial Statements

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Principal Bench, comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan (Chairperson) and Barun Mitra (Member-Technical), has upheld the unilateral set-off by the corporate debtor against a financial creditor, even when the term sheet excluded such set-off. The appellant filed a petition under section 7 of the IBC, seeking initiation of CIRP against the corporate debtor. It was the case of the appellant before the adjudicating authority that out of the...

Audit Report Is Not Conclusive Proof To Declare Commercial Transaction Fraudulent U/S 66(2) Of IBC: NCLAT New Delhi

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Principal Bench, New Delhi, comprising Justice Mohd. Faiz Alam Khan (Member-Judicial) and Arun Baroka (Member-Technical), has held that a transactional audit report alone cannot be conclusive proof of fraudulent trading under section 66 of the IBC, 2016. The CIRP of the corporate debtor was initiated, failing which the liquidation order was passed. The suspended director of the corporate debtor had some shares in two companies whose...

Resolution Professional Can Be Replaced U/S 60(5) IBC If He Deliberately Avoids Placing Agenda For His Replacement Before CoC: NCLAT

The NCLAT, Chennai Bench, comprising Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma (Member-Judicial) and Jatindranath Swain (Member-Technical), has held that Section 60(5) of the IBC can be invoked to replace a resolution professional (RP) if he deliberately avoids placing the agenda for his replacement before CoC The CIRP of the corporate debtor was initiated, and the appellant was appointed as the resolution professional. However, the financial creditor sought replacement of the appellant, citing the...

Resolution Professional Can Terminate Leave & Licence Agreements Even In Absence Of RERA Proceedings: NCLAT New Delhi

The NCLAT, Principal Bench, New Delhi, comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan (Chairperson) and Barun Mitra (Member-Technical), has upheld the termination of the leave and license agreement by the resolution professional (RP) in the absence of RERA proceedings. The corporate debtor executed three separate leave and license agreements with the appellants pertaining to the use of the fourth floor of the 'Pulse Care' building. However, the RERA didn't permit the commercial use of the fourth...

Revival Of Insolvency Proceedings Permissible Despite Absence Of Revival Clause In Settlement Agreement: NCLAT New Delhi

The NCLAT, Principal Bench, New Delhi, comprising Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain (Member-Judicial), Justice Mohammad Faiz Alam Khan (Member-Judicial), and Indevar Pandey (Member-Technical), has allowed the revival of the insolvency proceedings despite the absence of a revival clause in the settlement agreement. The appeal was filed against the dismissal of the restoration application filed by the appellant. While rejecting the application, the adjudicating authority noted that there was no...

Resolution Plan Can't Be Approved By NCLT If Leasehold Rights Over Primary Assets Are Not Proved: NCLAT

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) New Delhi bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Mr. Barun Mitra (Technical Member) upheld an order of NCLT Kolkata which refused to sanction a resolution plan wherein a disputed parcel of land was the primary asset.The Tribunal held that since the corporate debtor failed to prove leasehold rights over the land as the deed was executed by unauthorised persons, lacked proof of payment, and was void; the resolution plan could not be approved. ...

NCLAT Expunges NCLT Remarks Against SBI Officials, Says Tribunal Cannot Make Stigmatic Observations Without Giving Hearing

The NCLAT, Chennai Bench, comprising Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma (Member-Judicial) and Jatindranath Swain (Member-Technical), has expunged the stigmatic remark against the SBI officials and counsel, while observing that the tribunals cannot make stigmatic observations or impose costs without giving an opportunity to be heard. The NCLT dismissed the SBI's petition under section 95 of the IBC, 2016. In the impugned order, the learned adjudicating authority observed that the counsel of ...

Recall Application Seeking Review Of NCLAT Judgment Is Not Permissible: NCLAT Chennai

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Chennai Bench, comprising Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain (Member-Judicial) and Mr. Ajai Das Mehrotra, has held that a recall application seeking review of the NCLAT's order is not permissible. The appellant, erstwhile liquidator of the corporate debtor, filed an appeal against the decision of the adjudicating authority, which was dismissed by the NCLAT. The appellant, however, was aggrieved by some observations made against him by NCLT...

Completion Certificate Issued By Corporate Debtor With Caveat On Rectification Of Defects Is Not Unconditional Acceptance Of Work: NCLAT

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) New Delhi bench of Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, Justice Mohd Faiz Alam Khan and Mr. Naresh Salecha (Technical Member) dismissed an appeal filed by Operational Creditor. The Tribunal held that issuance of completion certificate containing a caveat that the defects in the work have to be rectified cannot be construed as an unconditional acceptance of work. Therefore, it held that the petition under section 9 of the IBC was rightly rejected...