Sale Of Corporate Debtor's Assets Can't Be Allowed At Reserve Price Reduced Beyond 25% As It Violates Liquidation Regulations: NCLT Bengaluru

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Bengaluru Bench of Shri. Sunil Kumar Aggarwal (Judicial Member) and Shri. Radhakrishna Sreepada (Technical Member) has held that the sale of the Corporate Debtor's assets cannot be allowed at a reserve price reduced beyond the 25% threshold, as it would violate Schedule I of the Liquidation Regulations. This cannot be done by the Adjudicating Authority even by exercising its powers under section 60(5) of the IBC as it would amount to creating a...

Changing Incorrect Date Of Default Is Permitted Before Final Adjudication If No New Cause Of Action Is Raised By Such Amendment: NCLT Amravati

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Amravati Bench of Shri Umesh Kumar Shukla (Technical Member) and Shri Kishore Vemulapalli (Judicial Member) held that a change in the incorrect date of default mentioned in the original petition can be allowed before final adjudication, provided it does not introduce a new cause of action and no prejudice is caused to the corporate debtor by such an amendment. The present application has been filed under section 60(5) of the Insolvency and...

After Initiation Of CIRP, There Can Be No Encumbrances On Corporate Debtor's Assets: NCLT Chennai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Chennai Bench of Sanjiv Jain (Judicial Member) Shri. Ravichandran Ramasamy (Technical Member) has held that after the initiation of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP), there can be no encumbrances on the assets of the corporate debtor, and all claims must be dealt with in accordance with Section 53 of the IBC. The present application has been filed under section 60(5) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) seeking ...

Sale Of Corporate Debtor's Property Can't Be Declared Fraudulent Merely On Claim Of Security Interest Without Supporting Evidence: NCLT Kochi

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Kochi Bench of Shri. Vinay Goel (Judicial Member) and Smt. Madhu Sinha (Technical Member) has held that when the property of the Corporate Debtor is purchased in good faith by a bona fide purchaser, the mere fact that the sale price was slightly lower than the actual price does not bring the transaction within the ambit of a fraudulent transaction, especially when the sale is sought to be reversed on the ground that the property was charged in...

In Absence Of Claims From Financial Or Operational Creditors, Liquidation Order Must Be Passed U/S 33 Of IBC: NCLT Bengaluru

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Bengaluru Bench of Shri Sunil Kumar Aggarwal (Judicial Member) and Shri Radhakrishna Sreepada (Technical Member) has held that in the absence of any claims from either financial or operational creditors, due to lack of supporting documents to prove such claims and the inability to constitute the Committee of Creditors (CoC), liquidation of the corporate debtor can be ordered under Section 33 of the IBC. The present application has been filed ...

Claims Of Multiple Operational Creditors Arising From Different Work Orders Can't Be Clubbed Into Single Debt To Cross Threshold Limit: NCLT Chennai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Chennai bench of Justice Sanjiv Jain (Judicial Member) and Venkataraman Subramaniam (Technical Member) has held that claims arising from different work orders cannot be clubbed to cross the threshold limit for filing an insolvency petition under section 9 of the IBC. Furthermore, claims of multiple Operational Creditors cannot be clubbed into a single debt for the purpose of a petition under section 9 of the IBC. The present petition has been...

No Bar On Compounding Offence U/S 441 Of Companies Act If Punishable With Fine Only: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai Bench of Hon'ble Shri Ashish Kalia, (Judicial Member) and Hon'ble Shri Sanjiv Dutt (Technical Member) has held that since the punishment under Section 99 of the Companies Act, 2013 is only a fine, and as per Section 441 of the Act there is no bar on the Tribunal to compound an offence punishable only with a fine, the offence of not holding Annual General Meetings on time can be compounded. The present application has been filed seeking...

Financial Creditor Can File Plea U/S 7 Of IBC If Actionable Rights Under Guarantee Are Preserved In Approved Resolution Plan: NCLT New Delhi

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), New Delhi Bench of Shri Manni Sankariah Shanmuga Sundaram (Hon'ble Member Judicial) and Shri Atul Chaturvedi (Hon'ble Member Technical) has held that Financial Creditors can proceed against Personal Guarantors even after the approval of the Resolution Plan, if actionable rights under the guarantee are preserved. The present petition has been filed under section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) seeking initiation of the...

Electricity Can't Be Disconnected At Corporate Debtor's Plant When Assets Are Put On Auction To Maximise Value: NCLT Kolkata

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Kolkata Bench of Rekha Kantilal Shah (Technical Member) and Labh Singh (Judicial Member) has held that electricity cannot be disconnected at the Corporate Debtor's plant while machinery and other assets are being auctioned. Electricity is essential to maximise asset value and ensure safety of the assets. The present application has been filed under section 60(5) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) against the West Bengal State...

Impleadment Of GST Authorities Not Permissible In Proceedings U/S 9 Of IBC Merely Due To Allegations Of Bogus Invoices: NCLT Allahabad

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Allahabad Bench of Shri Praveen Gupta, (Hon'ble Member Judicial) and Shri Ashish Verma (Hon'ble Member Technical) has held that impleadment of the GST Authorities in proceedings under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC), is not permissible merely on the ground that the invoices on which the petition is based have been disputed by the Corporate Debtor. The GST Authorities are independent bodies conducting investigations in...

Power Of NCLT To Restore Name Of Struck Off Company U/S 252 Of Companies Act Can't Be Exercised Suo Motu: NCLT New Delhi

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), New Delhi Bench of Shri Manni Sankariah Shanmuga Sundaram (Hon'ble Member Judicial) and Shri Atul Chaturvedi (Hon'ble Member Technical) has held that the power to restore a name of the struck company under section 252 of the Companies Act, 2013 cannot be exercised suo moto. A company's name can be restored only on an application filed by the Companies, its members or creditors or workmen aggrieved by the order of striking off under Section 252(3)...

Set-Off Of Transactions Executed Prior To Commencement Of CIRP Based On Arbitral Award Is Permissible During CIRP: NCLT New Delhi

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), New Delhi Bench of Shri Bachu Venkat Balaram Das (Hon'ble Member Judicial) and Shri Atul Chaturvedi (Hon'ble Member Technical) has held that a set off of transactions based on arbitral award entered into prior to the commencement of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) is permissible even during the currency of the CIRP, and such set-offs are not barred by Section 14 of the IBC. The present application has been filed under section...