19th February, 2024 Approval of Resolution Plan - Magppie International Ltd. [I.A. 5008 & 5803-2023 in C.P. No. IB-2924-ND-2019] (313.61 KB)
IN THE NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNAL
NEW DELHI BENCH, COURT-VI
I.A. 5008/2023 & 5803/2023
IN
C.P. No. IB-2924/ND/2019
MR. NAVEEN SACHDEVA (M/S. JAY PACKAGING)
…. FINANCIAL CREDITOR
VERSUS
M/S. MAGPPIE INTERNATIONAL LTD
….. CORPORATE DEBTOR
AND
AND IN THE MATTER OF IA 5008/2023:
MR. VIVEK RAHEJA
RESOLUTION PROFESSIONAL OF
M/S MAGPPIE INTERNATIONAL LTD
…. APPLICANT
AND
AND IN THE MATTER OF IA 5803/2023:
MR. J.C. FLOWERS ASSET RECONSTRUCTION PRIVATE LIMITED
…. APPLICANT/ INTERVENER VERSUS MR. VIVEK RAHEJA RESOLUTION PROFESSIONAL OF M/S MAGPPIE INTERNATIONAL LTD …. RESPONDENT/ NON-APPLICANT
SH. P.S.N PRASAD, HON’BLE MEMBER (JUDICIAL) SH. RAHUL BHATNAGAR, HON’BLE MEMBER (TECHNICAL)
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PRESENT
For the JC Flower:
Mr. Anand Shankar Jha, Mr. Abhilekh Tiwari,
Mr. Sachin Mintri, Advs. in IA No 5803/2023
For the RA:
Mr. Karan Gandhi Adv For the RP:
Adv PBA Srinivasan Adv V Aravind Adv Srishti
Bansal Adv Sumit Swami Adv Pooja Kumari
ORDER
PER: P.S.N PRASAD MEMBER (JUDICIAL) &
RAHUL BHATNAGAR MEMBER (TECHNICAL)
ORDER DELIVERED ON: 09.02.2024
IA-5008/2023
- The present application has been filed under Section 30(6) read with Section 31(1) of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (‘the Code’) read with Regulation 39(4) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 (‘Regulations’) by Mr. Vivek Raheja, Resolution Professional (RP) of M/s Magppie International Ltd (‘Corporate Debtor’), seeking approval of the Resolution Plan submitted by M/s Worldfa Exports Pvt. Ltd. (‘Successful Resolution Applicant’) as approved by the Committee of Creditors (‘CoC’) with 77.45% voting shares in its 15th CoC Meeting held on 17.09.2021.
- Briefly stated, the facts as averred by the applicant in the application are as follows: a) That the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process against the Corporate Debtor was initiated vide order dated 13.03.2020 and Mr. Ashwani Kumar Gupta was appointed as IRP in the matter. b) That public announcement was made on 16.03.2020 in Financial Express (English) & Jansatta (Hindi) and accordingly the IRP prepared a list of Creditors after verification of claim received pursuant to the Public Announcement within 7 days from the last date of receipt of the claims i.e., 27.03.2020 and constituted Committee of Creditors. c) That the IRP convened the first Meeting of Committee of Creditors (“COC”) on 11.05.2020. In the said meeting, the COC
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resolved to appoint the Applicant i.e., Mr. Vivek Raheja as
Resolution Professional which was subsequently confirmed by
this Adjudicating Authority vide order dated 29.05.2020.
d) That the applicant published Form G on 10.09.2020, inviting
expression of interest from the prospective resolution
applicants for the purpose of submitting a Resolution Plan in
the CIRP for the Corporate Debtor.
e) The Applicant received five expressions of interest (EoI) from
the Prospective Resolution Applicants for the purpose of
submitting the Resolution Plan during the CIRP of Corporate
Debtor.
f) The last date for submission of Resolution Plan was extended
for further 15 days i.e., till 24.11.2020.
g) Till the last date, only two plans were received from namely;
(i)
Worldfa Exports Pvt Ltd
(ii)
One City Infrastructure Pvt Ltd & APM infrastructure Pvt
Ltd.
h) In the 11th meeting of CoC held on 02.04.2021, the plan
submitted by Worldfa was put before the COC and the CoC
rejected the plan.
i) In the 12th meeting of CoC held on 14.06.2021, the RP
informed the members of CoC that PRA i.e., Worldfa Exports
Pvt Ltd. is ready to renegotiate for the resolution of the
Corporate Debtor.
j) The PRA submitted revised resolution plan and in the 15th
meeting of CoC held on 17.09.2021, the revised plan submitted
by Worldfa Exports Pvt Ltd was approved by the members of
CoC with 77.45% voting shares.
k) The RP filed IA no 5227/2021 seeking approval of Resolution
Plan. This Adjudicating Authority vide order dated 06.07.2023
directed the CoC to reconsider the distribution of amount
proposed in the Resolution Plan.
l) That pursuant to the aforesaid order the RP conducted 16th
meeting of CoC to decide the distribution of plan value.
m) That claim of one of the unsecured creditors i.e., Edelweiss
Asset Reconstruction Co. Ltd. was satisfied in full out of action
initiated by him under SARFAESI Act. Accordingly, the
amount of claim was revised to NIL.
n) The RP reconstituted the CoC and the same is as under: -
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o) That in the 17th meeting of CoC held on 09.08.2023, the consent of CoC was accorded to the revised distribution pattern on their commercial wisdom with 92.5% voting in favour and which is as under: -
p) That the Resolution Applicant has submitted an undertaking stating that the Resolution Applicant is eligible under Section 29A of the Code. q) That the average fair value is Rs. 34.39 crores and average liquidation value is Rs. 25.53 crores.
IA 5803/2023 3. This application has been filed under Section 60(5) read with read with Regulation 38 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 (‘Regulations’) by one of the members of CoC i.e.,
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J.C. Flowers Asset Reconstructions Pvt Ltd., raising objections to
the Resolution Plan submitted by M/s Worldfa Exports Pvt. Ltd.
4. The submissions of the applicant are as under: -
i.
That the Applicant is an assignee of Yes Bank Limited who
was one of the Financial Creditors to the Corporate Debtor.
The Applicant's Application being 1.A No. 1755 of 2023
seeking substitution in place of Yes Bank Limited was allowed
by the Tribunal vide Order dated 18.07.2023.
ii.
That Yes Bank Limited through an Application being I.A. No.
196 of 2022 had duly raised objections to the Resolution plan
dated 28.08.2021 submitted by M/s. Worldfa Exports Pvt. Ltd.
which was allowed by the Tribunal vide order dated
06.07.2023 and the Committee of Creditors ("CoC") was
directed to reconsider the distribution of amount proposed in
the Resolution Plan. However, the aforesaid order has not
been complied and has been willingly disobeyed. In fact, the
CoC dominated by the Punjab National Bank having 92.52%
share has been adamant in the guise of "Commercial Wisdom"
to take the entire amount proposed for the Secured Financial
Creditors. The Resolution Professional has once again
proposed the exact same Resolution Plan with no changes and
not a penny being proposed for the present Applicant despite
having a substantial admitted claim with second largest voting
share in the CoC.
iii.
By way of proposing the exact same Resolution Plan once
again and distributing the amount (Rupees NIL to the
Applicant) in a completely unfair and arbitrary manner, the
entire Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process has been
brought to square one wasting the precious judicial time of
this Tribunal as well as the time spent by the Applicant in
pursuing the present matter.
iv.
It is submitted that the Applicant has a total claim of Rs.
2,91,76,595.00/- (Rupees Two Crores Ninety-One Lakhs
Seventy-Six Thousand Five Hundred Ninety-Five Only) against
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the Corporate Debtor which has been duly admitted. The
Applicant had a voting share of 2.91% in the CoC. In view of
the fact that the Resolution Plan is contrary to the settled law,
and discriminating between the same class of secured
creditors
v.
In essence, the Applicant is aggrieved by the fact that the
Resolution Applicant has proposed in Para 5.2.4 of the
Resolution Plan that the entire amount of Rs. 29 Crores meant
for the secured financial creditors shall be paid to the first
charge holder only i.e. Punjab National Bank. Further, the
Applicant is aggrieved by the stipulation in Clause 5.2.4 which
reads as follows
"Those secured financial creditors having second charge
holder of corporate debtor are proposed to be paid NIL
amount."
The aforementioned portion of the Resolution Plan in so far as
it discriminates between same class of creditors i.e. Secured
Financial Creditor is contrary to the settled law and liable to
be rejected.
vi.
The Resolution Plan does not in any manner secure the
interest of financial creditors, who are similarly situated. The
commercial wisdom of the Committee of Creditors was
replaced with the brute majority exercised by Punjab National
Bank having 92.52% voting share to seek several revisions of
the Resolution Plan and with the sole objective of
appropriating the entire proceeds of Resolution Plan to itself.
vii.
In view of the aforesaid facts, the applicant prayed to dismiss
the Resolution Plan
5. The submissions of RP are as under: -
i.
That pursuant to order dated 06.07.2023, the Resolution
Professional convened the 16th CoC meeting on 17.07.2023
and in the said meeting, the Resolution Professional assisted
the COC by presenting 8 different scenarios for proposed
distribution. After deliberation among the COC members, it
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was decided that the following two scenarios will be put for
voting before COC members and the voting results will be
submitted before Adjudicating Authority for approval:
- Distribution based on Security Interest i.e. fair market value of assets of CD and of plant and machinery to first charge holders holding first charge on plant and machinery purchased through loans advanced by them.
- Distribution based on COC voting share of secured financial
creditor.
ii.
In the 17th meeting of CoC, held on 09.08.2023, following
resolutions were put to vote
A. Distribution based on Security Interest i.e. fair market value of assets of Corporate Debtor and of plant and machinery to first charge holders holding first charge on plant and machinery purchased through loans advanced by them
B. Distribution based COC voting share of secured financial creditor
iii. The first scenario i.e., Distribution based on Security Interest was approved by the members of CoC with 92.05% voting shares.
iv. The manner of redistribution was reconsidered by the COC and as per resolution passed in 17th COC meeting, the distribution of funds is as per security interest i.e fair market value of assets of CD and of plant and machinery to first charge holder.
v. That COC has abided by the directions of this Adjudicating Authority and considered fair distribution as other charge holders have given loan only for purchase of machinery which is even not traceable and liquidation value is nil. Even then the distribution was done on Fair Value instead of Liquidation Value. Further, the applicant herein is the subservient Charge holder.
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vi.
That conjoint reading of Explanation 1 to Section30(2) read
with 30 (4) of IBC, 2016 would indicate that the CoC's decision
passed by majority will prevail. It is further submitted that
having entitlement under the waterfall mechanism under
Section 53(1)(b)(ii) of IBC, 2016 would not hold ground when
this is the resolution plan stage and not liquidation, and the
minimum threshold envisaged for dissenting Financial
Creditor cannot be absurdly interpreted as to push the
Corporate Debtor into liquidation. Attention is drawn to
Explanation 1 to Section 30(2) and the provisions of Section
30(4) of IBC, 2016 which shows that the "minimum liquidation
value" is not sacrosanct and the CoC's majority decision would
prevail.
vii.
That Section 52 read with Section 53 of IBC and Section
30(2)(b) of IBC would reveal that Dissenting Financial Creditor
would at best be entitled to the liquidation value
commensurate with its security interest. Further, Explanation
1 of Section 30(2) of IBC, 2016 read with Section 30 (4) of IBC,
2016 provides that CoC's majority decision would prevail, and
a dissenting Financial Creditor cannot be allowed to push the
Corporate Debtor into liquidation even when there is a viable
resolution plan. This will be contrary to the objective of the
Code. In the present case the applicant is the subservient
charge holder, liquidation value for which is NIL.
viii.
That section 30(4) provides that the committee of creditors
may approve a resolution plan by a vote of not less than sixty-
six per cent. of voting share of the financial creditors, after
considering its feasibility and viability, the manner of
distribution proposed, which may take into account the order
of priority amongst creditors as laid down in sub-section (l) of
section 53, including the priority and value of the security
interest of a secured creditor. It is submitted that the
requirement of Section 30(2) ought to be read harmoniously
with Section 30(4) and Section 53, therefore, unlike in the
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event of liquidation, the distribution of funds during CIRP
process would recognise an inter-se priority between secured
creditor and such a decision would lie exclusively in the
domain of the CoC's commercial wisdom.
6. We have heard the submissions made by the Ld. Counsel for all the
parties and have gone through the documents placed on record.
7. It is observed that this Tribunal vide order dated 06.07.2023
directed the CoC to reconsider the distribution of amount proposed
in the Plan. The manner of redistribution was reconsidered by the
COC and as per resolution passed in 17th COC meeting, the
distribution of funds was decided as per security interest i.e fair
market value of assets of CD and of plant and machinery to first
charge holder.
8. Earlier, the entire Resolution Plan amount of Rs. 29 Crores was
proposed to be paid to PNB; however, after the aforesaid order, the
Plan amount was also distributed to some other Financial Creditors.
Details of the same are as follows: -
- The objection of the applicant in IA 5803/2023 was that the Resolution Plan is discriminating between the same class of secured
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creditors. However, it is admitted position that M/s J.C. Flowers
Asset Reconstructions Pvt Ltd is subservient charge holder, having
2.91% voting shares and the liquidation value for which is NIL.
Hence, this Tribunal cannot venture into the commercial wisdom of
CoC as held by the Hon’ble NCLAT and Supreme Court in plethora
of judgements. Accordingly, we dismiss the IA 5803/2023.
10.
Some key features of the Resolution Plan are as follows:
OVERVIEW OF THE RESOLUTION PLAN
i.
Total Resolution Plan Value: Rs. 3,000 Lakhs
CIRP Cost:
The Resolution Applicant proposes to pay the total CIRP cost
of Rs. 80.00 Lakhs. However, in case, CIRP cost exceeds Rs.
80.00 Lakhs then such amount over and above Rs. 80.00
Lakhs shall be adjusted in the 1st instalment to be paid to the
secured financial creditors and shall be paid in priority over
any other creditors.
Compliances
ii.
That the final Resolution Plan submitted by SRA meets the
requirements of the Code as under: -
Section Provisions under Section 30(2) of the Code Compliance under Resolution Plan 25(2)(h) Whether the Resolution Applicant meets the criteria approved by the CoC having regard to the complexity and scale of operations of business of the CD YES Page No 20 of the Resolution Plan Section 29A Whether the Resolution Applicant is eligible to submit resolution plan as per final list of Resolution Professional YES Page No 20 and Page no 50 of the
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or Order, if any, of the
Adjudicating Authority
Resolution Plan
Section
30(1)
Whether
the
Resolution
Applicant has submitted an
affidavit stating that he is
eligible
YES
Page No 61 of the
Resolution Plan.
30(2)(a)
provides for the payment of
insolvency resolution process
costs in a manner specified by
the Board in priority to the
payment of other debts of the
corporate debtor;
YES
Clause
5.2.4(c)(6)
of
the Resolution Plan –
Page no 32
30(2)(b) provides for the payment of debts of operational creditors in such manner as may be specified by the Board which shall not be less than- (i) the amount to be paid to such creditors in the event of a liquidation of the corporate debtor under section 53; or (ii) the amount that would have been paid to such creditors, if the amount to be distributed under the resolution plan had been distributed in accordance with the Yes Clause 5.2.4(c)(7) & (8) of the Resolution Plan – Page no 32 and 33
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order of priority in
sub-section (1) of
section 53
30(2)(c)
provides for the management
of the affairs of the Corporate
Debtor after approval of the
resolution plan;
Yes
Clause
5.2.4(c)(3)
of
the
Resolution Plan – Page
no 31
30(2)(d)
the
implementation
and
supervision of the resolution
plan;
Yes
Clause
5.2.4(c)(9)
of
the Resolution Plan –
Page no 33.
30(2)(e)
does not contravene any of
the provisions of the law for
the time being in force
Yes
Clause
6.1
of
the
Resolution Plan - Page
no 51
30(2)(f)
conforms
to
such
other
requirements
as
may
be
specified by the Board.
Yes
iii. Mandatory Contents as specified under Regulation 38 of IBBI
CIRP Regulations 2016 are as under: -
Regulation
Provisions under
Regulation 38 of IBBI CIRP
Regulations 2016.
Compliance under
Resolution Plan
38(1)(a)
The amount payable under
a resolution plan –
(a)to
the
operational
creditors shall be paid in
priority
over
financial
creditors; and
(b)
to
the
financial
creditors, who have a right
to vote under sub-section
(2) of section 21 and did not
vote
in
favour
of
the
resolution plan, shall be
paid
in
priority
over
Yes
6.1 - Page no 50 of
the Resolution Plan
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financial
creditors
who
voted in favour of the plan.]
38(1A)
A resolution plan shall
include a statement as to
how it has dealt with the
interests
of
all
stakeholders,
including
financial
creditors
and
operational creditors, of the
corporate debtor.]
Yes
5.2.4(c)(10) – Page no
34 of the Resolution
Plan
38(1B)
include a statement giving
details if the resolution
applicant or any of its
related parties has failed to
implement or contributed
to
the
failure
of
implementation
of
any
other
resolution
plan
approved
by
the
Adjudicating Authority at
any time in the past.]
Yes
Refer clause 6.1 of
Resolution Plan- Page
52
38(2)(a)
provide the term of the plan
and
its
implementation
schedule;
Yes
5.2.4(c)(11) – Refer
Page no 34 of the
Resolution Plan
38(2)(b)
provide the management
and control of the business
of the corporate debtor
during its term; and
Yes
5.2.4(c)(3) - Refer Page
no 34 of the
Resolution Plan
38(2)(c)
provide adequate means for
supervising
its
implementation
Yes
5.2.4(c)(9) – Refer
Page no 33 of the
Resolution Plan
38(2)(d)
provides for the manner in
which
proceedings
in
respect
of
avoidance
transactions, if any, under
Chapter III or fraudulent or
wrongful
trading
under
Chapter VI of Part II of the
Code, will be pursued after
the
approval
of
the
resolution plan and the
manner
in
which
the
YES
Any recovery on the
basis of the said
application shall be
payable to the secured
financial Creditors
after deducting legal
expenses incurred in
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proceeds, if any, from such
proceedings
shall
be
distributed:
pursuing PU FE
application.
Page 47 of the
Resolution Plan
38(3)(a)
demonstrate that –
it addresses the cause of
default;
Yes
Clause 6.1- Refer
Page no 52-53 of
the Resolution Plan
38(3)(b)
demonstrate that –
it is feasible and viable;
Yes
Clause 6.1- Refer
Page no 52-53 of
the Resolution Plan
38(3)(c)
demonstrate that –
it has provisions for its
effective implementation;
Yes
Clause 6.1- Refer
Page no 52-53 of
the Resolution Plan
38(3)(d)
demonstrate that – it has provisions for approvals required and the timeline for the same; and Yes Clause 6.1- Refer Page no 53 of the Resolution Plan 38(3)(e) demonstrate that – the resolution applicant has the capability to implement the resolution plan.] Yes Clause 6.1- Refer Page no 53 of the Resolution Plan
iv. The SRA has submitted performance security for an amount of 10% of plan value as per the terms specified on page no 21 of RFRP. The said amount of Rs. 3 crore was deposited on 28.09.2021 in Bank Account of Corporate Debtor through 3 RTGS of Rs.1 crore each and having reference no. as HDFCR52021092867408295, HDFCR52021092867408294 and HDFCR52021092867444016 respectively v. With respect to compliance regarding Regulation 39(4) of the CIRP Regulations, the applicant has filed compliance certificate in Form-H certifying that the Resolution Plan submitted by the successful resolution applicant meets the requirements as laid
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down in various sections of the Code and the CIRP Regulations
and there are sufficient provisions in the Plan for its effective
implementation as required under the provisions of the Code.
the Successful Resolution Applicant on an affidavit has stated
that he is not falling under ineligible category in terms of Section
29A of the Code, 2016.
vi. The applicant has prayed for number of waivers in the Resolution
Plan. As to the relief and concessions sought in the resolution
plan, by taking into consideration of the decision of the Hon’ble
Supreme
Court
in
the
matter
of
Embassy
Property
Development Private Limited v. State of Karnataka & Ors. in
Civil Appeal No. 9170 of 2019, we direct the Successful
Resolution Applicant to file necessary application before the
necessary forum/ Authority in order to avail the relief and
concessions, in accordance with respective laws. The relevant
part of the judgement is reproduced herein below:-
39. Another important aspect is that under
Section 25 (2) (b) of IBC, 2016, the resolution
professional is obliged to represent and act on
behalf of the corporate debtor with third parties
and exercise rights for the benefit of the
corporate debtor in judicial, quasi-judicial and
arbitration proceedings. Section 25(1) and
25(2)(b) reads as follows:
“25. Duties of resolution professional –
(1) It shall be the duty of the resolution
professional to preserve and protect the assets
of the corporate debtor, including the continued
business operations of the corporate debtor.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the
resolution professional shall undertake the
following actions:-
(a)………….
(b) represent and act on behalf of the corporate
debtor with third parties, exercise rights for the
benefit of the corporate debtor in judicial,
quasi judicial and arbitration proceedings.”
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This shows that wherever the corporate debtor
has to exercise rights in judicial, quasi-judicial
proceedings, the resolution professional cannot
short-circuit the same and bring a claim before
NCLT taking advantage of Section 60(5).
40. Therefore in the light of the statutory scheme
as culled out from various provisions of the IBC,
2016 it is clear that wherever the corporate
debtor has to exercise a right that falls outside
the purview of the IBC, 2016 especially in the
realm of the public law, they cannot, through
the resolution professional, take a bypass
and go before NCLT for the enforcement of
such a right.”
- In so far as the approval of the resolution plan is concerned, this Adjudicating Authority has relied upon the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of K. Sashidhar v. Indian Overseas Bank (2019) 12 CC 150, wherein the scope and interference of the Adjudicating Authority in the process of the approval of the Resolution Plan is elaborated as under : -
- Whereas, the discretion of the adjudicating authority
(NCLT) is circumscribed by Section 31 limited to scrutiny of the
resolution plan “as approved” by the requisite percent of voting
share of financial creditors. Even in that enquiry, the grounds
on which the adjudicating authority can reject the resolution
plan is in reference to matters specified in Section 30(2), when
the resolution plan does not conform to the stated requirements.
Reverting to Section 30(2), the enquiry to be done is in respect
of whether the resolution plan provides : (i) the payment of
insolvency resolution process costs in a specified manner in priority to the repayment of other debts of the corporate
debtor, (ii) the repayment of the debts of operational
creditors in prescribed manner, (iii) the management of the affairs of the corporate debtor, (iv) the implementation and
supervision of the resolution plan, (v) does not contravene any of the provisions of the law for the time being in force, (vi) conforms to such other requirements as may be specified by the Board. The Board referred to is established under Section 188 of the I&B Code. The powers and functions of the Board have been delineated in Section 196 of the I&B Code. None of the specified functions of the Board, directly or indirectly, pertain to regulating the manner in which the financial
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creditors ought to or ought not to exercise their commercial
wisdom during the voting on the resolution plan under
Section 30(4) of the I&B Code. The subjective satisfaction
of the financial creditors at the time of voting is bound to be a
mixed baggage of variety of factors. To wit, the feasibility and
viability of the proposed resolution plan and including their
perceptions about the general capability of the resolution
applicant to translate the projected plan into a reality. The
resolution applicant may have given projections backed by
normative data but still in the opinion of the dissenting
financial creditors, it would not be free from being speculative.
These aspects are completely within the domain of the financial
creditors who are called upon to vote on the resolution plan
under Section 30(4) of the I&B Code.
-
This Adjudicating Authority has also looked into, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s decision in the matter of Committee of Creditors of Essar Steel India Limited vs. Satish Kumar Gupta & Ors., Civil Appeal No. 8766-67 of 2019, vid its judgement dated 15.11.2019 wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court has observed as under: “38. This Regulation fleshes out Section 30(4) of the Code, making it clear that ultimately it is the commercial wisdom of the Committee of Creditors which operates to approve what is deemed by a majority of such creditors to be the best resolution plan, which is finally accepted after negotiation of its terms by such Committee with Prospective Resolution Applicants.”
-
Thus, from the judgements cited above, it is amply clear that judicial review is available to the Adjudicating Authority under Section 30(2) read with Section 31 of the Code, 2016 and this Adjudicating Authority need not look into the commercial wisdom of CoC
-
Therefore, we are of the considered view that the plan proposed is generally in order. Accordingly, we hereby approve the Resolution Plan, and the same shall be binding on the corporate debtor and its employees, shareholders of corporate debtor, creditors including the Central Government, any State Government or any local
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Authority to whom statutory dues are owed, guarantors, successful
resolution applicant and other stakeholders involved. In view of the
above, I.A. 5008/2023 stands allowed.
-
It is declared that the moratorium order passed by this Adjudicating Authority under Section 14 of the Code shall cease to have effect from the date of pronouncement of this order.
-
However, the resolution plan shall not be construed as waiver to any statutory obligations/liabilities arising out of the approved resolution plan and the same shall be dealt in accordance with the appropriate authorities concerned as per relevant laws. We are of the considered view that if any waiver is sought in the resolution plan, the same shall be subject to approval by the concerned authorities. The same view has been held by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Ghanshyam Mishra and Sons Private Limited vs. Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited and Embassy Property Development case (supra).
-
Accordingly, MoA and AoA of the corporate debtor shall be amended and filed with the RoC for information and record as prescribed. While approving the ‘resolution plan’ as mentioned above, it is clarified that the resolution applicant shall pursuant to the resolution plan approved under section 31(1) of the Code, 2016, obtain all the necessary approvals as may be required under any law for the time being in force within the period as provided for such in law.
-
The Resolution Professional shall forward all records relating to the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process of the corporate debtor and the Resolution Plan to IBBI to be recorded at its database in terms of Section 31(3)(b) of the Code. The Resolution Professional is further directed to handover all the records, premises, properties
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of the corporate debtor to the Successful Resolution Applicant to
ensure a smooth implementation of the resolution plan.
-
The approved ‘Resolution Plan’ shall become effective from the date of passing of this order. The Resolution Plan duly approved by CoC and also by this Adjudicating Authority may be reckoned as a part of this order.
Let the copy of the order be served to the parties
SD/-
SD/- (RAHUL BHATNAGAR)
(P.S.N PRASAD)
MEMBER TECHNICAL
MEMBER JUDICIAL
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