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Ashwani Kumar Chandrakar vs Central Bank Of India Limited And Ors

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal28 March 2023Ashok Bhushan

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

Where a corporate debtor has entered into one time settlements with all the financial creditors whose claims led to admission of the insolvency application, and those settlements have been accepted, no purpose remains for continuing the corporate insolvency resolution process; the admission order may accordingly be set aside and the corporate debtor freed from the process.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

1NATIONAL COMPANY LAW APPELLATE TRIBUNALPRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHICompany Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 606 of 2022

IN THE MATTER OF: Ashwani Kumar Chandrakar ...Appellant

Versus Central Bank of India & Ors. ...Respondents Present: For Appellant: Ms. Anitha S Henoyi, Sr. Advocate with Mr. AjayMarwah, Mr.Adhitya Srivasan, Mr. Rishabh Kanojiya, Mr. Karan Thakur, Advocates For Respondent: Mr. Brijesh Kumar Tamber, Mr. Prateek Kushwaha, Advocates for Indian Bank Mr. Abhijeet Sinha, Mr. Akshay Goel, Advocates for R-1 Mr. Sumeer Sodhi, Mr. Dhruv Wadhwa, Advocates for R-3&4. Mr. Arun Kathpalia, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Kunal Kanungo, Mr. Aditya Dhupar, Advocates for Intervener. Mr. Nipun Gautam, Advocate for IRP

ORDER

28.03.2023: Heard Learned Counsel for the parties.

2. This Appeal has been filed against the Order dated 06th May, 2022 by

which Order Application under Section 7 of I&B Code, 2016 filed by the Central

Bank of India was admitted. The Central Bank of India has filed Section 7

Application claiming total amount of Rs. 27.67 Crores as its dues. 2

3. Appeal was taken by this Tribunal and an Order was passed on 27th May,

2022 which is to the following effect:

"27.05.2022: Issue notice. Learned counsel for the Appellant submits that the Appellant's hospital namely Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Medical College, District Durg has been acquired by the State Act 15 of 2021 which enactment has been published in the Gazette on 03.09.2021. It is submitted that in view of the compulsory nature of the acquisition, the Government is likely to pay two times of the valuation of the assets of the Corporate Debtor. It is submitted that the process requires some time and it is expected that valuation shall be completed and amount will be paid which shall be sufficient to clear the dues of the Central Bank of India. On the application under Section 7 filed by the Central Bank of India, the Adjudicating Authority has initiated insolvency resolution process by order dated 06. 05.2022.

Learned counsel for the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) submits that the IRP has taken

possession of other assets except the acquired hospital.

Mr. Abhijeet Sinha, learned counsel appears for the Central Bank of India and submits that the Bank's dues are much more than the expected amount which will be received from the Government.

Let reply be filed within three weeks. Rejoinder be filed within two weeks thereafter.

List this Appeal on 19.07.2022.

Company Appeal (AT) Ins. No. 606 of 2022 3

In the meantime, the Interim Resolution Professional shall proceed and ensure that the Corporate Debtor continues as going concern, however, he shall not constitute the CoC in pursuance of order dated 06.05.2022."

4. In the Section 7 Application proceedings, the claim of another Bank i.e.

Indian Bank filed claim of Rs. 56 Crores. An affidavit has been filed by the

Appellant where it has been stated that State Government has already released

the amount of Rs. 90 Crores and they have yet to release some more amount. It

is submitted that the appellant has entered into One Time Settlement with both

the Banks and Banks have accepted One Time Settlement.

5. Learned Counsel for the Appellant has referred to Letter dated 24th March,

2023 of Central Bank of India and Letter dated 24th March, 2023 issued by the

Indian Bank. The Appellant submits that Settlement with Central Bank of India

has been entered for an amount of Rs. 37 Crores and with Indian Bank for an

amount of Rs. 53 Crores. It is submitted that money is already in Fixed Deposit.

6. In view of the One Time Settlement, it would be open for the Banks to

appropriate the amount.

7. Mr. Arun Kathpalia, Learned Sr. Counsel has referred to an Order passed

by the Hon'ble High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur in Writ Petition (C) No.

4014 of 2022 in the matter of G.D.R. Educational Foundation Rungta Bhawan

& Anr. Vs. State of Chhattisgarh & Ors. It is submitted that the order has been

passed by the High Court on 13.03.2023 where direction has been issued for

keeping the amount of Rs. 36,95,94,000/- in Fixed Deposit. It is submitted by

Company Appeal (AT) Ins. No. 606 of 2022 4

Learned Counsel for the Appellant that said order has already been complied by

the State Government.

8. We take note of the aforesaid submission and take it on record.

9. In view of the One Time Settlement with both the Banks, no purpose is left

for continuing the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP in short). In

view of the aforesaid, we set aside the order impugned passed by the Adjudicating

Authority dated 06.05.2022. Corporate Debtor is freed from CIRP. Learned

Counsel for the IRP submits that Central Bank of India has undertaken to pay

dues of the IRP. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.

[Justice Ashok Bhushan] Chairperson

[Barun Mitra] Member (Technical)

Basant/nn

Company Appeal (AT) Ins. No. 606 of 2022

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