Dhananjay Krishnanath Gaikwad & Ors vs Tuljabhavani Cold Storage Pvt. Ltd. ...
- CitationCompany Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where the Court of first instance has not dealt with a plea of limitation and the appellate forum concurs in the substantive findings, it may decide the limitation question itself rather than remanding, where the record permits the determination. A plea of limitation is a mixed question of law and fact. Under Section 3 of the Limitation Act, 1963, a court or tribunal must dismiss a proceeding filed after the prescribed period even though limitation has not been set up as a defence, unless the proceeding falls within the exceptions in Sections 4 to 24, so a party's forfeiture of the right to file a reply does not prevent it from raising limitation. Where no period is specifically prescribed, Article 137 of the Limitation Act applies, and the period runs from the date the right to apply accrues, being the date of the first violation of right or its discovery; successive violations do not create fresh causes of action, but each filing of statutory compliances suppressing material facts, where the suppression is fraudulent and continuing, may constitute a continuing cause of action. Where the facts relied upon are unrebutted and uncontroverted on the record, and nothing on the record displaces them, the court may determine that the petition is not barred by limitation.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
[Arising out of Order dated 31st August, 2018 passed by the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench in CP 32/59, 241- 242/MB/MAH/2016]
IN THE MATTER OF:
1. Dhananjay Krishnanath Gaikwad, Plot No. 56, Krushna, Avdhoot Nagar, Baramati, Pune - 413102.
2. Ms. Anita Krishnanath Gaikwad, Plot No. 56, Krushna, Avdhoot Nagar, Baramati, Pune - 413102.
3. Ms. Varsharani Dhananjay Gaikwad, Plot No. 56, Krushna, Avdhoot Nagar, Baramati, Pune - 413102.
...Appellants
Vs
1. Tulijabhavani Cold Storage Private Limited, Plot No. 56, Krushna, Avdhoot Nagar, Baramati, Pune - 413102.
2. Mr. Ramkrishna Narsingrao Mankari, Resident of F-9, Harshvihar, S. R. N. 163/1+2A, 2B/1A, D.P. Road, Aundh, Pune - 411007.
....Respondents
Present:
For Appellants: Mr. Rahul Chitnis and Mr. Aaditya Pande, Advocates.
For Respondents: Mr. Samrat Shinde, Advocate for Respondent No.1.
Mr. Kaushik Poddar and Mr. Santosh Mishra, Advocates for Respondent No.2. -2-
J U D G M E N T
BANSI LAL BHAT, J.
This appeal is directed against impugned order dated 31st August,
2018 passed by the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench
(hereinafter referred to as the "Tribunal") whereby and whereunder the
petition filed by Respondent No. 2 - 'Mr. Ramkrishna Narsingrao Mankari'
(hereinafter referred to as the "Petitioner") under Section 59, 241-242, 246,
337 to 341 of the Companies Act, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act")
against Respondent No. 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "Company") and the
Appellants (hereinafter referred to as "Respondents No. 2 to 4") alleging
several acts of oppression/ mismanagement, came to be allowed with
certain directions. The Appellants have assailed the impugned order
primarily on the ground that the Tribunal erred in passing the impugned
order in as much as the Petitioner had been repaid the entire consideration
amount paid by him for the purchase of shares and the petition was barred
by limitation.
2. A flashback of the events and the factual matrix bearing upon the
case in hand, being inevitable, may briefly be noticed. The Company styled
as 'Tulijabhavani Cold Storage Private Limited' was incorporated as a Private
Limited Company on 30th June, 2003 with the main object of undertaking
and carrying on provisions of cold storage and food processing, etc. with
authorized paid up capital of Rs.5 Lakhs. Respondents No. 2 and 3 were the
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -3-
Promoters of the Company holding 25% each of the paid up equity share
capital of the Company with balance 50% held by other two Promoters viz.
'Dahairyasheel Gaikwad' and 'Sanjay Jadhav' in equal shares. Respondents
No. 2 to 4 were the Directors and the Shareholders of the Company. There
was no change in the authorized, issued, subscribed and paid up capital of
the Company till filing of petition. According to Petitioner, Respondent No. 2
being in dire need of funds approached the Petitioner for investment in
equity shares of the Company thereby persuading the Petitioner to purchase
the majority shareholding of equity shares of himself and other Respondents
in the Company, allegedly at a huge premium. Petitioner claimed to have
purchased 25,500 equity shares representing 51% equity shares of the
capital of the Company from Respondents No. 2 and 4 at Rs.275 per equity
share as against face value of Rs.10 per share with Respondents No. 2 and 4
assuring the Petitioner that all documents would be executed for transfer of
majority shareholding of the equity shares in the Company in favour of
Petitioner and in this regard all legal formalities and compliances will be
observed. Allegedly, Petitioner was also assured of being made a non-
retiring Director on the Board of Directors of the Company vested with Veto
Power besides being made a signatory to all the bank accounts.
Respondents No. 2 and 4 executed the prescribed Share Transfer Forms in
favour of the Petitioner for the transfer of 25,500 equity shares. Transfer of
shareholding was placed before the Board of Directors of the Company on
4th February, 2013 which passed the unanimous resolution for approval of
the transfer of shareholding as aforesaid favouring the Petitioner. The
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -4-
Board of Directors further resolved to appoint the Petitioner as Additional
Director of the Company to hold office till the conclusion of next Annual
General Meeting. Transfer Share Certificates were issued in favour of the
Petitioner for a consideration of Rs.70 Lakhs paid to Respondent No. 2 and
Respondent No. 4 in the following proportion:-
Respondent No. 2 - Rs.63,13,725/-
Respondent No. 4 - Rs.6,86,275/-
Respondent No. 2 to 4 handed over the duly signed and endorsed
equity share certificates to the Petitioner with assurance extended to
Petitioner that the Register of Members and the Register of Transfers
maintained by the Company were updated and necessary entries were
effected therein. This led the Petitioner to believe that he had become a
majority shareholder of the Company and also a Director on the Board of
Directors of the Company. The Petitioner alleged that in fact he was
defrauded as these events were never recorded by the Respondents in the
record. The Petitioner further alleged that R-2 filed the balance sheet and
annual return of the Company for the year ending 31st March, 2013 with
ROC wherein the name of Petitioner was deliberately not reflected. However,
this fact came to the notice of the Petitioner only in the year 2016 while
making a search in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website. Petitioner
found that his majority stake was not reflected in the record for Financial
Years 2012-13 and 2013-14 despite the fact that such statements and
returns were prepared by R-2 to R-4 after the date of investments made by
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -5-
the Petitioner. It is further alleged that no notice of the Annual General
Meeting was issued to Petitioner despite he being a majority shareholder.
Instead a meeting was held on 30th September, 2014 without the knowledge
of the Petitioner. The Petitioner alleged that the aforesaid acts of
Respondents 2 to 4 not only amounted to fraud but also oppression of the
Petitioner and mismanagement of affairs of Company on the part of
Respondents 2 to 4. Petitioner also alleged many irregularities in running
the affairs of the Company by Respondents No. 2 to 4 and sought reliefs
including disqualification of Respondents No. 2 to 4 from Directorship of the
Company and cancellation of their Director Identification Number (DIN).
3. A glance at the record of the Tribunal brings it to fore that the
Respondents did not file any reply despite several opportunities granted by
the Tribunal. Thus, the allegations in the petition before the Tribunal stood
unrebutted and uncontroverted.
4. The Tribunal found that the factum of investment of Rs.70 Lakhs by
Petitioner towards purchase of 25,500 shares belonging to R-2 and R-4 has
not been at all disputed and the controversy stems out of breach of promise
on the part of R-2 qua transfer of shares and appointment of Petitioner as
Director. The Tribunal also found that the Respondents never intimated
through notice the board meeting thereby keeping the Petitioner in dark in
regard to day to day functioning of the Company. The Tribunal also found
that the Respondents had also failed to invite the Petitioner to assume
charge as Director and manage the affairs of the Company being the
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -6-
majority shareholder. The Tribunal was of the view that the Respondents
conduct was questionable in as much as they received substantial money
from the Petitioner on the pretext of transferring shares to him but
defrauded him by not effecting transfer of shares in his name. Therefore,
the Tribunal considered it necessary to pass a slew of directions for
safeguarding the interest of Petitioner and managing the affairs of the
Company in accordance with the mandate of law. The Tribunal held the
Respondents guilty of oppression and mismanagement, declared the board
meetings held after 04 February, 2013 as void, directed rectification of
balance sheet drawn as on 31st March, 2013, rectification of registration of
members, besides directing the Respondents to execute share transfer forms
in favour of the Petitioner and complete all legal formalities for transfer of
share certificates in the name of the Petitioner and also directed
appointment of Petitioner as Director besides other directions incidental
thereto culminating in constitution of new Board of Directors.
5. The impugned order has been assailed on the ground that the
Company Petition was barred by limitation. It is contended that the
Tribunal failed to give due weightage to the fact that the Petitioner had
received back the entire consideration amount from Respondent No.4. It is
further contended that the Respondents failure to file reply to the Company
Petition was not on account of any lapse on their part but due to forfeiture
of their right to file the reply by the Tribunal. It is contended that the
Tribunal failed to address the material issues raised by the Respondents
and erred in drawing conclusions which were not justified.
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -7-
6. In his reply affidavit Petitioner has stated that several acts of
oppression/ mismanagement by the Respondents detailed in the Company
Petition form a part of continuous process of oppression and
mismanagement continuing upto the date of filing of Company Petition, thus
the Company Petition was within the period of limitation. It is further stated
that the Petitioner paid Rs.70 Lakhs to the Respondent No. 2 and 4 towards
consideration of 25,500 equity shares purchased by the Petitioner
representing 51% equity shares as acquired by him in the Company and
resolution for transfer of such shares was passed by the Board of Directors
of the Company in the meeting held on 4th February, 2013. It is further
stated that the Respondent No. 2 to 4 handed over the duly signed and
endorsed equity share certificates to the Petitioner after effecting the transfer
of 25,500 equity shares. However, these events were never recorded by
Respondents in their records, thus, defrauding the Petitioner. It is further
stated that the Petitioner was further persuaded by Respondent No.2 to
advance him a loan of Rs.20 Lakhs for utilizing the same for payment of
Service Tax of the Company. Petitioner, believing in good faith gave a loan of
Rs.20 Lakhs to Respondent No. 2 as on 31st December, 2013 with the
understanding that the same will be repaid by Respondent No. 2 within a
period of two months. It is further stated that false documents were
fraudulently filed by the Respondents with the Registrar of Companies to
cheat the Petitioner who learnt about the true state of affairs only in year
2016 from the office of Registrar of Companies. It is further stated that after
great persuasion the loan amount of Rs.20 Lakhs was repaid to Petitioner
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -8-
on 7th August, 2015 i.e. after huge gap of more than one year and six
months. It is further stated that the majority stake of the Petitioner was not
reflected in the balance sheets and annual return filed by the Company for
the Financial Year 2012-13, 2013-14. Incorrect and misleading information
was provided to the Registrar of Companies. It is further stated that no
notice of General Meetings of the Company after acquisition of majority
shares by the Petitioner was given to Petitioner and no compliance was
made with the legal provisions regarding holding of such General Meetings.
It is stated that fraud has been played upon the Petitioner and the
Respondents have filed false and misleading statements before the Registrar
of Companies. It is further stated that the Respondents are diverting
majority of the business and profit of the Company to another
proprietorship of Respondent No.2 deceptively styled as 'Tulijabhavani Cold
Storage', which is a clear example of siphoning of funds of the Company by
the Respondents and mismanagement of Company by the Respondents. The
acts of mismanagement by the Respondents are stated to have gravely
affected the interests of the Petitioner. Grounds of appeal have been refuted
and it is stated that the interests of the Petitioner have been greatly
prejudiced.
7. In their rejoinder affidavit Appellants (Respondents 2 to 4 in Company
Petition), while reiterating the grounds of appeal, stated that the Tribunal
failed to deal with the issue of limitation raised in terms of Miscellaneous
Application No. 236 of 2018 filed in the Company Petition. It is stated that
since February, 2013 the Petitioner was aware that the Respondents 2 to 4
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -9-
had not acted upon the allotment of shares and had not transferred the
shares in the records of Company and hence the cause of action for filing
the Company Petition arose in February, 2013, therefore, the Company
Petition was barred by limitation.
8. It is contended on behalf of Appellants (Respondents 2 to 4 in
Company Petition) that the Tribunal has failed and neglected to decide
whether Company Petition No. 32 of 2016 was barred by limitation though
M.A. No. 236 of 2018 was taken up for hearing alongwith Company Petition.
It is further contended that the right to sue accrued to the Respondent No. 2
(Petitioner in the Company Petition) in February, 2013 and the period of
limitation being three years, the Company Petition having been filed on 19 th
September, 2016 was barred by limitation. Learned counsel for Appellants
submitted that the matter was required to be remanded back to the Tribunal
to decide the Company Petition on the issue of limitation.
9. Per contra it is contended on behalf of Respondent No. 2 (Petitioner)
that the Appellants (Respondents No. 2 to 4) are trying to reopen the case
and raise issues which have already been decided. It is further submitted
that the plea raised by Respondents No. 2 to 4 that cause of action arose on
4th February, 2013 when the documents pertaining to transfer of shares in
favour of Petitioner were executed and same were approved by the Board of
Directors in the Board Meeting held on the same date is misleading as the
issue of limitation is a mixed question of law and facts and as a matter of
fact Petitioner got knowledge of wrong doings of Respondents No. 2 to 4 only
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -10-
after doing a search with the Registrar of Companies in February, 2016 and
the Company Petition was filed on 19th of September, 2016. It is submitted
that these facts stand unrebutted and uncontroverted as the defense of
Respondents No. 2 to 4 had been struck off. Company Petition was filed on
19th September, 2016 well within the period of three years prescribed as
limitation, which would commence from the date of knowledge of
misconduct of Respondents No. 2 to 4 viz. 2nd February, 2016 and
subsequently, confirmed from the Annual Report of the Financial Year
ending 31st March, 2016. It is further submitted that even if the petitioner
could have got knowledge of the Annual Report when the Annual General
Meeting was held on 30th September, 2013, which he did not attend due to
non-intimation, still the Company Petition was within the prescribed period
of limitation.
10. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. After
wading through the record of the Tribunal, we find that during hearing
before the Tribunal on 7th April, 2017 a mutual settlement was recorded by
virtue whereof a payment of Rs.1.33 crores was to be made by Respondent
No. 2 to the Petitioner. In terms of undertaking the payment was to be
made by 30th April, 2017. The record further lays bare that on 1st May,
2017 two post-dated cheque respectively of Rs.69,86,275/- dated 07th June,
2017 and Rs.63,13,725/- dated 20th May, 2017 were delivered to the
Petitioner with the understanding that the share transfer applications would
be signed only after encashment of cheque. However, as recorded on 19th
June, 2017, both cheque bounced. On a cause shown to the Tribunal, fresh
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -11-
cheque in the same amount were issued by Respondent No. 2 favouring the
Petitioner with an understanding that the cheque would be encashed on or
before 31st July, 2017. The cheque issued could not be encashed. Despite
extending the deadline in lieu of costs, Respondent No. 2 failed to abide by
the settlement and the right of Respondents to file reply was forfeited.
Consequently, the allegations in the Company Petition regarding oppression
and mismanagement remained uncontroverted and unrebutted. The facts
asserted by the Petitioner and the allegations constituting oppression and
mismanagement largely owe their genesis to the investment of Rs.70 Lakhs
by Petitioner which were paid to the Respondent No. 2 and 4 towards
consideration of 25,500 equity shares purchased by the Petitioner
representing 51% equity shares acquired by him in the Company. A
resolution for transfer of such shares was passed by the Board of Directors
of the Company in the meeting held on 4th February, 2013 approving the
transfer of 25,500 equity shares of the Company at a price of Rs.275 per
share for a total amount of Rs.70 Lakhs. Respondent No. 2 to 4 handed
over the duly signed and endorsed equity share certificates to the Petitioner
after effecting the transfer of 25,500 equity shares. There is no specific
denial in regard to these facts which has the effect of admission on the part
of Respondents No. 2 to 4. Plea raised before this Appellate Tribunal that
the consideration amount of the transferred equity shares was refunded to
Petitioner is a bald assertion which has neither been raised before the court
of first instance nor is the same supported by record. This is apart from the
fact that refund of consideration after completing the transaction of transfer
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -12-
would be of no consequence and would not invalidate the transfer of
shareholding effected in favour of the Petitioner. This bald assertion
emanating from the Appellant has to be outrightly rejected.
11. The unrebutted and uncontroverted factual matrix placed before the
Tribunal as also forming the bedrock of the matter in issue before this
Appellate Tribunal leads to no other conclusion than the one that the
factum of transfer of majority shareholding in favour of Petitioner by
Respondents 2 to 4 and approval of the transfer of 25,500 equity shares of
the Company in favour of the Petitioner for a consideration amount of Rs.70
Lakhs by the Board of Directors remains undisputed and stands proved.
The subsequent events including holding of Annual General Meeting by
Respondents 2 to 4 on 30th September, 2013 for approving the Balance
Sheet and Annual Report for financial year ending 31st March, 2013 without
notice to Petitioner, filing of Form 23AC and Form 23ACA with Ministry of
Corporate Affairs on 19th October, 2013 followed by filing of Form 20B on
13th November, 2013 before Ministry of Corporate Affairs by Respondents 2
to 4, as borne out by record, amply demonstrate that the Petitioner was
deceitfully entrapped, made to invest a huge amount of Rs.70 Lakhs with
false promise of catapulting him to the status of majority equity shareholder
with 51% stakes and a false belief induced to induct him as a non-retiring
Director. This conclusion is clearly deducible from the fact that these events
were never recorded by Respondents in their records, thus, defrauding the
Petitioner. The majority stake of the Petitioner was not reflected in the
balance sheets and annual return filed by the Company for the Financial
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -13-
Years ending March 2013 and March, 2014 thereby justifying the
conclusion that incorrect and misleading information was provided to the
Registrar of Companies by filing false and fabricated statements. On facts no
conclusion incompatible with the one arrived at by the Tribunal is possible.
Keeping in view the aforesaid facts duly supported by record and not
controverted by Respondents No. 2 to 4 it can safely be stated that while
Respondents No. 2 to 4 derived pecuniary advantage by effecting the
transaction of transfer of shareholding of majority stakes in the Company in
favour of the Petitioner, they jeopardized his legal rights and exposed his
legitimate interests to peril by not giving effect to the transaction, despite
approval by Board of Directors, by indulging in acts of omission and
commission in regard to statutory compliances and holding of Annual
General Meetings causing grave prejudice to Petitioner who was kept in dark
about the true state of affairs. Tables were turned on the Petitioner when he
discovered from the record of Registrar of Companies somewhere in
February, 2016 that the factum of transfer of shares in his favour had been
suppressed by Respondents No. 2 to 4. In the given circumstances, no fault
can be found with the finding that Respondents No. 2 to 4 have been
conducting the Company's affairs prejudicial to the Petitioner as also to the
interests of the Company justifying the directions slapped in terms of the
impugned order.
12. The only question for consideration is the issue of limitation raised
by the Appellants (Respondents 2 to 4 in Company Petition) through the
medium of a Miscellaneous Application while their right to file reply to the
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -14-
Company Petition stood forfeited. It is the dictum of law that the issue of
limitation should be alive to the mind of the court dealing with the lis and
has to be looked into irrespective of the fact that such an issue has not been
raised by the Defendant/ Respondent. Section 3 of the Limitation Act, 1963
eloquently speaks of this legal position which is profitably reproduced
hereinbelow:-
"3. Bar of limitation.-(1) Subject to the provisions
contained in sections 4 to 24 (inclusive), every suit
instituted, appeal preferred and application made after the
prescribed period shall be dismissed, although limitation
has not been set up as a defence."
Therefore, Appellants (Respondents 2 to 4 in Company Petition) would
be within their rights to legitimately raise the issue of limitation
notwithstanding the fact that their right to file defense stood forfeited.
Unless the lis/ appeal falls within the exceptions enumerated under
Sections 4 to 24 of the Limitation Act, 1963, the mandate of law enshrined
in Section 3 cited above renders it imperative upon the Court/ Tribunal
hearing the suit/ appeal to dismiss the lis filed or preferred after the
prescribed period of limitation. Thus, no exception can be taken to such
issue being raised by the Appellants (Respondents 2 to 4 in Company
Petition). The Tribunal appears to have overlooked the issue of limitation
despite the same having been raised and brought to the notice of the
Tribunal. Ordinarily, the matter would be remanded to the Tribunal for
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -15-
determining this issue. However, since we concur with the finding of
Tribunal as regards oppression of Petitioner justifying the slew of directions
passed in terms of the impugned order, we deem it appropriate to deal with
the issue of limitation in these very proceedings.
13. It is well settled that a plea of limitation is a mixed question of law and
fact. Reference in this regard may profitably be made to the judgment of
Hon'ble Apex Court rendered on 11th July, 2006 in Civil Appeal No. 4766 of
2001 titled 'Ramesh B Desai & Ors. Vs. Bipin Vadilal Mehta & Ors.'
reported in (2006) 5 SCC 638 (para 19). It is not in dispute that in regard to
matters falling within the purview of Section 241-242 of the Companies Act,
2013, the Limitation Act does not specifically provide for a period of
limitation. In terms of Article 137, which is applicable to matters for which
no period of limitation is specifically provided, the period of limitation is
three years from the date when the right to apply accrues. Unless there is a
continuing cause of action, the right to apply will have to be construed as
having accrued when the first violation of right occurs or is discovered.
Successive violation of right will not give rise to a fresh cause of action. In
the instant case, the Appellants have not controverted the factum and
validity of transfer of 25,500 equity shares of Company in favour of
Respondent No. 2 (Petitioner) against consideration of Rs.70 Lakhs when the
relevant documents in regard to the transfer of shares were executed on
4th February, 2013 and the transfer of shares was approved by the Board of
Directors in its meeting held on the same date. However, no notice was
issued to Respondent No. 2 in regard to Annual General Meeting held on
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -16-
30th September, 2013 to approve the Balance Sheet and Annual Report for
Financial Year ending March 2013. Appellants have subsequently filed
compliances in the prescribed format on 19th October, 2013 and 13th
November, 2013, respectively. According to Respondent No.2, he gained
knowledge about suppressing of factum of transfer of majority shareholding
in his favour on search of documents filed with Registrar of Companies,
thereby gaining knowledge firstly on 2nd February, 2016 and subsequently
from the Annual Report of Financial Year ending March, 2016 filed with the
Registrar of Companies, which revealed that the Appellants had fraudulently
not disclosed the Respondent No. 2 as the majority shareholder of the
Company. These facts stand unrebutted and uncontroverted. While each
filing of statutory compliances suppressing the material facts in regard to
majority shareholding of Respondent No. 2 with fraudulent intention on the
part of Appellants would constitute a continuing cause of action,
computation of period of limitation even from 30th September, 2013 (when
the Annual General Meeting was held) would bring the Company Petition
within the period of limitation in as much as the Company Petition was filed
on 19th September, 2016 though knowledge cannot be imputed to
Respondent No. 2 as he had no notice of the Annual General Meeting and it
was only on 2nd February, 2016 that he claims to have gained knowledge of
the misconduct on the part of the Appellants after searching through the
record of Company and the Annual Report for Financial Year ending March,
2016 available with the Registrar of Companies. The allegations in the
Company Petition being unrebutted and uncontroverted and there being
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -17-
nothing on record to dislodge the version of Respondent No. 2 (Petitioner
before the Tribunal) placed before the Tribunal, the Company Petition
cannot be held to be barred by limitation.
14. Having considered the matter in its proper perspective and the
proposition of facts emerging from unrebutted Company Petition further
corroborated by the sequence of events encompassing the settlement
reached between the parties followed by issuance of cheques favouring the
Respondent No. 2 herein which subsequently bounced followed by eventual
back out after protracting the matter considerably which lends further
credence to the allegations of oppression emanating from the Petitioner, the
slew of directions in terms of the impugned order cannot be termed harsh or
uncalled for. The Appellants appear to have not only taken the petitioner for
a ride by making him part with huge money of Rs.70 Lakhs under garb of
inducting him as a majority shareholder and non-retiring Director having
effective control over management of the Company but also dragged their
feet even in honouring their commitments under the mutual settlement,
thus indulging in unwarranted acts jeopardizing the legitimate interests of
the Respondent No. 2 (Petitioner) and causing him grave prejudice. This
appeal is yet another brazen attempt to further prolong perpetuation of the
acts of oppression against the Respondent No. 2 (Petitioner) without there
being any substance in the appeal, which in the context of breach of
undertakings given to Tribunal pursuant to mutual settlement, can safely be
termed as frivolous.
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018 -18-
15. For the reasons recorded hereinabove, the appeal is dismissed, as the
impugned order does not suffer from any legal infirmity and the Company
Petition is not barred by limitation. Considering the fact that the appeal is
frivolous, we impose total costs of Rs.1.00 Lakh (Rupees One Lakh Only)
upon the Appellants, which shall be deposited with the 'Ministry of
Corporate Affairs' in the form of a Demand Draft within 30 days.
[Justice Bansi Lal Bhat] Member (Judicial)
[Balvinder Singh] Member (Technical)
NEW DELHI
25th July, 2019
AM
Company Appeal (AT) No. 322 of 2018
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