Gautam Singhania vs Loyal Scaffolding Pvt. Ltd
- CitationCompany Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 1259 of 2019
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The Appellate Tribunal, exercising its power under Rule 11 of the NCLAT Rules, 2016, may set aside an order admitting an insolvency application under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, and give effect to a settlement between the operational creditor and the corporate debtor reached before the Committee of Creditors has been constituted, where the settlement has been accepted by the operational creditor's counsel and authorised representative, a first instalment has been paid, and the concern that allottees would otherwise suffer has been recognised, so that the settlement is treated as a direction of the Tribunal and the application is disposed of as withdrawn.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
M/s. Loyal Scaffolding Pvt. Ltd. ...Respondent
Present:
For Appellant : Ms. Tania Sharma and Ms. Shankari Mishra, Advocates
For Respondent : Mr. Suresh B. Advocate for 1st Respondent Mr. Rahul Kumar, Advocate for the IRP
ORDER
03.01.2020 M/s. Loyal Scaffolding Pvt. Ltd. (Operational Creditor) filed an
application under Section 9 of the 'Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016' ('I&B
Code', for short) against M/s. Goyala Infras. Projects Pvt. Ltd. (Corporate Debtor).
The Adjudicating Authority (National Company Law Tribunal), New Delhi (Court
No. III) having admitted the application by impugned order dated 30th October,
2019, the present appeal has been preferred by the Director.
Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Appellant submits that M/s.
Goyala Infras. Projects Pvt. Ltd. is an Infrastructure Company and mostly
constructed the Government premises. In view of the fact that the allottees will
suffer, the Appellant agreed to settle the matter with the Respondent - 'M/s.
Loyal Scaffolding Pvt. Ltd.' (Operational Creditor) before constitution of the
'Committee of Creditors'.
2
An affidavit has been filed by the Appellant enclosing the 'Memorandum of
Settlement' dated 16th December, 2019 in terms of which 1st Instalment has been
paid. It is stated that rest of the amount will be paid as per 'Terms of Settlement'.
This fact has been accepted by Mr. Suresh B., learned counsel appearing on
behalf of M/s. Loyal Scaffolding Pvt. Ltd. and in presence of Mr. Amanjeet Singh,
Authorised Representative of the 'Operational Creditor'.
Mr. Rahul Kumar, Advocate appearing on behalf of the 'Interim Resolution
Professional' submits that the 'Committee of Creditors' has not been constituted
and accepted that the allottees may suffer. Learned counsel for the 'Interim
Resolution Professional' also submits that the 'Interim Resolution Professional'
is entitled to receive a sum of Rs.2,63,000/- towards fee and cost, out of which
Rs.2,00,000/- has been received by the 'Interim Resolution Professional'.
Taking into consideration the fact that the 'Corporate Debtor' is an
Infrastructure Company and allottees have not made any grievance and they
may suffer and one of the supplier i.e. M/s. Loyal Scaffolding Pvt. Ltd. has
reached for 'Terms of Settlement', in exercise of powers conferred under Rule 11
of the NCLAT Rules, 2016, we set aside the impugned order dated 30th October,
2019 passed by the Adjudicating Authority (National Company Law Tribunal),
New Delhi in IB-1495/ND/2019. The Appellant is directed to comply with the
'Terms of Settlement' which should be treated as direction of this Appellate
Tribunal.
The Appellant is further directed to pay rest of the amount of Rs.63,000/-
to the 'Interim Resolution Professional' within 3 weeks. The 'Interim Resolution
Professional' will hand over the assets and records of the 'Corporate Debtor' to
the Directors/Promoters to enable them to complete the project for the allottees.
Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 1259 of 2019 3
The application under Section 9 of the I&B Code filed by M/s. Loyal Scaffolding
Pvt. Ltd. stands disposed of as withdrawn. The Adjudicating Authority will close
the proceedings. The 'Corporate Debtor' is released from all the rigours of law
and is allowed to function independently from immediate effect.
The appeal is allowed with aforesaid observations and directions. No
costs.
[Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya] Chairperson
[ Justice Bansi Lal Bhat ] Member (Judicial)
/ns/gc/
Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 1259 of 2019
This page reproduces a public judgment and a summary of it. It is research material, not legal advice, and it is no substitute for advice from an advocate on your own facts.
Research this judgment with Miss Lucy
Ask what it holds, what has followed it, and what it means for your matter — in plain English, with the citations.
Try Miss Lucy free