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In the matter of Bahula Infotech Private Limited

National Company Law Tribunal22 August 2023

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The Adjudicating Authority holds that where the Resolution Professional intimates, before confirmation of a resolution plan, that the Committee of Creditors has resolved by not less than sixty-six per cent of the voting share to liquidate the Corporate Debtor, the Adjudicating Authority is bound under section 33(2) of the Code to order liquidation of the Corporate Debtor, and the order is then made in terms of section 33(2) read with section 33(1). Where the Committee of Creditors' resolution to liquidate was approved by 100 per cent of the voting share, the statutory threshold of sixty-six per cent is satisfied, and the application for liquidation is to be allowed.

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

Judgment

As delivered

INTHENATIONAL COMPANY LAWTRIBUNAL KOLKATABENCH(COURT-I), KOLKATA IA (IB) No.57/KB/2023 in CP(IB) No. 197/KB/2021 An Applicationunder section 33(1)(a) of Insolvency& BankruptcyCode, 2016. Inthematter of ViomInfra Venture Limited …Operational Creditor versus BahulaInfotech Private Limited …CorporateDebtor -And- Inthematter of: Mr. Anneel Saraogi, Resolution Professional ofBahulaInfotech PrivateLimited …Resolution Professional / Applicant Coram: ShriRohitKapoor,Member(Judicial) ShriBalrajJoshi,Member (Technical) Appearances (throughvideo conferencing): For theResolution Professional/ Applicant 1. Mr. Meenakshi Manot, Adv.

Reserved fororders dated :16.01.2023 Pronouncement oforder dated :22.08.2023 ORDER Per BalrajJoshi,Member (Technical): 1. This is an application filed by the Insolvency Professional upon the instructions of the Committee of Creditors (‘CoC’) seeking liquidation of the Corporate Debtor, viz., Bahula Infotech Private Limited

[CIN:U72900WB2014PTC199722], on the ground that no resolution plan was received bytheResolution Professional.

2. This Adjudicating Authority vide its order dated 18.04.2022 on a Petition filed by the Viom Infra Venture Limited(‘Operational Creditor’) under section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (‘the Code’), directed initiation of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (‘CIRP’) against the Corporate Debtor and appointed Mr. Aneel Saraogi as the Interim Resolution Professional (‘IRP’). The IRP was later appointed as theResolutionProfessional (‘RP’).

3. In the 1st CoC Meeting held on May 13, 2022, wherein the appointment of the applicant was confirmed as the Resolution Professional (hereinafter referred to as “RP”). Thereafter the applicant has filed 1st Progress Report on20.07.2022.

4. As per Section 25(2)(h) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC, 2016), Form G for invitation of Expression of Interest was originally issued by the Applicant on 02.07.2022, but no EOI was received as on last date of EOI was 17.07.2022. On 01.08.2022, the Form G was reissued in the leading newspapers for inviting the Resolution Plan from the interest eligible candidates, wherein one perspective bidder namely Quantta Analytics Private Limited had shown their interest in submitting EOI. However, theProspective Bidder failed tosubmit theResolutionPlan.

5. In the 4th CoCmeeting held on 17.09.2022,it was averred that the applicant had received only one EOI for submission of Resolution Plan by Quantta Analytics Private Limited and provisional or final list has been issued accordingly. Further, the members were requested to note that the last date ofsubmissionof ResolutionPlanas per Form Gis 30th September, 2022.

6. Thereafter, an application was filed vide IA(IB)1114/KB/2022 before this tribunal praying for 90 days further extension to be calculated from 14th October and thereafter, as prayed for, this Tribunal granted 90 days extensionofCIRP period upto 08.01.2023.

7. Thereafter, in the 8th CoC meeting held on 02.01.2023, it was noted that the Applicant had not been received any resolution plan from any of the Prospective Resolution Applicants (PRAs), but one PRA, namely Quantta Analytics Private Limited has asked for further time for submitting Resolution Plan. But CoC had decided that as no resolution plan has been submitted till now and the CIRP period is also getting over by 08.01.2023, further extension of timewould not be a wise decision as being provided so much extension of time, no PRAs have submitted any Resolution Plan, and in the said 8th CoC Meeting it was decided by the CoC to liquidate the company under Section 33(1)(a) of the IBC, 2016 since there was no Resolution Plan for consideration within the maximum permitted CIRP period.

8. Hence, the RP has filed an application under section 33 of the Code, before theAdjudicating Authority for liquidation oftheCorporate Debtor.

9. That the CoC has passed resolution by 100% voting shares that the Corporate Debtor be liquidated under the provisions of section 33(2) of the Code.

10.IBBI Circular dated 18th July, 2023, it was decided that in cases where the CD has not been successfully, resolved or resolution plan has been failed, IP who has been assigned to conduct the resolution process of the CD, may not be recommended to continue to act as Liquidator to carry on the process of liquidation under Regulation 3(1) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016. Therefore, the Applicant being the RP of Bahula Infotech Private Limited would notbe recommended as Liquidator.

11.We have considered the submission made by the learned Counsel on behalf oftheApplicant/RP and perused therecord.

12.Section 33(2) of the Code enjoins the Adjudicating Authority to pass an order for liquidation of the Corporate Debtor where the resolution professional, at any time during the CIRP but before confirmation of the resolution plan, intimates the Adjudicating Authority of the decision of the CoC approved by not less than sixty-six percent of the voting share, to liquidate the Corporate Debtor. In the present case, the CoC has resolved by100%voting share toliquidatethe CorporateDebtor.

13.ThisBench, therefore, hereby orders as follows: - a. Prayers as sought for in I.A. (IB) No. 57/KB/2023 filed by Mr. Aneel Saraogi, RP of Bahula Infotech Private Limited, the Corporate Debtor, is allowed and the Corporate Debtor is ordered to be liquidated in terms of section 33(2) of the Code read with sub-section (1) thereof;

b. Ms. Rashmi Chhawchharia having Regn. No.IBBI/IPA-001/IP- P-02016/2020-2021/13148 having email address: rashmi.chhawchharia@gmail.com, is hereby appointed as Liquidatoras provided undersection 34(1)of theCode.

c. The Liquidator shall initiate liquidation process as envisaged under Chapter-III of the Code and the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India(Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016.

d. Public Notice shall be issued in the same newspapers in which advertisements were issued earlier, i.e., Financial Express (English) and Aajkaal (Bengali) (Kolkata edition), stating that the Corporate Debtoris in liquidation.

e. All the powers of the Board of Directors, and of key managerial persons, shall cease to exist in accordance with section 34(2) of the Code. All thesepowers shall henceforth vest intheLiquidator.

f. The personnel of the Corporate Debtor are directed to extend all assistance and co-operation to the Liquidator as required by him in managing theliquidation process oftheCorporate Debtor.

g. On initiation of the liquidation process but subject to section 52 of the Code, no suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Corporate Debtor save and except the liberty to the liquidator to institute suit or other legal proceeding on behalf of the Corporate Debtor with prior approval of this Adjudicating Authority, as provided in section 33(5) of the Code read with its proviso.

h. In accordance with section 33(7) of the Code, this liquidation order shall be deemed to be a notice of discharge to the officers, employees and workmen of the Corporate Debtor except to the extent of the business of the Corporate Debtor continued during the liquidationprocess bytheLiquidator.

i. In terms of section 33(1)(b)(iii), the Liquidator shall file a copy of this Order with the Registrar of Companies, West Bengal, Kolkata, within whose jurisdiction the Corporate Debtor is registered. Additionally, the Registry shall also forward a copy of this Order to theRegistrarof Companies, WestBengal, Kolkata.

14.The application bearing IA (IB) No. 57/KB/2023 shall stand disposed of in accordance withtheabove directions.

15.The Registry is directed to send e-mail copies of the order forthwith to all the parties and their Ld. Counsel for information and for taking necessary steps.

16.Certified copy of this order may be issued, if applied for, upon compliance ofall requisiteformalities.

17.List the main CP (IB) No. 197/KB/2021 for reporting progress on 10.10.2023.

(Balraj Joshi) (RohitKapoor) Member (Technical) Member (Judicial)

Signed onthis,the22ndday ofAugust, 2023.

M. Jana, PS

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