In the matter of Chirag Vyapaar Private Limited
- CitationIA(IBC)/663(KB)2022 in CP(IB)-306(KB)2020
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The Adjudicating Authority is bound to order liquidation of a corporate debtor under section 33(2) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, where the Resolution Professional intimates a decision of the Committee of Creditors, approved by not less than sixty-six per cent of the voting share, to liquidate the corporate debtor, and no discretion remains to refuse that order once the statutory condition is satisfied. Read together, section 33(1)(a) and section 33(2) of the Code leave the Adjudicating Authority no option but to order liquidation where the CoC has resolved by the requisite majority to liquidate the corporate debtor, and the Resolution Professional has so intimated.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
2. IA(IBC)/663(KB)2022 is an application filed by the Resolution Professional of Chirag Vyapaar Private Limited, the Corporate Debtor, on the ground that the Committee of Creditors (in short “CoC”) at its 2nd meeting held on 21/05/2022 has passed a Resolution with 100% voting share for liquidation of theCorporate Debtor. 3. This Adjudicating authority vide order dated 01/04/2022 in CP(IB)/306(KB)2020 had ordered initiation of CIRP against the Corporate Debtor and appointed Mr. Daulat Ram Jain as the Interim Resolution Professional. Public Announcement1 was published on 05/04/2022 one in “Business Standard” (English) and one in “Aajkal” (Bengali) and Committee of Creditors2 was duly constituted on 22/04/2022. CoC at its first meeting3 held on 28/04/2022 has confirmed the appointment of the Interim Resolution Professional as the Resolution Professional. 4. The CoC at its 2nd meeting held on 21/05/2022 has recommended liquidation of the Corporate Debtor with 100% voting share on the ground that the Corporate Debtor does not have any tangible assets, approving appointment of Resolution Professional as Liquidator. It has been further stated in the CoC minutes that the Corporate Debtor has accumulated losses of nearly Rs.5.02 Crores approx. as on 31/03/2022 against the Capital Account of Rs. 1.26 Crores as such the Valuation of Financial Assets is not desirable. CoC was also of the view that the Financial Assets valuation is of no use in the light of 1 Paragraph2atpage9oftheapplication 2 Paragraph3atpage9oftheapplication 3 Paragraph4atpage9oftheapplication
INTHENATIONALCOMPANYLAWTRIBUNAL KOLKATABENCH-II IA(IBC)/663/KB/2022 inCP(IB)/306(KB)2020
Negative Capital Account of the Corporate Debtor. A copy of the Minutes4 of the 2nd CoC meeting dated 21/05/2022 is annexed with the application as Annexure–“A” 5. The Resolution Professional has given his consent5 to act as a Liquidator of the Corporate Debtor along with his Authorisation of Assignment valid till 21/04/2023, copies whereof are annexed with the application as Annexure “B”. 6. Section 33(1)(a) of the Code mandates that the Adjudicating Authority shall pass an order of liquidation where no resolution plan is received before the expiry of the CIRP. Sub-section (2) thereof requires the Adjudicating Authority to pass the liquidation order where the Resolution Professional intimates to the Adjudicating Authority the decision of the Committee of Creditors approved by not less than 66% of the voting share to liquidate the Corporate Debtor. 7. Reading these two provisions together, this Adjudicating Authority is left with nooptionbut to order liquidationofthe CorporateDebtor. 8. ThisBench, therefore, hereby orders as follows: - a. IA(IBC)/663(KB)2022 filed by Mr. Daulat Ram Jain, RP of Chirag VyapaarPrivate 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 withsub-section (1) thereof; b. Mr. Daulat Ram Jain [Reg. No. IBBI/IPA-001/IP-P00945/2017- 18/11565], having e-mail i.d. daulatjain@rediffmail.com and mobile nos. +91 9830059845 and +91 7003198184 is hereby appointed as Liquidator as provided under section 34(1) of the Code, subject, however, to his possessing a valid Authorisation for Assignment (AFA) issued by the Insolvency 4 Annexure“A”atpages17to20oftheapplication 5Annexure“B”atpages21&22oftheapplication
INTHENATIONALCOMPANYLAWTRIBUNAL KOLKATABENCH-II IA(IBC)/663/KB/2022 inCP(IB)/306(KB)2020
Professional Agency (IPA) of which he is a professional member, in terms of regulation 7A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Professionals)Regulations, 2019. 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., “Business Standard” (English) and “Aajkal” (Bengali) of Kolkata edition of the said newspapers stating that the CorporateDebtor is inliquidation. e. All the powers of the Board of Directors, and of key managerial persons, shall cease to existin accordance with section 34(2) of the Code. All thesepowers shallhenceforth vest in theLiquidator. 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 Coderead 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 CorporateDebtor continued during the liquidation process bythe Liquidator. 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
INTHENATIONALCOMPANYLAWTRIBUNAL KOLKATABENCH-II IA(IBC)/663/KB/2022 inCP(IB)/306(KB)2020 jurisdiction the Corporate Debtor is registered. Additionally, the Registry shall also forward a copy of this Order to the Registrar of Companies, West Bengal,Kolkata. 9. The application bearing IA(IBC)/663(KB)2022 shall stand disposed of in accordance withtheabove directions. 10. CP(IB)/306(KB)2020 is to come up for filing of periodical report on 15/11/2022. 11. Acopy of thisorder shall also be senttotheIBBI for information. 12. The Registry is directed to send e-mail copies of the order forthwith to all the parties and theirLd.Counsel for information andfortaking necessary steps. 13. Certified Copy of this order may be issued, if applied for, upon compliance of all requisiteformalities.
BalrajJoshi RohitKapoor Member(Technical) Member (Judicial)
Signed onthis, the30thday ofAugust, 2022.
hb.
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