In the matter of Krishna Ferro Products Ltd.
- CitationCP (IB) No. 23/CTB/2019
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The Adjudicating Authority will admit an application under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 for initiation of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process where the operational debt is established by the corporate debtor's own written admission of the outstanding amount, made within the limitation period, and the corporate debtor has not shown any pre-existing dispute or made repayment before admission. A corporate debtor's written acknowledgement of an outstanding operational debt, given within the period of limitation, is treated as a subsisting admission of the debt, so that the application is within limitation and the debt is one the corporate debtor has conceded rather than disputed. Where an operational creditor's application is complete and the adjudicating authority is satisfied as to the debt and default, it may appoint a named insolvency professional as interim resolution professional, subject to there being no disciplinary proceedings pending against him, and may direct the operational creditor to deposit a sum with the interim resolution professional to meet the expenses of the resolution process.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
In the Matter of: An application under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 read with Rule 6 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2016;
-And-
In the Matter of: M/s Suraj Products Limited, having registered office at Barapali, P"O" Kesarrnal Rajgangpur, Sundargarh -770 017, Odisha.
.. Operational Creditor/Anplicant. .
-Versus- In the Matter of: I\[/s Krishna Ferro Products Ltd. having registered office at Mandiakudar Kansbahal Rajgangpur, OR - 770 034.
... Corporate Debtor/Respondent. .
Ed,. 5cl- I of9 Page I
Counsels appeared for the Petitioner (s) 1. Arani Guha, Adv.
Counsels appeared for the Respondent (s)
1. Minu Rohila, Pr. C.S.
Date of pronouncement of Orderz 4th day of October, 2019.
ORDER
Per: Ms. Sucharitha R. Member (J)
1. The application is filed by IWs Suraj Products Limited for initiation of "Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process" (CIRP) against IWs Krishan Ferro Product Limited. IWs Suraj Products Limited is a Company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 is represented herein by its Executive Director Mr. Gagan Goyal. The respondent IWs Krishna Ferro Products Limited is a Company registered underthe Companies Act, 1956.
2. The matter was posted for hearing on 31.07.2019. There were no representations from both the parties. Hence, the application was dismissed for non-prosecution. Subsequently, applicant filed Misc. Application No. 8llCTBl2019 for restoration of the Company Petition (CP)." The matter came up on 19th August, 20t9. Both the parties were present. The respondent had no objection to allow this petition for restoration. Hence, SJ. S& the Misc. Application No. 8llCTBl2019 is allowed, consequently CP (IB) 23 I CTBI 20 1 9 is restored.
The applicant submits that the applicant is involved in the business 3. of distribution and supplying of all kinds of cements. In the iourse of its business the applicant placed orders with the Corporate Debtor for supplying of "casting items" required for parquetting, MBF & DRI Plant. By Purchase Order dated 21.05.2018, the Operational Creditor had totally placed order to the tune of Rs. 1,53,08,000/- with the Corporate Debtor out of which materials yet to be supplied by Corporate Debtor is to the tune of Rs. 80,12,2961-. The Corporate Debtor was unable to honour his commitment towards the purchase order. Hence, the Corporate Debtor handed over refund of the money by way of cheque. However, the cheque bounced. The Operational Creditor submits that all the settlement talks have failed. The Corporate Debtor is unable to repay the mciney. Hence, the Corporate Debtor issued notice under Section 8 of Iniolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 dated 1L.02.2019. In spite of the notices, the Corporate Debtor did not repay the money.
4. The Corporate Debtor issued Cheque No. 2633 Og, dated2l.ll.zllz to the sum of Rs. 80,00,000/- (Eighty Lakhs only). By Letter dated 14ft October, 2016 applicant asked the Corporate Debtor for return of sum of sd- Scl. T
Rs. 80,12,0001-.In response to this Letter, the Corporate Debtor by Letter dated 10th November, 2016 had admitted the outstanding. Further, in the letter the Corporate Debtor has stated that "the account with the Financial Creditors have been classified as Non-Performing Asset OIPA)". Hence, the Corporate Debtor is unable to make payment. Since, the Corporate Debtor by Letter dated 10th November, 20t6 had acknowledge the outstanding dues to the Operational Creditor. The application is well within the period of limitation. The address of the Corporate Debtor is within the State of Orissa. Hence this Adjudicating Authority has jurisdiction.
5. The Corporate Debtor filed the affidavit-in-rep1y. Wherein they have stated in Paragraph 9 & 10, that due to financial difficulties they were unable to repay the amount to the Operational Creditor.
6. The applicant/Operational Creditor has not proposed the name of any IRP. In view of the same, this Adjudicating Authority appoints Mr. Chaitanya Kumar Ray residence of Ray Nayak & Associates Mig-26, - Manarama Estate,Bhubaneswar,Odisha 751010 having Begistration No.: and E-mail IBBI/IPA-O03/IP-N0003212017-18110260 Id.: cma.chaitarrya@yahoo.com There is nothing on record to show that any disciplinary proceeding is pending against the IRP. 7. In view ofthe above this Adjudicating Authority is incH]red to admit this application and accordingly initiate the process of "Corporate sd. Sd.
Insolvency Resolution Process" (CIRP) of respondent/Corporate Debtor by following Order.
ORDER
... I (i) The application filed by the Operational Creditor under Section 8 and 9 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy C.ode, 2016 is hereby admitted for initiating the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process against lWs Krishna Ferro Products Ltd. Moratorium Order is passed for a public announcement as stated in Sec.13 of the IBC, 20t6.
(ii) The moratorium is declared for the purposes referred to in Section 14 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The IRP shall cause a public announcement of the initiation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process and call for the submissron of claims under Sec.15. The public announcement referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code,2016 shall be made immediately.
(iii) Moratorium under Sec.14 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 prohibits the following: SoL sd. i a) The institution of suits or continuation of pending suits or proceedings against the Corporate Debtor including execution of any judgment, decree or order in any Court of law, Tribunal, Arbitration Panel or other authority; b) Transferring, encumbering, alienating or disposiirg of by the Corporate Debtor any of its assets or any legal right or beneficial interest therein; c) Any action to foreclose, recover or enforce any security interest created by the Corporate Debior in respect of its property including any action under the Securitizationand Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act,2002 (54 of2002); d) The recovery of any property by an owner or lessor where such property is occupied by or in possession of the corporate Debtor.
(iu) The supply of essential goods or services to the Corporate Debtor as may be specified shall not be terminated or suspended or intemrpted during the moratorium period. sd. SA (v) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to such transactions as may be notified by the Central Government in consultation with any financial sector regulator.
("i) The order of moratorium shall affect the date of admission till the completion of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process.
(vii) Provided that where at any time during th_. corporate insolvency resolution process period, if the Adjudicating Authority approves the resolution plan under sub-section (1) of Sec.31 or passes an order for liquidation of corporate debtor under Sec.33, the moratorium shall cease to have effect from the date of sich approval or liquidation order, as the case may be.
(viii) Necessary public announcement as per sec.15 -of the IBC, 2016 may be made by the Resolution Professional upon receipt of the copy of this order. (ix) Mr. chaitanya Kumar Ray residence of Ray Nayak & Associates Mig-26, Manarama Estate,Bhubaneswar,odisha rolo - 7 5 having Registration No.: IBBI/IPA-003/IP-N ooo3zl2olT - 18110260 and E-mail Id.: cma.chaitan),a@yahoo.com is appointed as Interim Resolution Professional registered with the ICSI F sd-sd-
Insolvency Professionals Agency for ascertaining the particulars of Creditors and convening a meeting of Committee of Creditors for evolving a Resolution Plan. (x) We direct the Operational Creditor to deposit a. sum of Rs. Two Lakh with Interim Resolution Professional to meet out the expenses to perform the functions assigned to him in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate O.Uto4 n gulations, 2016. The needful shall be done within three days from the date of receipt of this order by the operational Creditor. The amount, however, is subject to adjustment by the Committee ofCreditors as accounted for by Interim Resolution Professional and'shall be paid back to the Operational Creditor. (xi) Directions are also issued to the ex-management (o provide all documents in their possession and furnish every information in the knowledge within a period of one week from the date of admission of the petitioner to the IRP, otherwise coercive steps to follow.
(xii) The Interim Resolution Professional should convene a meeting of the Committee of Creditors and submit the resolution passed by the Committee of Creditors. CA JU[ of9 sJ- Page 8 \ (xiii) Registry is hereby directed to communicate the order under Section 9 (5) (i) of the I.B. Code,2016 to the Operational Creditor, Corporate Debtor and to the Interim Resolution Professional by Speed Post as well as through E-mail. Interim Resolution Professional to file 1't progress report on 07.11.2019. List the matter on 07.11.2019, Let the certified copy of the order be issued upon compliance with requisite formalities.
Signed on this, the 4th day of October, 201g.
Santosh P.S.
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