Miss Lucy
← All judgments

In the matter of Oxford Facilities Management

National Company Law Tribunal18 October 2023

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The Liquidator, upon appointment under Section 34 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, is entitled to take possession and custody of all assets of the Corporate Debtor for the purpose of forming the liquidation estate, and the Adjudicating Authority may direct a third party holding such assets, including a bank holding fixed deposit receipts of the Corporate Debtor, to release them to the Liquidator under Section 35(1)(n) read with Section 60(5) of the Code.

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

Judgment

As delivered

IN THE NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNAL KOLKATA BENCH (Court-II) KOLKATA IA (IB) No. 547/KB/2023 IN CP (IB) No.2084/KB/2019 An application under Section 60 (5) read with Section 35 (1) (n) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 along with Rule 11 of the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016. In the matter of: Avaani Oxford Owners Association … … Financial Creditor Versus Oxford Facilities Management … … Corporate Debtor And In the matter of: Ms. Sheh Maheswari, Liquidator of Oxford Facilities Management, having her place of profession at 9N, Block-A, New Alipore, Kolkata – 700053. … … Applicant/Liquidator Versus Branch Manager, Union Bank of India, Ballygunge Branch, 87, Rashbehari Avenue, Kolkata – 700026. … … Respondent

Date of Hearing: 15.09.2023 Date of Pronouncement of Order: 18.10.2023 CORAM: SMT. BIDISHA BANERJEE, HON’BLE MEMBER (JUDICIAL) SHRI ARVIND DEVANATHAN, HON’BLE MEMBER (TECHNICAL) Appearance (via video conferencing/physically) Mr. Arik Banerjee, Adv. ] For the Liquidator Mr. Sneh Maheswari ] Liquidator-in-Person Mr. Joy Saha, Sr. Adv. ] For the Financial Creditor Mr. Avishek Guha, Adv. ] Ms. Arunika Dutta, Adv. ] Mr. Mainak Bose, Adv. ] For Members of Suspended Board of Director Mr. Aniruddha Mitra, Adv. ] Mr. Dhilon Sengupta, Adv. ] Mr. Abhijit Nayak, Adv. ]

KOLKATA BENCH (Court-II) KOLKATA IA (IB) No. 547/KB/2023 IN CP (IB) No.2084/KB/2019

O R D E R

Per: Bidisha Banerjee, Member (Judicial)

1. Heard the learned Counsel for the parties. 2. This is an application under Section 60 (5) read with Section 35 (1) (n) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 along with Rule 11 of the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016. 3. An order of liquidation of Oxford Facilities Management, the Corporate Debtor, was passed by this Tribunal on 30.12.2022. By way of this application, the applicant/liquidator seeks direction upon the respondent to release the 30 FDRs towards liquidation estate, for effective liquidation of the Corporate Debtor, as the FDRs are the only assets of the Corporate Debtor. The direction is sought for in terms of Section 35 (1) (n) of IBC, 2016 as well as Section 60 (5) of IBC, 2016 read with inherent powers available to this Adjudicating Authority under Rule 11 of the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016. 4. It is submitted that as on date, the only asset of the company is 30 numbers of FDRs for a sum of Rs.3.70 crores approximately, on account of sinking fund and maintenance deposit received from the flat owners, lying with the respondent Union Bank of India. The fact that it is the only asset of the Financial Debtor has also been recorded by this Adjudicating Authority while passing its order on 30th December, 2022 by the applicant was appointed as Liquidator. 5. That the Liquidator has the right to take possession and custody of all the assets of the Corporate Debtor so that the liquidation estate can be formed for the purpose of effective liquidation of the Financial Debtor and liquidation estate is formed to liquidate the assets for the purpose of distribution of assets of the company in terms of Section 53 of IBC, 2016. 6. That the details of the FDRs from the Bank Account of the Corporate Debtor maintained with the respondent bank, shows that the total valuation of the FDRs as on 25th January, 2023 is Rs.3,68,34,520/- as evident from a copy of the Bank Statement

KOLKATA BENCH (Court-II) KOLKATA IA (IB) No. 547/KB/2023 IN CP (IB) No.2084/KB/2019 issued by the Bank Manager of the Union Bank of India, Ballygunge Branch annexed as Annexure “C”. 7. The list of 30 FDRs of the CD lying with the respondent Bank is depicted as follows:

Sl. Nos. FD Account Numbers 1. 6220100127623 2. 6220100127632 3. 6220100127641 4. 6220100127650 5. 6220100127669 6. 6220100127678 7. 6220100127687 8. 6220100127696 9. 6220100127702 10. 6220100127711 11. 6220100127720 12. 6220100127739 13. 6220100127748 14. 6220100127757 15. 6220100127766 16. 6220100127775 17. 6220100127784 18. 6220100127793 19. 6220100127809 20. 6220100127818 21. 6220100127827 22. 6220100127836 23. 6220100127845 24. 6220100127854 25. 6220100127401 26. 6220100093478 27. 6220100025237 28. 6220100025194 29. 6220100031672 30. 6220100052268

KOLKATA BENCH (Court-II) KOLKATA IA (IB) No. 547/KB/2023 IN CP (IB) No.2084/KB/2019

8. The details of the liquidation Bank Account of the company is as under: Name of the Bank Branch Address Account Number Union Bank of India Ballygunge Branch, 006211010000065 (e-Andhra Bank) 87, Rashbehari Avenue, Kolkata – 700026.

9. Such being the position, we allow the application directing the respondent Bank to release the 30 numbers of FDRs lying with the Bank in favour of the applicant, the details of which have been given in the letter dated 15th March, 2023 being Annexure “E” along with accrued interest, forthwith and preferably in 7 (seven) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 10. The Registry is directed to serve a copy of this order upon the Union Bank of India, Ballygunge Branch. 11. Accordingly, IA (IB) No. 547/KB/2023 is allowed and disposed of.

Arvind Devanathan Bidisha Banerjee Member (Technical) Member (Judicial)

This Order signed on this, the 18th day of October, 2023.

Sayon [Steno]

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