M.M.T.C Limited vs B D Overseas And Fiscal Services Limited ...
- CitationCompany Appeal (AT) (Ins) No. 2170 of 2024
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The ratio of this order rests on the following points, in the order the Tribunal takes them: A challenge to an approved resolution plan cannot be entertained in an application before the National Company Law Tribunal under Section 60(5)(c) of the IBC; the proper remedy is an appeal to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. A creditor who does not file its claim with the Resolution Professional within the date fixed in the Form A publication, and who does not apply for condonation of that delay, cannot have its claim admitted by the Adjudicating Authority merely because no individual notice of the claims invitation was given to it. Regulation 6A of the IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 does not apply to a claim-filing default where the Regulation came into force after the relevant period; a party cannot rely on it for a period preceding its commencement.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
IN THE MATTER OF: M.M.T. Ltd. ...Appellant (s)
Versus
BD Overseas and Fiscal Services Ltd. & Ors. ...Respondent (s)
Present: For Appellant (s) : Mr. Jyoti Kr. Chaudhary, Ms. Tejaswini Chandrasekhar, Mr. Jatin Chaddha, Ms. Sanskruti Jinwal, Ms. Sunidi, Advocates. For Respondent (s) :
ORDER
(Hybrid Mode)
15.05.2026: This appeal is against an impugned order dated
02.09.2024 passed by the Ld. National Company Law Tribunal, Ahmedabad
in CP (IB) No. 203 of 2019 filed by the appellant herein under Section 60(5)(C)
IBC, 2016 r/w Rule 11 of NCLT rules, 2016 wherein I.A. No. 402 of 2023 was
dismissed. The applicant sought the following prayers in the said I.A:
"a) This Hon'ble Tribunal may kindly be pleased to allow the present application;
b) This Hon'ble Tribunal may kindly be pleased to set aside the Resolution Plan filed by M/s Steel Cube India, LLP approved vide order dated 20.9.2022 in IA/954/2020 in CP (IB) 203 of 2019 and further direct the Resolution Professional of BD Overseas to consider the claim of the Applicant.
c) Pending hearing, admission and final disposal of the present application this Hon'ble Tribunal may be pleased to stay the implementation of the Resolution Plan filed by M/s Steel Cube
Cont'd.../ -2-
India, LLP approved vide order dated 20.9.2022 in IA/954/2020 in CP (IB) 203 of 2019.
d) This Hon'ble Tribunal may kindly pass an order admitting the claim of the Applicant of Rs.2,16,22,292/- (Rupees Two Cores Sixteen Lacs Twenty-Two Thousand Two Hundred Ninety-Two only) plus interest @13.75% per annum.
e) That this Hon'ble Tribunal be pleased to allow the present application"
2. We have heard the arguments and gone through the impugned order.
The appellant seeks to challenge the approval order vide application bearing
I.A. No. 402 of 2023 as also sought admission of its claim of
Rs.2,16,22,292/-. Qua the prayer of setting aside of the approval order of the
resolution plan, the Ld. NCLT held it is not the appropriate forum to grant
such prayer and the appellant ought to have file an appeal before this
Tribunal. We agree to this.
3. Qua admission of claims, we have perused the paragraph 9 of the
impugned order as under:
"9. We have heard both the sides and have perused the records produced before us. CIRP commenced vide order dated 20.01.2020. Form A was published by the RP in Economic Times and Loksatta Jansatta and the last date to file claim was 26.02.2020. Apparently, the Applicant herein has never flied any claim before the RP. Further, no application was filed by the Applicant herein seeking condonation of delay in filing the claim before the RP."
Company Appeal (AT) (Ins) No. 2170 of 2024 -3-
4. Admittedly, Form-A was published by the Resolution Professional in
two newspapers and the last date of filing of the claim was 26.02.2020. The
appellant has never filed its claim before the Resolution Professional and
even did not file any application before the Ld. NCLT for condonation of delay
in filing its claim before the Resolution Professional.
5. The main thrust of argument of the Ld. Counsel for the appellant
before us is no individual notice was given to the appellant and hence, the
appellant was not made aware of invitation of claims by the Resolution
Professional, hence it failed to file claim in time. Admittedly the Appellant did
not file any application for condonation of delay either.
6. Reference is made by the appellant counsel to Regulation 6A of the
IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations,
2016 but such Regulation 6A came into force only on 16.09.2022, hence, the
appellant cannot get its benefit thereof.
7. Considering the submissions, we find no illegality in the impugned
order. The appeal is devoid of merits and accordingly is dismissed. Pending
I.A. Nos. 8047, 8105, 8106, 8107 of 2024 are also disposed of.
[Justice Yogesh Khanna] Member (Judicial)
[Mr. Indevar Pandey] Member (Technical) SA/rr
Company Appeal (AT) (Ins) No. 2170 of 2024
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