M/S Shital Fibres Ltd. vs M/S Indian Acrylics Ltd.

REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO. 1105 OF 2021 [Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.2353 of 2017]

SHITAL FIBERS LTD. ...APPELLANT(S)

VERSUS

INDIAN ACRYLICS LIMITED .... RESPONDENT(S)

JUDGMENT

B.R. GAVAI, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. The present appeal challenges the judgment and

order passed by the Division Bench of the Punjab &

Haryana High Court in Company Appeal No. 58 of 2015

dated 29.4.2016, arising out of the order passed by the Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by R Natarajan Date: 2021.04.06 17:16:59 IST Reason: 2

learned Company Judge of the said Court, in Company

Petition No.106 of 2009 dated 28.9.2015.

3. The facts, in brief, giving rise to the present

appeal are as under:

The respondent – M/s Indian Acrylics Limited is a

manufacturer of acrylic yarn having its manufacturing unit

in village Harkrishanpura, District Sangrur. There was a

transaction between the appellant – M/s Shital Fibers Ltd.

and the respondent ­ M/s Indian Acrylics Limited under

which the respondent was to supply acrylic yarn to the

appellant on credit basis. As per the said arrangement, the

supply of raw material commenced from 20.4.2007. The

respondent supplied material worth Rs.81,98,014.45. There

were certain issues raised by the appellant with regard to

the quality of the material supplied by the respondent. As

such, a sum of Rs. 6,22,073/­ was credited by the

respondent in the account of the appellant on account of

material returned and also a credit note of Rs.5,00,000/­

was given on account of some defect in quality. As per the

respondent, appellant had made a payment of 3

Rs.61,83,218/­. However, there was an outstanding

balance of Rs.8,92,723/­ as on 28.7.2008. Since despite

repeated requests, balance amount was not paid, the

respondent issued a statutory notice to the appellant. The

same was duly responded to. As the payment was not made

despite notice being duly served on the appellant, the

respondent filed the aforesaid Company Petition seeking

winding up of the present appellant for its inability to pay

admitted debts. The learned Company Judge vide order

dated 28.9.2015 admitted the Company Petition. However,

while doing so, the learned Company Judge observed, that

since the appellant was an on­going concern, an

opportunity should be granted to it to settle the accounts

with the respondent by 31.12.2015. Only in case of failure

of the settlement, the citation was directed to be published.

Being aggrieved thereby, the appellant preferred

an appeal before the Division Bench of the High Court. By

an order dated 24.12.2015, the Division Bench of the High

Court, while issuing notice, stayed the publication of the

admission notice, subject to the appellant paying the 4

amount in question by 31.12.2015. Accordingly, the

amount was so paid by the appellant.

Though the Division Bench of the High Court

came to a conclusion, that there was no bona fide dispute

and as such, there was no question of directing the

respondent to repay the amount, since the appellant had

satisfied the respondent’s claim to the extent mentioned in

the order impugned in the appeal, it dismissed the appeal.

However, insofar as the claim of the respondent

with regard to interest at the rate of 24% per annum is

concerned, the Division Bench of the High Court found it

not necessary to enter into the question, as to whether the

appellant was liable to pay interest to the respondent since

the learned Company Judge had not gone into that issue.

However, the Division Bench clarified, that the dismissal of

the appeal was without prejudice to the respondent’s

contention regarding interest which may be claimed either

by way of an application for clarification before the learned

Judge or by way of an appeal or by any other proceeding.

Being aggrieved thereby, the present appeal.

5 4. Shri Karan Nehra, learned counsel appearing on

behalf of the appellant submits, that the defence of the

appellant was a bona fide one. He submitted, that it was a

specific case of the appellant, that on account of the

defective material supplied by the respondent, the appellant

had suffered huge losses and as such, it was the appellant

who was entitled to receive the damages from the

respondent. He submitted, that in view of the specific

defence, which could not be said to be a moonshine defence,

the learned Company Judge ought not to have admitted the

Company Petition. He submitted, that the claim of the

respondent could not stand even if it was made in summary

proceedings under Order XXXVII of the Code of Civil

Procedure, 1908. He submitted, that requirements under

Section 433(e) and (f) of the Companies Act, 1956

(hereinafter referred to as “the said Act”) stood on a much

higher pedestal and as such, the learned Company Judge

has erred in admitting the petition. He submitted, for the 6

same reason, the Division Bench has also erred in not

interfering with the direction of the learned Company Judge.

5. Shri Nehra further submitted, that since there

was no agreement between the parties to pay interest on the

balance/delayed payment, the direction issued by the

Division Bench of the High Court to consider the claim of

the respondent for interest does not stand the scrutiny of

law.

6. Shri Nehra relies on the judgments of this Court

in Mediquip Systems (P) Ltd. vs. Proxima Medical

System Gmbh1, Vijay Industries vs. NATL Technologies

Ltd.2, and IBA Health (India) Private Limited vs. Info­

Drive Systems Sdn. Bhd.3.

7. Shri Tarun Gupta, learned counsel appearing on

behalf of the respondent submits, that since the appellant,

in spite of various communications sent by the respondent

requesting it to pay the outstanding amount, had failed to

do so, it was required to issue statutory demand notice

under Section 434 read with Section 433 (e) of the said Act.

1 (2005) 7 SCC 42 2 (2009) 3 SCC 527 3 (2010) 10 SCC 553 7

It is submitted, that the said notice was duly served upon

the appellant and also replied to. Apart from making a

vague denial and stating that the claim of the respondent is

a matter of record, no specific defence was taken. He

further submits, that the appellant had totally changed the

stand taken by it before the learned Company Court as

against the stand taken by it in the reply to the statutory

notice. He therefore submits, that the learned Company

Judge as well as the Division Bench of the High Court had

rightly held, that the defence of the appellant was not a

bona fide one. He submitted, that no interference would be

warranted in the concurrent findings of fact.

8. This Court in the case of Madhusudan

Gordhandas & Co. vs. Madhu Woollen Industries Pvt.

Ltd.4, observed thus:

“20. Two rules are well settled. First, if the debt is bona fide disputed and the defence is a substantial one, the court will not wind up the company. The court has dismissed a petition for winding up where the creditor claimed a sum for goods sold to the company and the 4 (1971) 3 SCC 632 8

company contended that no price had been agreed upon and the sum demanded by the creditor was unreasonable. (See London and Paris Banking Corporation [(1874) LR 19 Eq 444] ) Again, a petition for winding up by a creditor who claimed payment of an agreed sum for work done for the company when the company contended that the work had not been properly was not allowed. (See Re. Brighton Club and Horfold Hotel Co. Ltd. [(1865) 35 Beav 204])

21. Where the debt is undisputed the court will not act upon a defence that the company has the ability to pay the debt but the company chooses not to pay that particular debt, see Re. A Company. [94 SJ 369] Where however there is no doubt that the company owes the creditor a debt entitling him to a winding up order but the exact amount of the debt is disputed the court will make a winding up order without requiring the creditor to quantify the debt precisely See Re Tweeds Garages Ltd. [1962 Ch 406] The principles on which the court acts are first that the defence of the company is in good faith and one of substance, secondly, the defence is likely to succeed in point of law and thirdly the company adduces prima facie proof of the facts on which the defence depends.” 9

9. It is therefore well settled, that if the debt is bona

fide disputed and the defence is a substantial one, the court

will not wind up the company. It is equally well settled, that

where the debt is undisputed, the court will not act upon a

defence that the company has the ability to pay the debt but

the company chooses not to pay that particular debt. It is

equally settled, that the principles on which the court acts

are first, that the defence of the company is in good faith

and one of substance, secondly, the defence is likely to

succeed in point of law and thirdly the company adduces

prima facie proof of the facts on which the defence depends.

10. As to whether the defence of a Company is in

good faith or as to whether it is of a substance and as to

whether it is likely to succeed in point of law and as to

whether the company adduces prima facie proof of the facts

on which defence depends, would depend upon the facts of

each case.

11. In the present case, in the statutory notice dated

25.8.2008, the respondent – Company has specifically

stated as under:

10

“4. That in that regard a sum of Rs.35,14,776.30 was outstanding against you against various bills as on 25.8.2007 against the material supplied to you by my client, vide following invoices:

S.No. Invoice Date Amount (Rs.) No.

1 162 26.6.07 8,55,370.65

2 177 30.6.07 8,66,788.29

3 216 16.7.07 9,07,891.19

4 300 25.8.07 8,84,726.17

Total 35,14,776.30

5. That after the said invoices no material has been supplied to you by my client and the above amount of Rs.35,14,776.30 was payable by you to my client. My client requested to you vide various communications dated 16.11.07, 22.11.07, 23.11.07, 26.11.07, 27.11.07, 28.11.07, 26.11.07, 1.12.07, 3.12.2007, 5.12.2007, 6.12.2007, 7.12.2007, 8.12.2007, 10.12.2007, 11.12.2007, 12.12.2007, 13.12.2007, 15.12.2007, 17.12.2007 and 21.12.2007 to pay the above said outstanding amount.

6. That in response to the above letters/faxes no communications 11

have been received from you by my client rather you made lumpsum payments of Rs.15 lac through cheques, material returned by you worth Rs.6,22,073.00 and adjustment of Rs.5 lac was made by way of credit note. The details of which are as follows:

S.No. Date Particulars Amount (Rs.)

1 29.9.07 Material 6,22,073.00 returned

2 21.3.08 Chq. No. 4,00,000.00 935641/ 20.3.08

3 4.4.08 Chq. No. 6,00,000.00 935692/ 31.3.08

4 7.5.08 Credit 5,00,000.00 Note

5. 8.5.08 Chq. No. 5,00,000.00 990459/ 7.5.08

26,22,073.00

The total amount remains recoverable by my client from you is Rs.8,92,723.45p (8,92,703.30 + 20.15) as on 8.5.2008 after receipt/credit of the above amounts of Rs.26,22,073.00 as mentioned above.” 12

12. In reply to the said notice, the appellant has

stated thus:

“4. In reply to para no.4 of your notice, it is a matter of records and it clearly shows about the business worth of my client.

5. In reply to para no.5 of your notice, it is a matter of record. However, there is nothing due to your client from my client, rather on the contrary is true as mentioned in previous paras.

6. Para no.6 of the notice is not correct and does not depict the correct picture, rather on the contrary your client himself had been coming to my client and settled the amount and agreed to return Rs. 25 Lacs out of which Rs.5 lacs returned, rest of the amount was not returned.

7. Para no.7 of your notice is wrong and incorrect. Detailed reply has already been given in previous paras.”

13. It is thus clear, that in response to paragraph 4

and 5 wherein the respondent has specified its claim, the

only reply given is, that it is a matter of record and that it

shows about the business worth of his client. No doubt, that

in paragraph 6, it is stated, that the respondent had himself 13

been coming to the appellant and settled the amount and

agreed to return Rs.25 lakh out of which only Rs. 5 lakh

was returned.

14. From the perusal of the written statement filed to

the Company Petition, it would reveal, that the main

contention of the appellant was, that it was a running

company making profits and further, that the claim of the

respondent was not admitted by it. It was contended, that

the petition was filed only to pressurise the appellant to pay

the dues which were neither admitted nor legally due.

15. It was also stated in the written statement that

till 26.6.2007 there was no issue with regard to supply of

raw material by the respondent. However, with effect from

26.6.2007 it was noticed, that raw material supplied was

defective and the goods which were sold in the market

utilizing the said raw material were received back with some

complaints. It was stated, that the goods which were

supplied by the respondent vide invoices dated 26.6.2007

onwards were defective and the products manufactured by

the appellant – company using the said raw material (i.e. 14

acrylic yarn) were returned by the dealers and importers

due to defective quality. It was stated, that the appellant –

Company had returned the defective raw material to the

respondent – Company, which remained unused. It was

stated, that the respondent had acknowledged the same and

credited an amount of Rs.6,22,073/­ in the account of the

appellant. It is further stated, that after various meetings

and negotiations, the respondent agreed to compensate the

appellant on account of supply of defective material by

issuing a credit note of Rs.5 lakh. It was further stated,

that as per the account of the appellant, an amount of

Rs.53,648/­ was receivable from the respondent after

making all the adjustments.

16. The learned Company Judge after considering the

rival contentions observed thus:

“8. There is no document referred to by learned counsel for the respondent – Company written by it to the petitioner – Company regarding defect in quality. In response to the statutory notice issued by the petitioner – Company, the stand taken by the respondent – company in reply was that raw material worth Rs.25,00,000/­ supplied by the 15

petitioner – Company to the respondent – company was lying with it in poor condition and could not be used in production. Against promised compensation of Rs.25,00,000/­, credit note of only Rs.5,00,000/­ was given. As against a claim of Rs.8,92,723/­ claimed by the petitioner, a sum of Rs.11,07,297/­ is due from the petitioner – company to the respondent – company on account of losses suffered due to poor quality of yarn supplied. Demand of the aforesaid amount was raised. In reply to the petition, the stand taken is altogether different. No doubt, the issue regarding defective material was raised, however, it was stated that the entire material supplied by the petitioner – company was used, as a result of which the product was defective, which was not marketable and on that account, the respondent – company suffered losses. The products were sold in the market, which were returned back. No communication has been referred to, which was addressed by the respondent – company to the petitioner – company, pointing out such defects. It was further sought to be claimed that after giving credit note of Rs.5,00,000/­ in May, 2008, the petitioner – company agreed to give rebate to the extent of 50% on the total invoices on account of the 16

defective material. The calculations were made in the following terms.

Inv. No.162 Rs.8,55,370.65 Inv. No.177 Rs.8,66,788.29 Inv. No.216 Rs.9,07,891.19 Inv. No.300 Rs.8,84,726.17 Total : Rs.35,14,776.3 0 Less: Goods Rs. 6,22,073.00 returned

Balance Rs.28,92,703.3 0 Less: 50% Rs.14,46,351.3 Rebate 0 Balance payable Rs.14,46,352.0 0 Already paid Rs.15,00,000.00 Excess paid: Rs. 53,648.00 ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

9. From the aforesaid calculations, it is evident that now the stand is that the respondent­ company is to recover a sum of Rs.53,648/­ from the petitioner – company, whereas in reply to the notice, the claim was to the tune of Rs.11,07,297/­. It is further relevant to add here that in reply to the petition, the story that settlement between the parties had taken place in May, 2008 regarding rebate on the invoice value is merely 17

an after thought just to defeat the petition, as no such plea was taken when reply to the statutory notice was given in September, 2008.

10. In view of the aforesaid discussion, I do not find that the defence raised by the respondent – company is reasonable as the debt cannot be said to be disputed, which has not been paid despite statutory notice and even pendency of the present petition in this court for a period of about six years. Hence, the petition deserves to be admitted. Ordered accordingly.”

17. It could thus be seen, that the learned Company

Judge has found, that the defence taken by the appellant

with regard to the products of the respondent being

defective in quality was by way of an after­thought,

inasmuch as, no document was placed on record in support

of such contention. It was further found, that whereas in

reply to the notice the appellant had claimed, that it was

entitled to recover an amount of Rs.11,07,297/­, in the

calculations given in written statement, the amount is

Rs.53,648/­.

18

18. This finding of fact is affirmed by the Division

Bench of the High Court with following observations:

“7. The contention is not well­founded.

We see no reason to draw such an inference. Indeed, the grant of credit would also indicate that the respondent fairly acknowledged the defects when there were any and that the rest of the consignment met with the contractual specifications. It is necessary, therefore, to examine the other surrounding facts and circumstances to judge the rival contentions.

8. Firstly, when the appellant raised a dispute about the quality and the same was acknowledged by the respondent it was reflected in its conduct by the grant of credit. It is reasonable to presume that if there were any other defects and, in any event, if the appellant’s case was that the goods were defective, it would have recorded the same in some manner or the other. The appellant, however, contends that the discussions in this regard were only oral. In the facts of this case it is difficult to accept this contention.

The appellant’s case has varied between its reply to the statutory notice and its written statement.

The respondent served a statutory notice dated 25.08.2008.

The appellant’s reply dated 19

10.09.2008 to the statutory notice does not refer to an oral agreement much less an agreement by the respondent to pay the appellant compensation for the alleged defective goods. This belies the defence now raised in the reply.

9. There is yet another fact which clearly disentitles the appellant to any credit in respect of the balance goods. The appellant, admittedly, retained the goods and, in fact, used the goods, namely, synthetic yarn, in the manufacture of its products, such as blankets. Having done so, the appellant cannot refuse to pay for the same. If the goods were defective, the appellant ought to have rejected the same. Having utilised the raw material supplied by the respondent, it is now not even possible for the appellant to return the same to the respondent.

Moreover, the appellant nowhere raised the contention that its customer, who purchased the final product, raised grievance regarding the quality of the product. Moreover, the appellant has not furnished any details regarding its transactions with its customers involving the sale of goods manufactured from the raw material supplied by the respondent. There is nothing to indicate that the appellant suffered any damages on 20

account thereof or that the appellant was not paid for the same.

10. In these circumstances, the learned judge rightly rejected the appellant’s contentions. In our opinion, there is no bona fide dispute raised by the appellant in respect of the respondent’s claim.”

19. It is thus amply clear, that both the learned

Company Judge as well as the Division Bench upon

appreciation of the materials placed on record have found,

that the defence as sought to be raised by the appellant with

regard to the quality of the material supplied by the

respondent being defective was by way of an after­thought.

The Division Bench found, that when the appellant raised a

dispute about the quality, the same was acknowledged by

the respondent and it was reflected in its conduct by the

grant of credit. It observed, that the respondent had fairly

acknowledged the defects when there were any and it was

reasonable to presume, that if there were any other defects,

it would have recorded the same in some manner or the

other. The Division Bench further found, that it was 21

difficult to accept the case of the appellant, that the

discussions with regard to defective material were only oral.

It further found, that in the reply to the statutory notice

there were no mention at all with regard to oral agreement.

The Division Bench further found, that the contention of the

appellant, that the goods manufactured utilizing the

defective raw material supplied by the respondent being

returned by the dealers and thereby the appellant suffered

any damages, was also not supported by any document.

20. It was concurrently found, that the defence of the

appellant was not bona fide one nor a substantial one. On

facts, it was also found, that the appellant had taken

contradictory stand in order to defeat the claim of the

respondent. It was also concurrently found, that the

appellant had failed to adduce prima facie proof of facts

contented by it.

21. Insofar as the contention of the appellant, that

the appellant was an on­going Company running into profits

and that the claim of the respondent was not admitted by it,

is concerned, it is not a requirement in law. Reliance in this 22

respect could be placed on various judgments of this Court

including the one in the case of Vijay Industries (supra).

22. Insofar as the reliance placed by the learned

counsel for the appellant on the judgment of this Court in

the case of Mediquip Systems (P) Ltd. (supra) is concerned,

in the said case this Court came to a finding, that there was

a bona fide dispute concerning the claim of the appellant. It

was also found, that there was no clear cut finding by the

learned single judge, that a debt is prima facie due and

payable by the Company to the petitioning creditor. It was

further found, that the company court had no jurisdiction to

direct the company to deposit the amount payable to a third

party or to a party other than the petitioning creditor. As

such, on facts, the said judgment would not be applicable to

the facts of the present case.

23. In the case of Vijay Industries (supra) relied by

the appellant, the learned single judge after finding, that a

prima facie case has been made out, admitted the company

petition. However, in appeal, the Division Bench set aside 23

the order of the learned single judge. This Court while

setting aside the order of the Division Bench observed thus:

“41. In the present case, on the date of filing of the application, dues in respect of at least a part of the debt which was more than the amount specified in Section 433 [sic Section 434(1)(a)] of the Companies Act was not denied. It is not a requirement of the law that the entire debt must be definite and certain. The Division Bench of the High Court proceeded on the basis that the entire sum covering both the principal and the interest must be undisputed, holding:

“Except making a bald allegation in the company petition that the petitioner had come to know that the respondent Company owes large sums of money to its creditors and it is not in a position to meet its debt obligations and as, therefore, become commercially insolvent, the petitioner has not taken necessary care to prima facie establish the same. The only piece of evidence available on the side of the petitioner is that the respondent is indebted to the petitioner a sum which is claimed towards interest on the delayed payment. Assuming for a moment that the respondent Company is liable to pay interest on the delayed payments and it has not paid the said amount to the 24

petitioner, could it be said that the respondent neglected to pay the debt, particularly when the respondent is disputing the liability of payment of interest on the delayed payments and when there is no such written agreement in between the parties for such payment of interest.”

42. The Division Bench upon noticing the facts of the matter formulated the question “as to whether the respondent is liable to pay interest at 2% per month on delayed payments and when that is being disputed would it constitute prima facie a valid ground for admission of the company petition?” It was held:

“… The petitioner seeks to rely upon the invoices which according to him contain at the foot a clause for payment of interest on delayed payments. Such a clause, even assuming is there, since it has not been placed by means of any cogent evidence in this case, in view of the judgment of the Rajasthan High Court in Kitply Industries case [(1998) 91 Comp Cas 715 (Raj)] , cannot constitute an agreement between the parties for payment of interest. The legal position, thus, seems to be obvious. Before seeking a company to be wound up on the ground that it is unable to pay its debts, it must be shown before the 25

Court that the debt claimed against the company is ascertained and definite and that the company failed to pay the same. Mere failure to pay the amount would not constitute the requisite ‘neglect to pay’ as envisaged under clause (a) of sub­ section (1) of Section 434 of the Act when the company bona fide disputes the very liability and hence the defence taken up by it is of substance.”

It was furthermore held:

“Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the instant case, we are of the considered view that the claim of the petitioner towards interest on delayed payments since not covered by any specific agreement between the parties inter se is a contentious issue and the dispute as regards the payment of interest is bona fide and it cannot, therefore, legitimately be concluded that the respondent has neglected to pay. The petitioner, who pleaded inter alia in his petition that as per the trade practice payments made shall be adjusted towards interest first and balance, if any, shall be adjusted towards principal later, failed to establish the same by any prima facie evidence. In the absence of any such trade practice, 26

appropriating the amounts towards interest first and the balance, if any towards principal next becomes inappropriate, in which event the claim of the petitioner that the respondent is liable to pay Rs 65,15,947 basing upon such calculations cannot be accurate. The total amount claimed by the petitioner as due in that view of the matter becomes doubtful and not definite. It is still got to be ascertained if the claim of the respondent were to be considered that there has been no agreement for payment of interest on delayed payments. For the above reasons, it cannot be presumed prima facie that the respondent is unable to pay its debts.”

43. The findings of the High Court, with respect, are not correct for more than one reason; firstly, because the Division Bench did not hold that the invoices were not proved by cogent evidence; secondly, question of leading evidence would arise only after the company petition is admitted and, thirdly, issuance of invoices and signature of the respondent thereon is not disputed.” 27

After observing the aforesaid, this Court further

held, that the appellant was also entitled to the payment of

interest.

24. It can thus clearly be seen, that this Court had

clearly held, that it is not necessary while admitting the

petition to establish that the entire claim is undisputed. We

fail to understand, as to how the said judgment of this

Court in Vijay Industries (supra) would be applicable to the

facts of the present case. As a matter of fact, in the said

case, this Court on consideration of the invoices had come

to a conclusion, that the appellant was also entitled for the

interest on delayed payment.

25. In the present case, the Division Bench has not

issued a direction to grant the interest as claimed by the

respondent. On the contrary, it has declined to enter into

the question, as to whether the appellant was also liable to

pay the interest since the learned company judge had not

referred to the said issue. The Division Bench therefore,

while dismissing the appeal, has done so without prejudice

to the respondent’s contention regarding interest which may 28

be claimed either by way of an application for clarification

before the learned judge or by way of an appeal or by any

other proceeding.

26. We find, that the judgment of this Court in the

case of IBA Health (India) Private Limited (supra) would

also not be applicable to the facts of the present case. In

the said case, it will be relevant to refer to the following

observations of this Court.

“29. On a detailed analysis of the various terms and conditions incorporated in the deed of settlement as well as the compromise deed and the averments made by the parties, we are of the considered view that there is a bona fide dispute with regard to the amount of claim made by the respondent Company in the company petition which is substantial in nature. The Company Court while exercising its powers under Sections 433 and 434 of the Companies Act, 1956 would not be in a position to decide who was at fault in not complying with the terms and conditions of the deed of settlement and the compromise deed which calls for detailed investigation of facts and examination of evidence and calls for interpretation of the various terms and conditions of the deed of settlement and the compromise entered into between the parties.” 29

27. This Court held, that the company court while

exercising its powers under sections 433 and 434 of the

Companies Act would not be in a position to decide, as to

who was at fault in not complying with the terms and

conditions of the deed of settlement and the compromise

deed. It was found, that in the said case, a detailed

investigation of facts and examination of evidence and

interpretation of various terms and conditions of the deed of

settlement and the compromise entered into between the

parties was necessary in adjudicating the claim, which

could not be done in the proceedings under Section 434 of

the said Act. In the said case, it was also noticed, that the

claim was in respect of contingent debt and that the

disputes between the parties had been compromised in

terms of settlement deed.

28. Such is not the case here. On facts, the learned

Company Judge as well as the Division bench have found,

that the defence of the appellant could not be said to be

bona fide, in good faith and of substance. 30

29. We are therefore of the considered view, that

there is no merit in the appeal. The same is accordingly

dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Pending

applications, if any, shall stand disposed of.

…….…....................., J.

[R.F. NARIMAN]

…….…....................., J.

[B.R. GAVAI]

…….…....................., J.

[HRISHIKESH ROY]

NEW DELHI;

APRIL 06, 2021