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Raman Raina Suspended Director Of ... vs Rakesh Sharma

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal28 March 2025Ashok Bhushan

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

Where the Adjudicating Authority has, after restoring a Section 9 application, heard the matter on merits with the Corporate Debtor's participation, the appellant's complaint about the restoration order, which is not itself under challenge in the appeal, is not a ground to interfere with the admission order. A corporate debtor's bare assertion of disputes over quality of goods and delay in delivery, unsupported by any correspondence and unanswered by a demand notice under Section 8, is not a pre-existing dispute, and the Adjudicating Authority was entitled to so hold. Whether the operational debt is paid or settled is a matter between the appellant and the operational creditor, and is not a ground for setting aside admission under Section 9; any settlement may be placed before the Committee of Creditors, and the operational creditor remains free to apply under Section 12A.

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

Judgment

As delivered

NATIONAL COMPANY LAW APPELLATE TRIBUNALPRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHICompany Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 2197 of 2024& I.A. No. 8125, 8243 of 2024

IN THE MATTER OF: Raman Raina, Suspended Director of Cosmospolis Interiors Pvt. Ltd. ...Appellant

Versus

Rakesh Sharma, Sole Proprietor on Behalf of Rakesh Trader & Anr. ...Respondents

Present: For Appellant : Mr. Prabhansh Sharma, Mr. Palash, Mr. Nagendra Singh, Advocates. For Respondents :

ORDER

(Hybrid Mode)

28.03.2025: This appeal has been filed against order passed by the

Adjudicating Authority dated 13.08.2024 by which order the Adjudicating

Authority has admitted Section 9 application.

2. Learned counsel for the Appellant submits that the application under

Section 9 was dismissed for non-prosecution and was revived on 31.08.2023

without any notice to the Appellant. He submits that he was not aware of the

revival although he was present in the Section 9 application when it was

heard. He further submits that payments were made to the Operational

Creditor and when the Appellant received complaints from clients then

payments were stopped. Learned counsel for the Appellant further submits

that now liquidation application is also pending for consideration.

Cont'd.../ 2

3. We have considered the submissions of learned counsel for the

Appellant and perused the record.

4. In so far as restoration of Section 9 application on 31.08.2023, the said

order is not subject matter of challenge in this appeal and application having

been restored, the Adjudicating Authority proceeded to hear the Section 9

application on merits with participation of the Corporate Debtor, hence, said

reason is not a reason to interfere with the order impugned.

5. In so far as submission of the Appellant that he stopped payment after

receiving complaints, the Adjudicating Authority has considered the defence

and in Para 13 of the order made following observations:

"13. The Corporate Debtor, in its reply, has raised some disputes concerning the quality of goods and delays in delivery. However, there is no correspondence provided to substantiate these disputes. In addition, the demand notice which was sent in accordance with section 8 of the Code has not been responded by the Corporate Debtor. The defence of dispute taken by Respondent appears to be a moonshine defence. Therefore, these disputes cannot be classified as pre-existing dispute exists between the parties."

6. Learned counsel for the Appellant lastly contended that Appellant is

ready to pay the amount which was claimed in the Part IV of the Section 9

application. We are of the view that in so far as payment to the Operational

Creditor is concerned that is matter of settlement between Appellant and the

Company Appeal (AT) (Ins.) No.2197 of 2024 3

Operational Creditor. In event Appellant is able to settle with the Operational

Creditor, proposal may be put before the CoC. It is always open for the

Operational Creditor to file Section 12A application before the Adjudicating

Authority. Subject to above liberty, we dismiss the appeal.

[Justice Ashok Bhushan] Chairperson

[Barun Mitra] Member (Technical)

[Arun Baroka] Member (Technical) Archana/nn

Company Appeal (AT) (Ins.) No.2197 of 2024

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