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Resolve Support Services Private ... vs Anuj Bajpai And Anr

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal27 February 2024Ashok Bhushan

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

Where a clause in a liquidation process document conflicts with the governing regulations, the regulation prevails over the clause. A challenge to an auction notice cannot be entertained at the instance of a party who was declared a qualified bidder but did not participate in the auction, particularly where the auction in respect of the relevant lot has already been held and the lot sold. A party aggrieved by a clause in the process document, such as a demand for non-refundable earnest money deposit, must challenge that clause before the Adjudicating Authority and obtain an appropriate order; it cannot raise that grievance for the first time in appeal from a non-participating position.

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

Judgment

As delivered

NATIONAL COMPANY LAW APPELLATE TRIBUNALPRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 431 of 2024 & I.A. No. 1641, 4163 of 2024

IN THE MATTER OF:

Resolve Support Services Pvt. Ltd. ...Appellant(s)

Versus

Anuj Bajpai, Liquidator Radiance Properties (India) ...Respondent(s) Pvt. Ltd. & Anr.

Present: For Appellant : Mr. Dhruv Gupta, Advocate with Mr. Vaibhav Mahajan, Advocate For Respondents : ORDER

(Hybrid Mode)

27.02.2024: Heard Learned Counsel for the Appellant.

2. This Appeal has been filed against the Order dated 12.12.2023 in I.A.

No. 4496/MB/2023 by which application, Appellant has prayed for following

reliefs:

"a) "That this Hon'ble Tribunal be pleased to issue an order quashing and setting aside the Notices dated 7th July 2023 and 14th September 2023 pertaining to the Sale of Assets of the Corporate Debtor, the E-Auction, and any subsequent Sales carried out under the said Notices;

b) That this Hon'ble Tribunal be pleased to issue an order to appoint an alternative, qualified insolvency Professional as the Liquidator of the Corporate Debtor, in lieu of the Respondent in this matter;

c) That this Hon'ble Tribunal be pleased to issue a directive to reconduct the E-Auction and that the Terms and Conditions governing the Sale of the Corporate 2

Debtor's Assets via E- Auction, as well as the Sale process itself, shall strictly adhere to the provisions of the law;

d) That this Hon'ble Tribunal be pleased to issue a directive to prohibit the Respondent from advancing with the E-Auction subsequent to the issuance of the Notice dated 07.07.2023 for the Sale of Corporate Debtor's Assets;

e) That this Hon'ble Tribunal be pleased to issue n direction to maintain the status quo in the Liquidation Process of the Corporate Debtor concerning the Sale of Corporate Debtor's Assets;

f) That this Hon'ble Tribunal be pleased to grand interim and ad- interim reliefs in terms of prayer clauses a), b),

c), d), and e).

g) That this Hon'ble Tribunal be pleased to pass such other and further orders as this Hon'ble Tribunal may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present case."

3. The Appellant's case is that Appellant was declared qualified bidder

however he could not participate since he was not given ample opportunity to

inspect the property and there were certain clauses in the process document

which was contrary to the regulations. He further submits that Appellant has

asked for seven days period for inspection but was given only one hour time

for inspection and non-refundable EMD was demanded.

4. The Adjudicating Authority by the Impugned Order has rejected the

Application holding that in third round of e-auction conducted by the

Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.431/2024 3

Respondent property lot-III as is specified in e-auction notice dated 07th July,

2023 also stands sold.

5. The grievance of the Appellant is that in the process document, the time

for payment was provided for 10 days whereas in the Schedule I, the time for

payment is for 90 days.

6. We have considered the submissions of Learned Counsel for the

Appellant and have perused the record.

7. Although Appellant was declared qualified bidder but he actually did

not participate in any of the auction held in pursuance of the auction notice.

In paragraph 10.4 of the Order, following finding has been returned by the

Adjudicating Authority:

"10.4. In the Third Round of E-Auction conducted by the Respondent, the property Lot III as specified in the E-Auction notice dated 07 '07 '2023 stands sold."

8. Auction having already held with regard to lot-III, challenge to auction

notice cannot be entertained.

9. In so far as the submission of the Appellant that in the process

document only 10 days time is allowed for making payment whereas

regulation provides for 90 days, it is well settled that in event of conflict

between a clause in the process document and the regulations, it is the

regulation which will override. The question of payment arises only when

auction is confirmed and when bidder is declared a successful bidder. It is

not the case of the Appellant that Appellant has been declared as Successful

Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.431/2024 4

Bidder and he has been asked to deposit within 10 days, Appellant having not

participated in the auction, we are of the view that at his instance the auction

notice has not rightly been quashed by the Adjudicating Authority.

10. In so far as the submission with regard to non-refundable EMD is

demanded, it was open for the Appellant to challenge the clause of process

document and obtain appropriate order from the Adjudicating Authority.

11. We are of the view that when date for auction is over and Appellant has

not participated in the auction, we are not inclined to entertain above

submissions in the present Appeal.

There is no merit in the Appeal, the Appeal is dismissed.

[Justice Ashok Bhushan] Chairperson

[Barun Mitra] Member (Technical)

[Arun Baroka] Member (Technical) Basant/nn

Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.431/2024

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