Superhard Research Centre ... vs Gautambhai Bhagvanbhai Sonani & Ors
- CitationCompany Appeal (AT) No. 169 of 2026
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The direction requiring an Independent Director to file a confidential report on the state of affairs of the company, made without any application by either party seeking such appointment or report and without cogent reasons stated in the impugned order, cannot be sustained and is set aside. Where a tribunal is to appoint an observer to a company's board or general meeting during the pendency of a petition, the observer may be permitted to attend and chair meetings without voting rights, with the board or meeting conducted in the presence of two directors from each contesting group, so that the company's governance proceeds while the dispute is pending.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
IN THE MATTER OF: Superhard Research Centre Pvt. Ltd. & Ors. ...Appellant (s)
Versus
Gautambhai Bhagvanbhai Sonani & Ors. ...Respondent (s)
Present: For Appellant (s) : Mr. Abhijeet Sinha, Sr. Adv., Mr. Anant Merathia, Mr. Saurabh Agrawal, Ms. Komal Mundhra, Mr. Ashutosh Singh Rana, Ms. Laxita Upadhyay, Mr. Surraj K.M., Advocates. For Respondent (s) : Mr. Kamal Kant Jha, Aishwarya Deep Singh, Ms. Aakriti, Adv.
ORDER
(Hybrid Mode)
13.05.2026: This appeal is against an impugned order dated
02.04.2026 passed by the Ld. National Company Law Tribunal, Ahmedabad
bench in Company Petition No. 34 of 2023. The appellant is aggrieved with
the fact (a) the Ld. NCLT has directed to provide all the documents
necessary, including the list of shareholders of the appellant company as on
31.03.2024 for the purpose of convening of the EoGM and the list of board of
Directors as on that date for the purpose of convening the meeting of the
board; (b) the appointment of Sh. Madan Bhalchandra Gosavi as an
Independent Director till the pendency of the main petition C.P. No. 34 of
2023 and (c) the Independent Director is to file a confidential report on the
state of affairs of the company.
-2-
2. Considering the fact there was no application moved by either party for
appointment of an Independent Director or requiring him to file a
confidential report as to the state of affairs of company, including allegations
made by the parties inter se, we are of the considered view that so far as the
direction qua filing of the confidential report is concerned, it needs to be set
aside, as even cogent reasons are not mentioned in the impugned order.
However, Sh. Madan Bhalchandra Gosavi may act as an Observer in the
board meetings, if at all it takes place prior to the disposal of the company
petition. In case of the board meeting or EoGM, if any, two Directors from
both the groups shall be present and the meeting shall be chaired by the
Observer, without voting right, though the appellant says they are not
inclined to conduct the EoGM.
3. We further request the Ld. NCLT, the company petition and also the
applications may be disposed of as expeditiously as possible, preferably
within two months as was our request in C.A (AT) No. 311 of 2025 passed on
08.01.2026.
4. With these observations, the appeal stands disposed of. Pending I.A. Nos. 3280 & 3281 of 2026 are also disposed of.
[Justice Yogesh Khanna] Member (Judicial)
[Mr. Ajai Das Mehrotra] Member (Technical) SA/rr
Company Appeal (AT) No. 169 of 2026
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