Supreme Court of India
BANK OF BARODA & ANRversusMBL INFRASTRUCTURES LIMITED & ORS.
- Citation
- 2022 INSC 53
- Decided
- 18 January 2022
- Disposal
- Disposed off
- Bench
- SANJAY KISHAN KAUL
Holding
A person who has executed an enforceable guarantee that has been invoked by a creditor in a corporate insolvency resolution process is ineligible to be a resolution applicant under Section 29A(h), and the disqualification attaches at the time the resolution plan is submitted.
Summary
The Supreme Court examined the scope of Section 29A(h) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, which bars persons who have executed an enforceable guarantee that has been invoked by a creditor from being a resolution applicant. The Court held that the disqualification arises when the guarantee is invoked, applies to all similarly placed creditors, and attaches at the time a resolution plan is submitted. It found that the promoter of MBL Infrastructures Ltd had personal guarantees invoked by three creditors, rendering him ineligible to submit a plan, but upheld the plan on the facts because it had already been approved by the Committee of Creditors and the corporate debtor was operating successfully. The appeal was therefore dismissed and the proceedings closed.
Issues considered
- The proper interpretation and temporal scope of Section 29A(h) of the IBC – when does the disqualification attach?
- Whether execution of a personal guarantee that is invoked by any creditor disqualifies the guarantor from being a resolution applicant.
- Whether the disqualification under s.29A(h) applies only to the invoking creditor or to all creditors of the same class.
- Whether the adjudicating authority's earlier finding of eligibility can be revisited in view of the amendment to s.29A(h).
- Whether the limitation provisions of Section 12(3) of the IBC apply to the present proceedings.
- Whether a resolution plan submitted by an ineligible applicant can be set aside despite subsequent approval by the CoC.
Legislation cited
- Banking Regulation Act, 1949
- Companies Act, 2013
- Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016s. 12(3), s. 14, s. 29A(c), s. 29A(h), s. 30(4), s. 31(1), s. 53(1), s. 7
- Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002s. 13(2)
Subjects
insolvencybankruptcysection 29Apersonal guaranteeresolution applicant eligibilitycorporate debtorCommittee of Creditorspurposive interpretationstatutory disqualificationcorporate governance
Judgment
[2022] 12 S.C.R. 761 761
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. A
v.
MBL INFRASTRUCTURES LIMITED & ORS.
(Civil Appeal No. 8411 of 2019)
JANUARY 18, 2022 B
[SANJAY KISHAN KAUL AND M.M. SUNDRESH, JJ.]
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – s.29A(h) (as
amended by the Act 26 of 2018) – Interpretation and scope of –
Held: s.29A(h) creates one more category of persons not being
C
eligible to be a resolution applicant – Other than the persons
mentioned thereunder, there may not be any disqualification – The
word “person” is of a wider import to include a promoter or a
director, as the case may be – The definition of “person” as
mentioned u/s.3(23) of the Code includes certain categories of
persons and thus, there is no such exclusion – It is merely illustrative/ D
inclusive in nature and therefore, the persons mentioned in s.29A
alone are ineligible to be resolution applicants – Once a person
executes a guarantee in favour of a creditor with respect to the
credit facilities availed by a corporate debtor, and in a case where
an application for insolvency resolution has been admitted, with
E
the further fact of the said guarantee having been invoked, the bar
qua eligibility would certainly come into play – What the provision
requires is a guarantee in favour of ‘a creditor’ – Once an application
for insolvency resolution is admitted on behalf of ‘a creditor’ then
the process would be one of rem, and therefore, all creditors of the
same class would have their respective rights at par with each other F
– The word “such creditor” in s.29A(h) has to be interpreted to
mean similarly placed creditors after the application for insolvency
application is admitted by the adjudicating authority – As a result,
what is required to earn a disqualification under the said provision
is a mere existence of a personal guarantee that stands invoked by
G
a single creditor, notwithstanding the application being filed by any
other creditor seeking initiation of insolvency resolution process,
subject to further compliance of invocation of the said personal
guarantee by any other creditor – Ineligibility has to be seen from
the point of view of the resolution process – It can never be said
that there can be ineligibility qua one creditor as against others – H
761
762 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A The ineligibility is to the participation in the resolution process of
the corporate debtor – Exclusion is meant to facilitate a fair and
transparent process – The provision after the amendment speaks of
invocation by a creditor – The manner of invocation can never be a
factor for the adjudicating authority to adjudge, as against its
existence – Adequate importance will have to be given to the latter
B
part of the provision which also disqualifies a person whose liability
under the personal guarantee executed in favour of a creditor,
remains unpaid in full or in part for the amount due from him, upon
invocation – s.29A has a laudable object of protecting and balancing
the interest of the committee of creditors and the corporate debtor,
C while shutting the doors to canvas the interests of others – It
consciously excludes certain categories of persons – s.29A(h)
foresees the creditors who are otherwise either already under the
insolvency resolution process or are entitled to go under it –
Interpretation of Statutes – Purposive Interpretation.
D Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Object of –
Discussed.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – s.29A – Objective
of – Discussed.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – s.29A(h) (as
E amended by the Act 26 of 2018) – Date of reckoning – Whether the
date of submission of resolution plan or the date of adjudication by
the authority – Held: If there is a bar at the time of submission of
resolution plan by a resolution applicant, it is obviously not
maintainable – However, if the submission of the plan is maintainable
F at the time at which it is filed, and thereafter, by the operation of the
law, a person becomes ineligible, which continues either till the
time of approval by the CoC, or adjudication by the authority, then
the subsequent amended provision would govern the question of
eligibility of resolution applicant to submit a resolution plan – If
there is ineligibility which in turn prohibits the other stakeholders
G to proceed further and the amendment being in the nature of
providing a better process, and that too in the interest of the creditors
and the debtor, the same is required to be followed as against the
provision that stood at an earlier point of time – Thus, a mere filing
of the submission of a resolution plan has got no rationale, as it
H does not create any right in favour of a facilitator nor it can be
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 763
LIMITED & ORS.
extinguished – It cannot be said that what is good today cannot be A
applied merely because an applicant was eligible to submit a
resolution plan at an earlier point of time– It is only a part of
procedural law.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – s.12(3) – Held:
There is a marked difference between extension and exclusion – B
Exclusion would come into play when the decision is challenged
before a higher forum – Extension is one which is to be exercised
by the authority constituted.
Swiss Ribbons (P) Ltd. v. Union of India (2019) 4 SCC
17; K.N. Rajkumar v. V.N. Nagarajan 2021 SCC OnLine C
732; Arcellor Mittal India Pvt. Ltd. v. Satish Kumar
Gupta (2019) 2 SCC 1 : [2018] 12 SCR 362; Committee
of Creditors, Essar Steel India Ltd. v. Satish Kumar
Gupta (2020) 8 SCC 531 : [2019] 16 SCR 275; Apollo
Joti LLC & Ors. v. Jyoti Structures Ltd. (Company
Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 548 of 2018; DBS Bank D
Ltd. v. Sharad Sanghi (Civil Appeal No. 3434-3436 of
2019); Ebix Singapore Pvt. Ltd. v. COC of Educomp
Solutions Ltd. 2021 SCC OnLine SC 707; National Spot
Exchange v. Anil Kohli 2021 SCC OnLine SC 716;
Reserve Bank of India v. Peerless General Finance and E
Investment Company Limited, (1987) 1 SCC 424 : [1987]
2 SCR 1; Union of India v. Elphinstone Spg. and Wvg.
Co. Ltd., (2001) 4 SCC 139 : [2001] 1 SCR 221;
Phoenix Arc (P) Ltd. v. Spade Financial Services Ltd.,
(2021) 3 SCC 475; Arun Kumar Jagatramka v. Jindal
Steel & Power Limited, (2021) 7 SCC 474 : Swiss F
Ribbons (P) Ltd. v. Union of India, (2019) 4 SCC 17 :
[2019] 3 SCR 535; Chitra Sharma & Ors. v. Union of
India, (2018) 18 SCC 575 : [2018] 12 SCR 1044 –
referred to.
Maxwell On Interpretation Of Statues, 11th Edition; G
Craies In Statute Law, 7th Edition, Pg. 262; A Driedger,
Construction Of Statute, 2nd Edition, 1983, Pg. 37 –
referred to.
Seaford Court Estates Ltd. v. Asher, (1949) 2 KB 481 –
referred to. H
764 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A Case Law Reference
(2019) 4 SCC 17 referred to Para 33
[2018] 12 SCR 362 referred to Para 33
[2019] 16 SCR 275 referred to Para 33
B [1987] 2 SCR 1 referred to Para 40
[2001] 1 SCR 221 referred to Para 41
(2019) 2 SCC 1 referred to Para 42
(2021) 3 SCC 475 referred to Para 42
(2021) 7 SCC 474 referred to Para 42
C
[2019] 3 SCR 535 referred to Para 43
[2018] 12 SCR 1044 referred to Para 48
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No.8411 of
2019.
D From the Judgment and Order dated 16.08.2019 of the National
Company Law Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi in Company Appeal (AT)
(Insolvency) No.225 of 2018.
Tushar Mehta, SG, M/s Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Advs. for
the Appellants.
E
Ranjit Kumar, Parag Tripathi, Sr. Advs., Ms. Anusuya Salwan,
Ms. S. Janani, Abhishek Pundir, Bankim Garg, Ms. Mishika Bajpai,
Chaitanya Bansal, Dr. Sudhir Bisla, Ms. Sumitra Bisla, Satyendra Kumar,
Sanjay Kapur, Ms. Megha Karnwal, Arjun Bhatia, Mrs. Shubhra Kapur,
Lalit Rajput, Ankur Mittal, Ms. Meera Morali, Ms. Aishwarya Pandey,
F Atul Kumar, Abhimanyu Sharma, Ms. Deepali, Karunakar Rath, Tarun
Gupta, Ms. Archana Pathak Dave, Mithilesh Kumar Pandey, Amit Singh,
Rakesh Kumar-I, Sataroop Das, Nikhil Kohli, Ms. Isha Singh, Rahul
Sinha, Ms. Shivee Pandey, Dr. (Mrs.) Vipin Gupta, Advs. for the
Respondents.
G The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
M. M. SUNDRESH, J.
1. A judicial interpretation of Section 29A(h) of the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as “the Code”), as
amended by the Act 26 of 2018 is sought from us.
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 765
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
2. We have heard Shri. Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General A
and Mr. Bishwajit Dubey, learned counsel appearing for the Appe1llant,
and Shri. Ranjit Kumar and Shri. Parag P. Tripathi, learned senior counsels
on behalf of Respondent Nos. 1 and 3, respectively. Perused the
documents filed by both sides, and additionally, we had the benefit of
going through the written arguments placed on record.
B
A BRIEF JOURNEY:
3. M/s. MBL Infrastructures Limited (Respondent No.1) was set
up by one, Mr. Anjanee Kumar Lakhotiya (Respondent No. 3) in the
early 1990s. Loans/ credit facilities were obtained by the Respondent
No.1 from the consortium of banks (State Bank of Mysore now State C
Bank of India as lead bank), some of who are also arrayed as respondents
apart from the appellant. On the failure of the Respondent No.1 to act in
tune with the terms of repayment, some of the respondents were forced
to invoke the personal guarantees extended by the Respondent No.3 for
the credit facilities availed by the Respondent No.1.
D
4. M/s. RBL Bank issued a notice under Section 13(2) of the
Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement
of Security Interest Act, 2002 (‘SARFAESI Act’ for short), after duly
invoking the personal guarantee of the Respondent No.3. This was
followed by a similar action at the hands of Respondent No.8 (M/s
Allahabad Bank) and M/s. State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur. We are E
given to understand that M/s. State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur got
merged with State Bank of India. The aforesaid two proceedings invoking
Section 13(2) of the SARFAESI Act were initiated in the month of
February and March, 2013, respectively.
5. On the aforesaid factual setting, M/s. RBL Bank filed an F
application bearing No. (IB)-170/KB/2017 under Section 7 of the Code
before the National Company Law Tribunal, Kolkata (hereinafter
referred to as “adjudicating authority”) to initiate corporate insolvency
resolution process (CIRP) against Respondent No.1. It was admitted
vide order dated 30.03.2017, appointing an Interim Resolution
Professional, leading to imposition of moratorium in terms of Section 14 G
of the Code. After the expiry of the initial period of CIRP, an application
was filed by the Resolution Professional for extending the duration of
CIRP by an additional 90 days, which was duly granted.
6. Two resolution plans were received by the Resolution
Professional (Respondent No.2 herein) as he then was, of which, one H
766 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A was authored by Respondent No.3 on 29.06.2017. This was done prior
to the introduction of Section 29A of the Code.
7. A series of meetings took place with the active participation of
the Committee of Creditors (CoC) on the resolution plan submitted by
the Respondent No.3 between October 16, 2017 to November 17, 2017.
B A decision was made in the 9th meeting of the CoC held on 18.11.2017
seeking an appropriate resolution plan at the hands of Respondent No.3.
In tune with the aforesaid directive, the Respondent No.3 submitted a
modified resolution plan on 22.11.2017.
8. Thereafter, by way of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code
C (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, Section 29A was introduced to the Code
with which we are concerned in the present lis, specifically 29A(c) and
(h). The same are reproduced as under:
“Section 29 A – Persons not eligible to be resolution
applicant – A person shall not be eligible to submit a resolution
D plan, if such person or any other person acting jointly with such
person or any other person who is a promoter or in the management
or control of such person, -
xxx xxx xxx
(c) has an account, or an account of a corporate debtor
E under the management or control of such person or of whom
such person is a promoter, classified as non-performing asset
in accordance with the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India
issued under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and at least a
period of one year has lapsed from the date of such classification
F till the date of commencement of the corporate insolvency
resolution process of the corporate debtor:
Provided that the person shall be eligible to submit a
resolution plan if such person makes payment of all overdue
amounts with interest thereon and charges relating to non-
performing asset accounts before submission of resolution plan;
G
xxx xxx xxx
(h) has executed an enforceable guarantee in favour of a creditor,
in respect of a corporate debtor under insolvency resolution process
or liquidation under this code.”
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 767
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
9. The CoC held its meeting on 01.12.2017 to deliberate upon the A
impact of the amendment qua the eligibility of the Respondent No.3 in
submitting a resolution plan in the CIRP proceedings. In view of the
lingering doubt expressed, the Respondent No.3 filed an application
bearing CA(IB) No.543/KB/2017 praying for a declaration that he was
not disqualified from submitting a resolution plan under sub-section (c)
B
and (h) of Section 29A of the Code.
10. The adjudicating authority, vide its order dated 18.12.2017
held that the Respondent No.3 was eligible to submit a resolution plan,
notwithstanding the fact that he did extend his personal guarantees on
behalf of the Respondent No.1 which were duly invoked by some of the
creditors, as aforesaid. This issue was never placed and raised before C
the adjudicating authority. Though the adjudicating authority took note of
Section 29A(c) of the Code, it did not give any specific findings on it.
However, it ruled that inasmuch as the personal guarantee having not
been invoked and the Respondent No.3 merely having extended his
personal guarantee, as such there is no disqualification per se under D
Section 29A(h) of the Code as the liability under a guarantee arises only
upon its invocation. Thus, only those guarantors who had antecedents
which might adversely impact the credibility of the process are alone to
be excluded. As debt payable by Respondent No.3 was not crystalized,
he could not be construed as a defaulter for breach of the guarantee.
Incidentally, a finding has been given that the Respondent No.3 did not E
commit any default. With the aforesaid clarification, the application filed
was allowed by taking into consideration the amendment made on
23.11.2017, introducing Section 29A to the Code.
11. The aforesaid order was assailed by the Punjab National Bank
(Respondent No.10) before the National Company Law Appellate F
Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as “appellate tribunal”) in Company
Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 330 of 2017. Upon hearing the Respondent
No.10, the following interim order was passed on 21.12.2017:
“Let notice be issued to respondents by speed post. Requisites by
next dated. Dasti service permitted.
G
Copy of this order may also be forwarded to the respondents.
The appellant will file the certified copy of the impugned order by
5th January, 2018. Post the matter on 11th January, 2018.
In the meantime, if the 2nd Respondent filed any Resolution Plan,
the Resolution Professional and the Committee of Creditors may
H
768 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A go through the same but the Adjudicating Authority will not accept
or reject the resolution plan or pass any order in lower court
without prior approval of this Appellant Tribunal.”
12. On the very same day, the resolution plan submitted by the
Respondent No.3 was put to vote by the Respondent No.2 in the 12th
B meeting of the CoC by way of e-voting, and the process was completed
the next day. The plan received 68.50% vote share of the CoC. Six
financial creditors voted against the plan, including Respondent No.10
(PNB) and RBL Bank. The extended 270 day period of CIRP expired
on 25.12.2017.
C 13. RBL Bank filed an appeal against the order dated 18.12.2017
being Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1 of 2018 wherein an
order was passed upon hearing the parties on 11.01.2018 facilitating the
adjudicating authority to proceed further but not to accept the resolution
plan, without its prior approval.
D 14. The Respondent No.3 filed an application on 12.01.2018
invoking Section 60 of the Code bearing CA No.(IB) 50/KB/2018 seeking
an appropriate direction to the dissenting and abstaining creditors to
facilitate a possible change of mind by supporting the resolution plan, as
modified. Thereafter, Bank of Maharashtra (Respondent No. 11), since
impleaded by the order of this court dated 26.10.2021, sent a letter to
E Respondent No.2 dated 31.01.2018 setting forth its conditions for its
approval of the resolution plan. Further, Indian Overseas Bank was
pleased to give its approval to the resolution plan. As such, the resolution
plan gathered 78.50% vote share.
15. In the meanwhile, Section 29A(h) went through a further
F amendment which came into effect from 18.01.2018:
“Section 29 A – Persons not eligible to be resolution
applicant – A person shall not be eligible to submit a resolution
plan, if such person or any other person acting jointly or in concert
with such person –
G
xxx xxx xxx
(h) has executed an enforceable guarantee in favour of a creditor,
in respect of a corporate debtor against which an application for
insolvency resolution made by such creditor has been admitted
under this code.”
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 769
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
16. On 23.03.2018, the appellate tribunal passed the following A
order in the appeals filed by Respondent No.10 and RBL Bank:
“When the matter was taken up learned counsel appearing on
behalf of the Appellant – ‘Punjab National Bank’ sought permission
to withdraw the appeal. One of the learned counsel appearing on
behalf of the Respondent opposed the prayer. However, we are B
not inclined to the ground of opposition as made by the Respondent.
Bank intends to withdraw the appeal, without any liberty. In this
background, without taking into consideration the grounds shown
in the affidavit for withdrawal, we allow the Appellant to withdraw
the Appeal without any liberty to challenge the same very impugned
order. The appeal is dismissed as withdrawn. I.A. No.311 of 2018 C
stands disposed of. The ‘question of law’ may be decided in some
other case. No cost.
The interim order passed by this Appellant Tribunal on 21st
December, 2017 stands vacated.”
D
17. The above order was passed while permitting the appellants
to withdraw the appeals against the order of eligibility of Respondent
No.3, in view of the resolution plan having reached the mandatory
requirement of 75% as warranted under Section 30(4) of the Code.
Thus, it is clear that those appellants did not have any grievance on the
plan as accepted by the majority of the CoC. However, the request E
made by the present appellant who filed I.A. No. 311 of 2018 before the
appellate tribunal, seeking to be impleaded as a party to the aforesaid
proceedings to continue the lis was not favourably considered though no
reason was assigned in the aforesaid order. We may also note that the
appellant before us who incidentally filed the aforesaid application was F
not heard before the adjudicating authority. Suffice it is to state that the
appellant did raise its objection to the withdrawal of appeal, presumably
on the premise that it wanted to continue by substituting itself in place of
the original appellants.
18. The resolution professional, the Respondent No.2 filed a report G
dated 12.02.2018 for recording the increase in voting share up to 78.50%
together with the resolution plan stating that it was accordingly passed.
Only on the aforesaid factual setting the pending appeal before the
appellate tribunal was withdrawn on 27.02.2018. The adjudicating
authority approved the resolution plan submitted by its order dated
18.04.2018 inter alia holding that there is a marked difference between H
770 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A extension and exclusion and therefore, the rigor of Section 12(1) of the
Code would not get attracted on the facts of the case particularly when
there were pending proceedings with interim orders. It was further held
that the issue qua the eligibility under Section 29A(h) decided already,
coupled with the resolution plan crossing the requisite threshold of
approval by the CoC, i.e. 75% vote share, having considered the techno-
B
economic viability and feasibility of the plan, the application filed for
approval of the resolution plan submitted by the Respondent No.3 was
liable to be allowed. A direction was accordingly given, holding that the
approved resolution plan shall come into force with immediate effect.
19. The appellant before us put into challenge, the aforesaid order
C passed by the adjudicating authority in Company Appeal (AT)(Insolvency)
No. 194 of 2018.
20. In the meanwhile, Section 29A(h) went through a further
change by way of ordinance dated 06.06.2018, which subsequently
became an Act with effect from the same date through the Act 26 of
D 2018:
“Section 29 A- Persons not eligible to be resolution
applicant – A person shall not be eligible to submit a resolution
plan, if such person or any other person acting jointly or in concert
with such person –
E
xxx xxx xxx
(h) has executed a guarantee in favour of a creditor, in
respect of a corporate debtor against which an application for
insolvency resolution made by such creditor has been admitted
F under this code and such guarantee has been invoked by the credit
and remains unpaid if full or part.”
21. The appellate tribunal did explore other possibilities during the
pendency of the appeal. It also directed the Respondent No.3 to submit
a revised resolution plan. After hearing the parties, the order passed by
the adjudicating authority was confirmed, dismissing the appeal filed by
G
the appellant while approving the revised resolution plan submitted by
the Respondent No.3 before it. After the disposal of the appeals filed
including that of the appellant along with the others who have not
challenged the same before us, the shareholders of the Respondent No.1
approved the fund raising of Rs.300 crores in the Annual General Meeting.
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 771
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
22. The appeals including that of the appellant were dismissed on A
the ground that the resolution plan was approved with 78.50% of the
voting share of the CoC, and it was backed by the techno-economic
report qua the viability and feasibility. The earlier decision of the
adjudicating authority dated 18.12.2017 has attained finality qua the issue
of eligibility of the Respondent No.3 under Section 29A of the Code to
B
submit a resolution plan, and it cannot sit in appeal over the decision of
the adjudicating authority or the CoC in the absence of any apparent
discrimination. It is this decision of the appellate authority confirming the
order passed by the adjudicating authority, which is tested before us.
23. Before we proceed with the submissions made at the Bar, we
have to record one more fact, namely, Section 30 of the Code also C
underwent a change by the introduction of amendment dated 06.06.2018
by way of an ordinance followed by an Act through which the percentage
required for approval of a resolution plan by the CoC has been brought
down from 75% to 66% of the voting share of the CoC.
SUBMISSIONS OF THE APPELLANT: D
24. We will collectively consider the submissions of the learned
counsel appearing for the appellant and the Respondent No.7, though
the said respondent did not choose to file any appeal before us.
25. Section 29A has to be given a holistic interpretation as the E
objective is to weed out undesirable persons with the intention of promoting
primacy of debt by disqualifying guarantors who have not fulfilled their
co-extensive liability with the insolvent corporate debtor. The Respondent
No.3 (who is a promoter of the corporate debtor) was ineligible to submit
a resolution plan under Section 29A(h) of the Code, as several personal
guarantees executed by the Respondent No.3 in favour of various F
creditors of the Respondent No.1 stood invoked, prior commencement
of CIRP. There is a clear suppression on the part of Respondent No.3,
which was not taken note of by the adjudicating authority on both the
occasions. Even the Respondent No.2 failed to bring the said fact before
the adjudicating authority. Therefore, the premise on which the G
adjudicating held the Respondent No.3 eligible to submit a resolution
plan is ex facie false.
26. The law which was prevailing on the date of the application
has to be seen, therefore, the disqualification gets attracted on the date
of filing of the application and on the same analogy not only Section
H
772 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A 29A(h) but also Section 30(4) has to be interpreted. As fraud vitiates all
solemn acts, the appeal deserves to be allowed. A legal ineligibility cannot
be done away with by alleged estoppel, such ineligibility is a matter of
fact to be considered by Courts irrespective of any waiver by any party
or creditor. The approval of the resolution plan was made after the
mandatory period of 270 days, i.e. after the expiry of the CIRP period.
B
Since there is clear infraction of Section 12, the orders passed are liable
to be interfered with. The learned Solicitor General has sought to place
reliance on the judgment of this Court in K. Shashidhar vs. Union of
India (Order dated 05.02.2019 in Civil Appeal 10673 of 2018). The revised
plan before the appellate tribunal was never approved by the adjudicating
C authority, including the conditional assent given by the Respondent No.11,
which were erroneously accepted.
27. There is no bar in law for questioning the eligibility before the
adjudicating authority as the appellant was neither a party before it on
earlier occasion nor an adjudication was made on the merits by the
D appellate tribunal. Therefore, the order passed by the appellate tribunal
confirming that of the adjudicating authority requires to be set aside.
SUBMISSIONS OF THE RESPONDENT:
28. A decision made by the CoC in its commercial wisdom on
being satisfied with the report of the expert on the viability and feasibility
E of the resolution plan, is not required to be interfered with by this Court
by substituting its views. The revised plan as accepted by the appellate
tribunal is an improvement to the earlier one submitted by the Respondent
No.3 and, therefore, there cannot be any grievance on that count.
29. The object of the Code has to be read with Section 29A(h).
F The appellant being aware of the decision of the adjudicating authority
in the first instance ought to have taken it further, as such the appellant
is estopped from questioning the eligibility of the Respondent No.3 to
submit a resolution plan under Section 29A(h) of the Code. The provision
has to be literally interpreted to the extent that a personal guarantor is
G barred from submitting a resolution plan only when the creditor invoking
the jurisdiction of the adjudicating authority has invoked a personal
guarantee executed in favour of said creditor by the resolution applicant.
30. No personal guarantee stood invoked by RBL Bank at the
time of application to the adjudicating authority under Section 7 of the
Code. It is further submitted that the invocation of the consortium
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BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 773
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
guarantee by Allahabad Bank and State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur A
under Section 13(2) of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 is ex facie illegal in
terms of the inter-se agreement executed between the members of the
consortium of banks. Even otherwise the same is not relevant as neither
Allahabad Bank nor State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur filed an application
before the adjudicating authority.
B
31. The first respondent is an on-going concern as of now and the
resolution plan is under implementation since 18.04.2018. The object of
the Code is revival of the Corporate Debtor and liquidation is the last
resort. Any interference at this stage will have an adverse effect and
militate against the very object of the Code. The Respondent No.3 has
infused over Rs. 63 crores since the resolution plan has been in operation C
and has further received approval of the shareholders to raise Rs. 300
crores to revive the Respondent No.1. Since the approval of the resolution
plan submitted by the Respondent No.3, several projects of national
importance have been completed and various others are under execution.
Further, all workmen have also been paid in full, and all current employees, D
operational creditors and statutory dues are being regularly paid.
32. Both the forums have rightly construed the issue qua extension
and exclusion. Admittedly, there were earlier rounds of litigation and
proceedings were pending against the interim orders. This issue has also
been concluded finally by this Court inter alia holding that in such a E
scenario exclusion has to be granted, in light of the time spent in litigation.
33. Buttressing the aforesaid submissions, the counsels for the
Respondents have sought to place reliance on the following decisions:
• Swiss Ribbons (P) Ltd. v. Union of India, (2019) 4 SCC 17
F
• K.N. Rajkumar v. V.N. Nagarajan 2021 SCC OnLine 732
• Arcellor Mittal India Pvt. Ltd. v. Satish Kumar Gupta, (2019)
2 SCC 1
• Committee of Creditors, Essar Steel India Ltd. v. Satish
Kumar Gupta (2020) 8 SCC 531. G
• Apollo Joti LLC & Ors. v. Jyoti Structures Ltd. (Company
Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 548 of 2018.
• DBS Bank Ltd. vs. Sharad Sanghi (Civil Appeal No. 3434-
3436 of 2019)
H
774 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A • Ebix Singapore Pvt. Ltd. vs. COC of Educomp Solutions
Ltd. 2021 SCC OnLine SC 707
• National Spot Exchange v. Anil Kohli 2021 SCC OnLine
SC 716
STATUTORY INTERPRETATION:
B
34. The principle governing statutory interpretation has been
repeated with regularity by this Court on quite a few occasions. While
construing the said principle adequate thought will have to be given to
the nature of the statute and the provisions contained thereunder. The
focus is on avoiding any interpretation which might cause an injury or
C destroy the intent behind the legislation.
35. Lord Denning in Seaford Court Estates Ltd. v. Asher, (1949)
2 KB 481 deals with the role required to be played by the Court even
when there is a possible defect:
D “When a defect appears a Judge cannot simply fold his hands and
blame the draftsman. He must set to work on the constructive
task of finding the intention of Parliament and then he must
supplement the written word so as to give ‘force and life’ to the
intention of the legislature. A Judge should ask himself the question
how, if the makers of the Act had themselves come across this
E ruck in the texture of it, they would have straightened it out? He
must then do as they would have done. A Judge must not alter the
material of which the Act is woven, but he can and should iron out
the creases.”
36. MAXWELL ON INTERPRETATION OF STATUES, 11th
F Edition
“It is said to be the duty of the judge to make such construction of
a statute as shall suppress the mischief and advance the remedy.
Even where the usual meaning of the language falls short of whole
object of the legislature, a more extended meaning may be
G attributed to the words, if they are fairly susceptible of it. The
construction must not, of course, be strained to include cases plainly
omitted from the natural meaning of the words.” (Pg. 66)
“…In determining either the general object of the legislature, or
the meaning of its language in any particular passage, it is obvious
H that the intention which appears to be most in accord with
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 775
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
convenience, reason, justice or legal principles, should, in all cases A
of doubtful significance, be presumed to be the true one.” (Pg.
183)
37. CRAIES IN STATUTE LAW, 7th Edition, Pg. 262:
“… It is the duty of Courts of justice to try to get at the real
intention of the legislature by carefully attending to the whole scope B
of the statute to be construed’ .. that in each case you must look
to the subject-matter, consider the importance of the provision
and the relation of that provision to the general object intended to
be secured by the Act, and upon a review of the case in that
aspect decide whether the enactment is what is called imperative C
or only directory.”
38. A DRIEDGER, CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTE, 2nd Edition,
1983, Pg. 37:
“Today there is only one principle or approach, namely, the words
of an Act are to be read in their entire context and in their D
grammatical and ordinary sense harmoniously with the Scheme
of the Act, the object of the Act, and the intention of Parliament.”
39. As repeated on various other occasions by this Court, judging
a statute through ‘Literal to Heydon’s Golden rule’ has gone through a
complete circle. Thus, we have come to a stage of applying a reasonable, E
creative and fair construction principle.
40. The often quoted words of Justice Chinnappa Reddy in the
celebrated judgment in the Reserve Bank of India v. Peerless General
Finance and Investment Company Limited, (1987) 1 SCC 424 holds the
field even today: F
“33. Interpretation must depend on the text and the context. They
are the bases of interpretation. One may well say if the text is the
texture, context is what gives the colour. Neither can be ignored.
Both are important. That interpretation is best which makes the
textual interpretation match the contextual. A statute is best G
interpreted when we know why it was enacted. With this
knowledge, the statute must be read, first as a whole and then
section by section, clause by clause, phrase by phrase and word
by word. If a statute is looked at, in the context of its enactment,
with the glasses of the statute-maker, provided by such context,
H
776 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A its scheme, the sections, clauses, phrases and words may take
colour and appear different than when the statute is looked at
without the glasses provided by the context. With these glasses
we must look at the Act as a whole and discover what each
section, each clause, each phrase and each word is meant and
designed to say as to fit into the scheme of the entire Act. No part
B
of a statute and no word of a statute can be construed in isolation.
Statutes have to be construed so that every word has a place and
everything is in its place….”
41. Apropos the passage in the case of Union of India v. Elphinstone
Spg. and Wvg. Co. Ltd., (2001) 4 SCC 139:
C
“While examining a particular statute for finding out the legislative
intent it is the attitude of Judges in arriving at a solution by striking
a balance between the letter and spirit of the statute without
acknowledging that they have in any way supplemented the statute
would be the proper criterion. The duty of Judges is to expound
D and not to legislate is a fundamental rule. There is no doubt a
marginal area in which the courts mould or creatively interpret
legislation and they are thus finishers, refiners and polishers of
legislation which comes to them in a state requiring varying degrees
of further processing. (See: Corocraft Ltd. v. Pan American
E Airways Inc. [(1968) 3 WLR 714 : (1968) 2 All ER 1059 : (1969)
1 QB 616] WLR, p. 732 and State of Haryana v. Sampuran
Singh [(1975) 2 SCC 810] .) But by no stretch of imagination a
Judge is entitled to add something more than what is there in the
statute by way of a supposed intention of the legislature. It is,
therefore, a cardinal principle of construction of statutes that the
F true or legal meaning of an enactment is derived by considering
the meaning of the words used in the enactment in the light of any
discernible purpose or object which comprehends the mischief
and its remedy to which the enactment is directed.”
42. Touching upon the very interpretation of the Code, this Court
G on more than one occasion has adopted the very same approach in
Arcellor Mittal India Pvt. Ltd. v. Satish Kumar Gupta, (2019) 2 SCC 1,
Phoenix Arc (P) Ltd. v. Spade Financial Services Ltd., (2021) 3 SCC
475 and Arun Kumar Jagatramka v. Jindal Steel & Power Limited, (2021)
7 SCC 474.
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 777
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE, 2016: A
43. The Code has got its laudable object. The idea is to facilitate
a process of rehabilitation and revival of the corporate debtor with the
active participation of the creditors. Thus, there are two principal actors
in the entire process, viz., (i)the committee of creditors and, (ii) the
corporate debtor. The others are mere facilitators. There can never be B
any other interest than that of the committee of creditors and the corporate
debtor. We do not wish to multiply the rationale behind the enactment
except by quoting the decision of this Court in the case of Swiss Ribbons
(P) Ltd. v. Union of India, (2019) 4 SCC 17, which has also found
acceptance by the subsequent decision in the case of Arun
Kumar(supra): C
“27. As is discernible, the Preamble gives an insight into what is
sought to be achieved by the Code. The Code is first and foremost,
a Code for reorganisation and insolvency resolution of corporate
debtors. Unless such reorganisation is effected in a time-bound
manner, the value of the assets of such persons will deplete. D
Therefore, maximisation of value of the assets of such persons so
that they are efficiently run as going concerns is another very
important objective of the Code. This, in turn, will promote
entrepreneurship as the persons in management of the corporate
debtor are removed and replaced by entrepreneurs. When, E
therefore, a resolution plan takes off and the corporate debtor is
brought back into the economic mainstream, it is able to repay its
debts, which, in turn, enhances the viability of credit in the hands
of banks and financial institutions. Above all, ultimately, the
interests of all stakeholders are looked after as the corporate debtor
itself becomes a beneficiary of the resolution scheme—workers F
are paid, the creditors in the long run will be repaid in full, and
shareholders/investors are able to maximise their investment.
Timely resolution of a corporate debtor who is in the red, by an
effective legal framework, would go a long way to support the
development of credit markets. Since more investment can be G
made with funds that have come back into the economy, business
then eases up, which leads, overall, to higher economic growth
and development of the Indian economy. What is interesting to
note is that the Preamble does not, in any manner, refer to
liquidation, which is only availed of as a last resort if there is
H
778 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A either no resolution plan or the resolution plans submitted are not
up to the mark. Even in liquidation, the liquidator can sell the
business of the corporate debtor as a going concern.
28. It can thus be seen that the primary focus of the legislation is
to ensure revival and continuation of the corporate debtor by
B protecting the corporate debtor from its own management and
from a corporate death by liquidation. The Code is thus a beneficial
legislation which puts the corporate debtor back on its feet, not
being a mere recovery legislation for creditors. The interests of
the corporate debtor have, therefore, been bifurcated and
separated from that of its promoters/those who are in management.
C Thus, the resolution process is not adversarial to the corporate
debtor but, in fact, protective of its interests. The moratorium
imposed by Section 14 is in the interest of the corporate debtor
itself, thereby preserving the assets of the corporate debtor during
the resolution process. The timelines within which the resolution
D process is to take place again protects the corporate debtor’s
assets from further dilution, and also protects all its creditors and
workers by seeing that the resolution process goes through as
fast as possible so that another management can, through its
entrepreneurial skills, resuscitate the corporate debtor to achieve
all these ends.”
E
ON SECTION 29A AND ITS PURPOSIVE
INTERPRETATION:
44. Section 29A of the Code has also come up for consideration
before this Court on earlier occasions, though, the provision with which
F we are concerned, i.e. Section 29A(h), was not specifically considered.
We do not wish to go into Section 29A(c) since no issue has been raised
before us in these proceedings.
45. As stated, Section 29A is a facet of the Code, and therefore,
this provision has to be read with the main objective enshrined thereunder.
G The objective behind Section 29A of the Code is to avoid unwarranted
and unscrupulous elements to get into the resolution process while
preventing their personal interests to step in. Secondly, it consciously
seeks to prevent certain categories of persons who may not be in a
position to lend credence to the resolution process by virtue of their
disqualification.
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 779
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
46. The then Hon’ble Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs A
made this statement before Parliament on 29.12.2017 while moving the
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017, which
introduced Section 29A to the Code:
“The core and soul of this new Ordinance is really Clause 5,
which is Section 29-A of the original Bill. I may just explain that B
once a company goes into the resolution process, then applications
would be invited with regard to the potential resolution proposals
as far as the company is concerned or the enterprise is concerned.
Now a number of ineligibility clauses were not there in the original
Act and, therefore, Section 29-A introduces those who are not
eligible to apply. For instance there is a clause with regard to an C
undischarged insolvent who is not eligible to apply; a person who
has been disqualified under the Companies Act as a Director cannot
apply and a person who is prohibited under the SEBI Act cannot
apply. So these are statutory disqualifications. And there is also a
disqualification in clause (c) with regard to those who are corporate D
debtors and who as on the date of the application making a bid do
not operationalise the account by paying the interest itself i.e. you
cannot say that I have an NPA. I am not making the account
operational. The accounts will continue to be NPAs and yet I am
going to apply for this. Effectively this clause will mean that those
who are in management and on account of whom this insolvent or E
non-performing asset has arisen will now try and say, I do not
discharge any of the outstanding debts in terms of making the
accounts operational and yet I would like to apply and set the
enterprise back at a discount value, for this is not the object of this
particular Act. So Clause 5 has been brought in with that purpose F
in mind.”
47. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the aforesaid Bill is
as follows:
“2. The provisions for insolvency resolution and liquidation of a
corporate person in the Code did not restrict or bar any person G
from submitting a resolution plan or participating in the acquisition
process of the assets of the company at the time of liquidation.
Concerns have been raised that persons who, with their misconduct
contributed to defaults of companies or are otherwise undesirable,
may misuse this situation due to lack of prohibition or restrictions H
780 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A to participate in the resolution or liquidation process, and gain or
regain control of the corporate debtor. This may undermine the
processes laid down in the Code as the unscrupulous person would
be seen to be rewarded at the expense of the creditors. In addition,
in order to check that the undesirable persons who may have
submitted their resolution plans in the absence of such a provision,
B
responsibility is also being entrusted on the committee of creditors
to give a reasonable period to repay overdue amounts and become
eligible.”
48. The aforesaid was taken note of by this Court in Chitra Sharma
& Ors. v. Union of India, (2018) 18 SCC 575 and followed in Arun
C Kumar(supra), wherein this Court considered the need for adopting a
purposive interpretation with the primary aim to revive and restart the
corporate debtor, with liquidation of the corporate debtor being the last
resort:
“41. The enactment of the IBC has marked a quantum change in
D corporate governance and the rule of law. First and foremost, the
IBC perceives good corporate governance, respect for and
adherence to the rule of law as central to the resolution of
corporate insolvencies. Second, the IBC perceives corporate
insolvency not as an isolated problem faced by individual business
E entities but places it in the context of a framework which is founded
on public interest in facilitating economic growth by balancing
diverse stakeholder interests. Third, the IBC attributes a primacy
to the business decisions taken by creditors acting as a collective
body, on the premise that the timely resolution of corporate
insolvency is necessary to ensure the growth of credit markets
F and encourage investment. Fourth, in its diverse provisions, the
IBC ensures that the interests of corporate enterprises are not
conflated with the interests of their promoters; the economic value
of corporate structures is broader in content than the partisan
interests of their managements. These salutary objectives of the
G IBC can be achieved if the integrity of the resolution process is
placed at the forefront. Primarily, the IBC is a legislation aimed at
reorganisation and resolution of insolvencies. Liquidation is a matter
of last resort. These objectives can be achieved only through a
purposive interpretation which requires courts, while infusing
meaning and content to its provisions, to ensure that the problems
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 781
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
which beset the earlier regime do not enter through the backdoor A
through disingenuous stratagems.
xxx xxx xxx
48. The underlying purpose of introducing Section 29-A was
adverted to in a judgment of this Court in Chitra Sharma v. Union
of India (2018) 18 SCC 575 (hereinafter referred to as “Chitra B
Sharma”). One of us (D.Y. Chandrachud, J.) speaking for a Bench
of three learned Judges took note of the Statement of Objects
and Reasons accompanying the Bill and emphasised the purpose
of Section 29-A thus:
“38. Parliament has introduced Section 29-A into IBC with C
a specific purpose. The provisions of Section 29-A are
intended to ensure that among others, persons responsible
for insolvency of the corporate debtor do not participate in
the resolution process. The Statement of Objects and
Reasons appended to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code D
(Amendment) Bill, 2017, which was ultimately enacted as
Act 8 of 2018, states thus:
‘2. The provisions for insolvency resolution and liquidation
of a corporate person in the Code did not restrict or bar
any person from submitting a resolution plan or E
participating in the acquisition process of the assets of a
company at the time of liquidation. Concerns have been
raised that persons who, with their misconduct
contributed to defaults of companies or are otherwise
undesirable, may misuse this situation due to lack of
prohibition or restrictions to participate in the resolution F
or liquidation process, and gain or regain control of the
corporate debtor. This may undermine the processes laid
down in the Code as the unscrupulous person would be
seen to be rewarded at the expense of creditors. In
addition, in order to check that the undesirable persons G
who may have submitted their resolution plans in the
absence of such a provision, responsibility is also being
entrusted on the committee of creditors to give a
reasonable period to repay overdue amounts and become
eligible.’
H
782 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A Parliament was evidently concerned over the fact that persons
whose misconduct has contributed to defaults on the part of debtor
companies misuse the absence of a bar on their participation in
the resolution process to gain an entry. Parliament was of the
view that to allow such persons to participate in the resolution
process would undermine the salutary object and purpose of the
B
Act. It was in this background that Section 29-A has now specified
a list of persons who are not eligible to be resolution applicants.”
(emphasis in original and supplied)
49. The Court held that “Section 29-A has been enacted in the
C larger public interest and to facilitate effective corporate
governance”. The Court further observed that “Parliament
rectified a loophole in the Act which allowed backdoor entry to
erstwhile managements in CIRP.
xxx xxx xxx
D 52. While adverting to the earlier decision in Chitra
Sharma [Chitra Sharma v. Union of India, (2018) 18 SCC 575]
and ArcelorMittal [ArcelorMittal (India) (P) Ltd. v. Satish
Kumar Gupta, (2019) 2 SCC 1] , which had elucidated the object
underlying Section 29-A, this Court in Swiss Ribbons [Swiss
E Ribbons (P) Ltd. v. Union of India, (2019) 4 SCC 17] held that
the norm underlying Section 29-A “continues to permeate” Section
35(1)(f) “when it applies not merely to resolution applicants, but
to liquidation also”. Rejecting the plea that Section 35(1)(f) is ultra
vires, this Court held : (Swiss Ribbons case [Swiss Ribbons (P)
Ltd. v. Union of India, (2019) 4 SCC 17] ,
F
“102. According to the learned counsel for the petitioners,
when immovable and movable property is sold in liquidation,
it ought to be sold to any person, including persons who are
not eligible to be resolution applicants as, often, it is the
erstwhile promoter who alone may purchase such properties
G piecemeal by public auction or by private contract. The same
rationale that has been provided earlier in this judgment will
apply to this proviso as well — there is no vested right in an
erstwhile promoter of a corporate debtor to bid for the
immovable and movable property of the corporate debtor
in liquidation. Further, given the categories of persons who
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 783
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
are ineligible under Section 29-A, which includes persons A
who are malfeasant, or persons who have fallen foul of the
law in some way, and persons who are unable to pay their
debts in the grace period allowed, are further, by this proviso,
interdicted from purchasing assets of the corporate debtor
whose debts they have either wilfully not paid or have been
B
unable to pay. The legislative purpose which permeates
Section 29-A continues to permeate the section when it
applies not merely to resolution applicants, but to liquidation
also. Consequently, this plea is also rejected.”
A purposive interpretation
C
53. This line of decisions, beginning with Chitra Sharma [Chitra
Sharma v. Union of India, (2018) 18 SCC 575] and continuing
to ArcelorMittal [ArcelorMittal (India) (P) Ltd. v. Satish Kumar
Gupta, (2019) 2 SCC 1] and Swiss Ribbons [Swiss Ribbons (P)
Ltd. v. Union of India, (2019) 4 SCC 17] is significant in adopting
a purposive interpretation of Section 29-A. Section 29-A has been D
construed to be a crucial link in ensuring that the objects of the
IBC are not defeated by allowing “ineligible persons”, including
but not confined to those in the management who have run the
company aground, to return in the new avatar of resolution
applicants. Section 35(1)(f) is placed in the same continuum when E
the Court observes that the erstwhile promoters of a corporate
debtor have no vested right to bid for the property of the corporate
debtor in liquidation. The values which animate Section 29-A
continue to provide sustenance to the rationale underlying the
exclusion of the same category of persons from the process of
liquidation involving the sale of assets, by virtue of the provisions F
of Section 35(1)(f). More recent precedents of this Court continue
to adopt a purposive interpretation of the provisions of the IBC.
[See in this context the judgments in Phoenix ARC (P)
Ltd. v. Spade Financial Services Ltd. [Phoenix ARC (P)
Ltd. v. Spade Financial Services Ltd., (2021) 3 SCC 475 : (2021) G
2 SCC (Civ) 1 at paras 103-104] , Ramesh Kymal v. Siemens
Gamesa Renewable Power (P) Ltd. [Ramesh Kymal v. Siemens
Gamesa Renewable Power (P) Ltd., (2021) 3 SCC 224 : (2021) 2
SCC (Civ) 65 at paras 23 and 25] and Jaypee Infratech Ltd. v. Axis
Bank Ltd. [Jaypee Infratech Ltd. v. Axis Bank Ltd., (2020) 8 SCC
401 : (2021) 2 SCC (Civ) 334 at paras 28.4 and 28.5] ] H
784 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A Sustainable revival
54. The purpose of the ineligibility under Section 29-A is to achieve
a sustainable revival and to ensure that a person who is the cause
of the problem either by a design or a default cannot be a part of
the process of solution. Section 29-A, it must be noted,
B encompasses not only conduct in relation to the corporate debtor
but in relation to other companies as well. This is evident from
clause (c) (“an account of a corporate debtor under the
management or control of such person or of whom such person is
a promoter, classified as a non-performing asset”), and clauses
(e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) which have widened the net beyond the
C conduct in relation to the corporate debtor.”
49. In Phoenix Arc (P) Ltd.(supra) case, this Court considered
the principle of purposive and creative interpretation while approving
the interpretation given and approach taken by this Court in the earlier
decision in Arcellor Mittal(supra):
D
“89. In Arcelor Mittal (India) (P) Ltd. v. Satish Kumar Gupta
[(2019) 2 SCC 1], the issue was whether ineligibility of the
resolution applicant under Section 29-A(c) of the Code attached
to an applicant at the date of commencement of the CIRP or at
the time when the resolution plan is submitted by the resolution
E applicant. Speaking for this Court, Rohinton F. Nariman, J.
interpreted the pre-2018 Amendment, framing of Section 29-A(c),
in the following terms: (SCC pp. 61-62, para 46)
“46. According to us, it is clear that the opening words of Section
29-A furnish a clue as to the time at which clause (c) is to
F operate. The opening words of Section 29-A state:‘a person
shall not be eligible to submit a resolution plan…’. It is clear
therefore that the stage of ineligibility attaches when the
resolution plan is submitted by a resolution applicant. The
contrary view expressed by Shri Rohatgi is obviously incorrect,
G as the date of commencement of the corporate insolvency
resolution process is only relevant for the purpose of calculating
whether one year has lapsed from the date of classification of
a person as a non-performing asset. Further, the expression
used is “has”, which as Dr Singhvi has correctly argued, is in
praesenti. This is to be contrasted with the expression “has
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BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 785
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
been”, which is used in clauses (d) and (g), which refers to an A
anterior point of time. Consequently, the amendment of 2018
introducing the words ‘at the time of submission of the resolution
plan’ is clarificatory, as this was always the correct interpretation
as to the point of time at which the disqualification in clause
(c) of Section 29-A will attach.”
B
xxx xxx xxx
91. However, it is relevant to examine whether the object and
purpose for which the proviso was enacted, are fulfilled by the
literal interpretation of the first proviso. Justice G.P. Singh in his
authoritative commentary on the interpretation of statutes, C
Principles of Statutory Interpretation [(1st Edn., Lexis Nexis 2015)],
has stated that:
“The intention of the legislature thus assimilates two aspects:
In one aspect it carries the concept of “meaning” i.e. what the
words mean and in another aspect, it conveys the concept of D
“purpose and object” or the “reason and spirit” pervading
through the statute. The process of construction, therefore,
combines both literal and purposive approaches. In other words
the legislative intention i.e. the true or legal meaning of an
enactment is derived by considering the meaning of the words
used in the enactment in the light of any discernible purpose or E
object which comprehends the mischief and its remedy to which
the enactment is directed. This formulation later received the
approval of the Supreme Court and was called the “cardinal
principle of construction”.
92. Justice G.P. Singh notes that certain enactments require a F
liberal construction to give effect to its objects and purpose:
“A bare mechanical interpretation of the words and application
of a legislative intent devoid of concept of purpose will reduce
most of the remedial and beneficent legislation to futility. As
stated by Iyer, J. “to be literal in meaning is to see the skin and G
miss the soul. The judicial key to construction is the composite
perception of the deha and the dehi of the provision.” Even in
construing enactments such as those prescribing a period of
limitation for initiation of proceedings where the purpose is
only to intimate the people that after lapse of a certain time
H
786 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A from a certain event a proceeding will not be entertained and
where a strict grammatical construction is normally the only
safe guide, a literal and mechanical construction may have to
be disregarded if it conflicts with some essential requirement
of fair play and natural justice which the legislature never
intended to throw overboard. Similarly, in a taxing statute
B
provisions enacted to prevent tax evasion are given a liberal
construction to effectuate the purpose of suppressing tax
evasion although provisions imposing a charge are construed
strictly there being no a priori liability to pay a tax and the
purpose of a charging section being only to levy a charge on
C persons and activities brought within its clear terms. For the
same reason, in a legislation relating to defence services “the
considerations of the security of the State and enforcement of
high degree of discipline additionally intervene and have to be
assigned weightage while dealing with any expression needing
to be defined or any provision needing to be interpreted.”
D
93. Similar words used in different parts of the enactment can
have different meanings. As Justice G.P. Singh notes:
“The rule is of general application as even plainest terms may
be controlled by the context, and “it is conceivable,” as Lord
E Watson said, ‘that the legislature whilst enacting one clause in
plain terms, might introduce into the same statute other
enactments which to some extent qualify or neutralise its
effect’. The same word may mean one thing in one context
and another in a different context. For this reason the same
word used in different sections of a statute or even when used
F at different places in the same clause or section of a statute
may bear different meanings. The conclusion that the language
used by the legislature is plain or ambiguous can only be truly
arrived at by studying the statute as a whole. How far and to
what extent each component part of the statute influences the
G meaning of the other part would be different in each given
case. But the effect of the application of the rule to a particular
case, should not be confounded with the legitimacy of applying
it.”
(emphasis supplied)
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 787
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
94. In this context, it would be useful to refer to an earlier decision A
of this Court in Abhay Singh Chautala v. CBI [(2011) 7 SCC 141],
where the Court did not interpret the word “is” in praesenti because
that would lead to an absurd result, defeating the purpose of the
provision concerned. In that case this Court had to interpret Section
19(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which provided:
B
“19. Previous sanction necessary for prosecution.—(1) No
court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under
Sections 7, 10, 11, 13 and 15 alleged to have been committed
by a public servant, except with the previous sanction—
(a) in the case of a person who is employed in connection C
with the affairs of the Union and is not removable from his
office save by or with the sanction of the Central
Government, of that Government;
(b) in the case of a person who is employed in connection
with the affairs of a State and is not removable from his D
office save by or with the sanction of the State Government,
of that Government;
(c) in the case of any other person, of the authority competent
to remove him from his office.”
95. It was argued before this Court that a literal interpretation E
should be given to Section 19(1). Since the word “is” has been
used in sub-sections (a), (b) and (c), it was urged that this would
exclude a public servant who had abused office at an earlier point
in time and has now ceased to occupy that office. This Court
speaking through Sirpurkar, J. rejected the argument and held: F
(Abhay Singh Chautala case(supra), SCC p.163, para 44)
“44. … we reject the argument based on the word “is” in
clauses (a), (b) and (c). It is true that the section operates in
praesenti; however, the section contemplates a person who
continues to be a public servant on the date of taking
G
cognizance. However, as per the interpretation, it excludes a
person who has abused some other office than the one which
he is holding on the date of taking cognizance, by necessary
implication. Once that is clear, the necessity of the literal
interpretation would not be there in the present case. Therefore,
while we agree with the principles laid down in Robert Wigram H
788 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A Crawford v. Richard Spooner; Bidie [(1846 SCC OnLine PC
7)], In re [1949 Ch 121(CA)] and Bourne (Inspector of Taxes)
v. Norwich Crematorium Ltd. [(1967) 1 WLR 691], we
specifically hold that giving the literal interpretation to the section
would lead to absurdity and some unwanted results, as had
already been pointed out in Antulay[(1984) 2 SCC 183].”
B
96. This Court relied on the judgment in R.S. Nayak v. A.R.
Antulay(supra) to fortify its interpretation of Section 19(1) of the
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947: (Abhay Singh Chautala
case(supra),)
C “22. … ‘24. … An illustration was posed to the learned counsel
that a Minister who is indisputably a public servant greased his
palms by abusing his office as Minister, and then ceased to
hold the office before the court was called upon to take
cognizance of the offence against him and therefore, sanction
as contemplated by Section 6 would not be necessary; but if
D after committing the offence and before the date of taking of
cognizance of the offence, he was elected as a Municipal
President in which capacity he was a public servant under the
relevant Municipal law, and was holding that office on the date
on which court proceeded to take cognizance of the offence
E committed by him as a Minister, would a sanction be necessary
and that too of that authority competent to remove him from
the office of the Municipal President. The answer was in
affirmative. But the very illustration would show that such
cannot be the law. Such an interpretation of Section 6 would
render it as a shield to an unscrupulous public servant. Someone
F interested in protecting may shift him from one office of public
servant to another and thereby defeat the process of law. One
can legitimately envisage a situation wherein a person may
hold a dozen different offices, each one clothing him with the
status of a public servant under Section 21 IPC and even if he
G has abused only one office for which either there is a valid
sanction to prosecute him or he has ceased to hold that office
by the time court was called upon to take cognizance, yet on
this assumption, sanction of 11 different competent authorities
each of which was entitled to remove him from 11 different
public offices would be necessary before the court can take
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 789
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
cognizance of the offence committed by such public servant, A
while abusing one office which he may have ceased to hold.
Such an interpretation is contrary to all canons of construction
and leads to an absurd end product which of necessity must be
avoided. Legislation must at all costs be interpreted in such a
way that it would not operate as a rogue’s charter.’ (A.R.
B
Antulay case(supra), pp. 206-207, para 24)”
(emphasis supplied)
97. This Court has approved of a purposive interpretation of Section
29-A IBC in Arcelor Mittal (India) (P) Ltd. v. Satish Kumar
Gupta(supra), where it was observed that: (SCC pp. 46-47, paras C
29-30)
“29. … In Eera v. State (NCT of Delhi) [(2017) 15 SCC 133],
this Court, after referring to the golden rule of literal
construction, and its older counterpart the “object rule” in
Heydon case [(1584) 3 Co Rep 7a], referred to the theory of D
creative interpretation as follows: (Eera case(supra), SCC
pp. 200-01 & 204, paras 122 & 127)
‘122. Instances of creative interpretation are when the Court
looks at both the literal language as well as the purpose or
object of the statute in order to better determine what the E
words used by the draftsman of legislation mean. In D.R.
Venkatachalam v. Transport Commr. [(1977) 2 SCC 273],
an early instance of this is found in the concurring judgment
of Beg, J. The learned Judge put it rather well when he
said: (SCC p. 287, para 28)
F
“28. It is, however, becoming increasingly fashionable
to start with some theory of what is basic to a provision
or a chapter or in a statute or even to our Constitution in
order to interpret and determine the meaning of a
particular provision or rule made to subserve an assumed
“basic” requirement. I think that this novel method of G
construction puts, if I may say so, the cart before the
horse. It is apt to seriously mislead us unless the
tendency to use such a mode of construction is checked
or corrected by this Court. What is basic for a section
or a chapter in a statute is provided: firstly, by the words
H
790 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A used in the statute itself; secondly, by the context in
which a provision occurs, or, in other words, by reading
the statute as a whole; thirdly, by the Preamble which
could supply the “key” to the meaning of the statute in
cases of uncertainty or doubt; and, fourthly, where some
further aid to construction may still be needed to resolve
B
an uncertainty, by the legislative history which discloses
the wider context or perspective in which a provision
was made to meet a particular need or to satisfy a
particular purpose. The last-mentioned method consists
of an application of the Mischief Rule laid down in
C Heydon case (supra) long ago.”
* * *
127. It is thus clear on a reading of English, US, Australian
and our own Supreme Court judgments that the “Lakshman
Rekha” has in fact been extended to move away from the
D strictly literal rule of interpretation back to the rule of the
old English case of Heydon (supra), where the Court must
have recourse to the purpose, object, text and context of a
particular provision before arriving at a judicial result. In
fact, the wheel has turned full circle. It started out by the rule
as stated in 1584 in Heydon case (supra), which was then
E waylaid by the literal interpretation rule laid down by the Privy
Council and the House of Lords in the mid-1800s, and has
come back to restate the rule somewhat in terms of what was
most felicitously put over 400 years ago in Heydon case
(supra).’
F 30. A purposive interpretation of Section 29-A, depending both on
the text and the context in which the provision was enacted, must,
therefore, inform our interpretation of the same.
(emphasis supplied)”
50. We have already observed that we do not wish to interpret
G Section 29A(c) as no arguments have been addressed on that, perhaps
for the reason that Respondent No.3 might not attract any disqualification
on that score.
SCOPE OF SECTION 29A(h)
51. Section 29A(h) of the Code creates one more category of
H persons not being eligible to be a resolution applicant. Other than the
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 791
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
persons mentioned thereunder, there may not be any disqualification. A
The word “person” is of a wider import to include a promoter or a director,
as the case may be. The definition of “person” as mentioned under
Section 3(23) of the Code includes certain categories of persons and
thus, there is no such exclusion. It is merely illustrative/inclusive in nature
and therefore, the persons mentioned in Section 29A alone are ineligible
B
to be resolution applicants.
52. Once a person executes a guarantee in favour of a creditor
with respect to thecredit facilities availed by a corporate debtor, and in a
case where an application for insolvency resolution has been admitted,
with the further fact of the said guarantee having been invoked, the bar
qua eligibility would certainly come into play. What the provision requires C
is a guarantee in favour of ‘a creditor’. Once an application for insolvency
resolution is admitted on behalf of ‘a creditor’ then the process would be
one of rem, and therefore, all creditors of the same class would have
their respective rights at par with each other. This position has also been
dealt with by this Court in the case of Swiss Ribbons(supra): D
“82. It is clear that once the Code gets triggered by admission of
a creditor’s petition under Sections 7 to 9, the proceeding that is
before the adjudicating authority, being a collective proceeding, is
a proceeding in rem. Being a proceeding in rem, it is necessary
that the body which is to oversee the resolution process must be E
consulted before any individual corporate debtor is allowed to settle
its claim. A question arises as to what is to happen before a
Committee of Creditors is constituted (as per the timelines that
are specified, a Committee of Creditors can be appointed at any
time within 30 days from the date of appointment of the interim
resolution professional). We make it clear that at any stage where F
the Committee of Creditors is not yet constituted, a party can
approach NCLT directly, which Tribunal may, in exercise of its
inherent powers under Rule 11 of NCLT Rules, 2016, allow or
disallow an application for withdrawal or settlement. This will be
decided after hearing all the parties concerned and considering all G
relevant factors on the facts of each case.”
53. The word “such creditor” in Section 29A(h) has to be
interpreted to mean similarly placed creditors after the application for
insolvency application is admitted by the adjudicating authority. As a
result, what is required to earn a disqualification under the said provision H
792 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A is a mere existence of a personal guarantee that stands invoked by a
single creditor, notwithstanding the application being filed by any other
creditor seeking initiation of insolvency resolution process. This is subject
to further compliance of invocation of the said personal guarantee by
any other creditor. We have already said that the concern of the Court is
only from the point of view of two entities viz., corporate creditors and
B
the corporate debtors. Any other interpretation would lead to an absurdity
striking at the very objective of Section 29A, and hence, the Code.
Ineligibility has to be seen from the point of view of the resolution process.
It can never be said that there can be ineligibility qua one creditor as
against others. Rather, the ineligibility is to the participation in the
C resolution process of the corporate debtor. Exclusion is meant to facilitate
a fair and transparent process.
54. The provision after the amendment speaks of invocation by a
creditor. The manner of invocation can never be a factor for the
adjudicating authority to adjudge, as against its existence. Adequate
D importance will have to be given to the latter part of the provision which
also disqualifies a person whose liability under the personal guarantee
executed in favour of a creditor, remains unpaid in full or in part for the
amount due from him, upon invocation.
55. It is quite obvious that a resolution applicant, other than a
E financial creditor under Section 7, an operational creditor under Section
8 and a corporate debtor under Section 10, can ever have an independent
right to insist for the protection of its own interest in the resolution process.
Thus, Section 29A has a laudable object of protecting and balancing the
interest of the committee of creditors and the corporate debtor, while
shutting the doors to canvas the interests of others. That is the reason
F why it consciously excludes certain categories of persons. We may add
that Section 29A(h) foresees the creditors who are otherwise either
already under the insolvency resolution process or are entitled to go
under it.
56. Yet another issue which requires consideration is to the date
G of reckoning qua the provision. That is, the date of submission of
resolution plan or the date of adjudication by the authority. Having
understood the provision and the objective behind it, as well as the Code,
it is clear that, if there is a bar at the time of submission of resolution
plan by a resolution applicant, it is obviously not maintainable. However,
H if the submission of the plan is maintainable at the time at which it is
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 793
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
filed, and thereafter, by the operation of the law, a person becomes A
ineligible, which continues either till the time of approval by the CoC, or
adjudication by the authority, then the subsequent amended provision
would govern the question of eligibility of resolution applicant to submit a
resolution plan. The resolution applicant has no role except to facilitate
the process. If there is ineligibility which in turn prohibits the other
B
stakeholders to proceed further and the amendment being in the nature
of providing a better process, and that too in the interest of the creditors
and the debtor, the same is required to be followed as against the provision
that stood at an earlier point of time. Thus, a mere filing of the submission
of a resolution plan has got no rationale, as it does not create any right in
favour of a facilitator nor it can be extinguished. One cannot say, what is C
good today cannot be applied merely because an applicant was eligible
to submit a resolution plan at an earlier point of time. It is only a part of
procedural law. We quote with profit the decision in Ebix Singapore Pvt.
Ltd. vs. COC of Educomp Solutions Ltd., 2021 SCC OnLine 707:
“130. The CoC even with the requisite majority, while approving D
the Resolution Plan must consider the feasibility and viability of
the Plan and the manner of distribution proposed, which may take
into account the order of priority amongst creditors as laid down
in sub-section (1) of section 53 of the IBC. The CoC cannot
approve a Resolution Plan proposed by an applicant barred under
Section 29A of the IBC. Regulation 37 and 38 of the CIRP E
Regulations govern the contents of a Resolution Plan. Furthermore,
a Resolution Plan, if in compliance with the mandate of the IBC,
cannot be rejected by the Adjudicating Authority and becomes
binding on its approval upon all stakeholders - including the Central
and State Government, local authorities to whom statutory dues F
are owed, operational creditors who were not a part of the CoC
and the workforce of the Corporate Debtor who would now be
governed by a new management. Such features of a Resolution
Plan, where a statute extensively governs the form, mode, manner
and effect of approval distinguishes it from a traditional contract,
specifically in its ability to bind those who have not consented to G
it. In the pure contractual realm, an agreement binds parties who
are privy to the contract. In the context of a resolution Plan
governed by the IBC, the element of privity becomes inapplicable
once the Adjudicating Authority confirms the Resolution Plan under
Section 31(1) and declares it to be binding on all stakeholders, H
794 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A who are not a part of the negotiation stage or parties to the
Resolution Plan. In fact, a commentator has noted that the purpose
of bankruptcy law is to actually solve a specific ‘contracting failure’
that accompanies financial distress. Such a contracting failure
arises because “financial distress involves too many parties with
strategic bargaining incentives and too many contingencies for
B
the firm and its creditors to define a set of rules of every scenario.”
Thus, insolvency law recognizes that parties can take benefit of
such ‘incomplete contract’ to hold each other up for their individual
gain. In an attempt to solve the issue of incompleteness and the
hold-up threat, the insolvency law provides procedural
C protections i.e., “the law puts in place guardrails that give the
parties room to bargain while keeping them from taking position
that veer toward extreme hold up”
ON MERIT
57. Having discussed Section 29A(h) of the Code as we
D understood, we shall now go into the facts of the instant case.
58. Admittedly, the Respondent No.3 has executed personal
guarantees which were invoked by three of the financial creditors even
prior to the application filed. The rigor of Section 29A(h) of the Code
obviously gets attracted. The eligibility can never be restricted to the
E aforesaid three creditors, but also to other financial creditors in view of
the import of Section 7 of the Code. In the case at hand, in pursuance to
the invocation, an application invoking Section 7 indeed was filed by one
such creditor. It was invoked even at the time of submitting a resolution
plan by the Respondent No.3. Thus, in the touchstone of our interpretation
F of Section 29A(h), we hold that the plan submitted by the Respondent
No.3 ought not to have been entertained.
59. The adjudicating authority and the appellate tribunal were not
right in rejecting the contentions of the appellant on the ground that the
earlier appeals having been withdrawn without liberty, the issue qua
eligibility cannot be raised for the second time. Admittedly, the appellant
G
was not a party to the decision of the adjudicating authority on the first
occasion, in the appeal the appellant merely filed an application for
impleadment. The appellate authority did not decide the matter on merit.
In fact, the question of law is left open. The principle governing res
judicata and issue estoppel would never get attracted in such a scenario.
H
BANK OF BARODA & ANR. v. MBL INFRASTRUCTURES 795
LIMITED & ORS. [M. M. SUNDRESH, J.]
Thus, the reasoning rendered by the appellate tribunal to that extent A
cannot be sustained in law.
60. On the question of limitation, we are in agreement with the
views expressed by the adjudicating authority as confirmed by the
appellate tribunal. There were earlier rounds of litigation with the interim
orders. The delay of 106 days has been rightly condoned and excluded B
by the adjudicating authority by invoking Section 12(3) of the Code. It
was done only on one occasion. The adjudicating authority was right in
holding that there is a marked difference between extension and exclusion.
Exclusion would come into play when the decision is challenged before
a higher forum. Extension is one which is to be exercised by the authority
constituted. C
61. Having held so, we would like to come to the last part of our
order. Though the very resolution plan submitted by the Respondent No.
3, being ineligible is not maintainable, much water has flown under the
bridge. The requisite percentage of voting share has been achieved. We
may also note that the percentage has been brought down from 75% to D
66% by way of an amendment to Section 30(4) of the Code.
62. Secondly, majority of the creditors have given their approval
to the resolution plan. The adjudicating authority has rightly noted that it
was accordingly approved after taking into consideration, the techno-
economic report pertaining to the viability and feasibility of the plan. The E
plan is also put into operation since 18.04.2018, and as of now the
Respondent No. 1 is an on-going concern. Though, the Respondent No.11
has taken up the plea that its offer was conditional, it has got a very
minor share which may not be sufficient to impact by adding it with that
of the appellant and Respondent No.7. The Respondent No.7 and the
Respondent No.11 did not choose to challenge the order of the appellate F
tribunal.
63. We need to take note of the interest of over 23,000 shareholders
and thousands of employees of the Respondent No.1. Now, about Rs.
300 crores has also been approved by the shareholders to be raised by
the Respondent No.1. It is stated that about Rs. 63 crores has been G
infused into the Respondent No.1 to make it functional. There are many
on-going projects of public importance undertaken by the Respondent
No.1 in the nature of construction activities which are at different stages.
64. We remind ourselves of the ultimate object of the Code, which
is to put the corporate debtor back on the rails. Incidentally, we also note
H
796 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 12 S.C.R.
A that no prejudice would be caused to the dissenting creditors as their
interests would otherwise be secured by the resolution plan itself, which
permits them to get back the liquidation value of their respective credit
limits. Thus, on the peculiar facts of the present case, we do not wish to
disturb the resolution plan leading to the on-going operation of the
Respondent No.1.
B
65. The appeal stands disposed of. Accordingly, all applications
stand disposed of. No costs.
Divya Pandey Appeal disposed of.
(Assisted by : Deepak Panwar, LCRA)
C
D
E
F
G
H
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