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Judgment
Per se : Ms. Manorama Kumari, Member (Judicial)
Mr. Shashikant Thakar filed this Petition under Section 9 of The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 [hereinafter referred to as "the Code"] read with Rule 6 of The Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2016 [hereinafter referred to as "the Rules"], as operational creditor/applicant.
The applicant/operational creditor is a consultant providing consultancy services for GST matters, secretarial matters etc. having registered office at Ahmedabad and having PAN No. ABGPT1234N and Adhar No. 294329545466.
The respondent/corporate debtor is a private limited company registered under the provisions Companies Act, 1956 on 18th May, 1987 and having identification No. U65990GJ1987PTC009648 and having registered office at Ahmedabad, Gujarat State. Authorised share capital of the respondent company is Rs. 7,50,00,000/- and paid up share capital is Rs. 1,45,50,000/-
The applicant/operational creditor provided consultancy services like GST consultancy, assisting in statutory audit and legal consultancy to the respondent for the accounting year 2018-19 and had raised bill No. SNT/19-20/01 dated 01.01.2019 for an amount of Rs. 1,25,000/- (Rupees one lac twenty-five thousand only) and, according to the applicant the said bill has fallen due on 01.02.2019.
The applicant/operational creditor has further stated that, despite vigorous follow-up, the respondent has not paid the aforesaid operational debt, therefore, this petition.
The applicant in support of its claim has furnished copy of documents like affidavit in support of the application, pass book entries for the period from 30.09.2019 to 26.07.2019, invoice dated 01.01.2019, demand notice in form 3 and form 4, general affidavit verifying the application, written consent of the IRP etc.
Findings:
On perusal of the records it is found that the petition was filed on 1st October 2019 and the matter was listed for the first time on 17.10.2019. Thereafter, registry issued notice on 22.10.2019 and the same was delivered to the respondent on 01.11.2019 as per the track report. Thereafter, again, registry issued notice on 29.10.2019 and the same was delivered on 11.11.2019 as per the track report. Even after receiving the notice, none appeared on behalf of the corporate debtor. Therefore, again issued notice to the corporate debtor on 11.08.2020 which was delivered as per the track report, but the corporate debtor never responded. Further, when the matter was listed on 08.09.2020, the corporate debtor did not appear or file any representation/reply. However, on perusal of the record it is found that the earlier three notices have already been served to the corporate debtor, therefore, service upon the corporate debtor is complete.
Heard the FCA appearing for the petitioner. On perusal of the record it is found that the demand notice issued by the applicant under section 8 of the I & B Code on 30.07.2019 has been served upon the corporate debtor, but, no dispute has been raised. Therefore, the petitioner has also filed affidavit of no dispute.
On perusal of the record it is also found that the instant petition filed by the applicant is well within limitation and there is no denial of the operational debt or any pre-existing dispute regarding the operational debt from the side of the corporate debtor.
In the instant application, from the material placed on record by the Applicant, this Authority is satisfied that the application is complete in all respect and the Corporate Debtor committed default in paying the operational debt due and payable to the Applicant.
The documents produced by the operational creditor clearly establish the 'debt' and there is default on the part of the Corporate Debtor in payment of the 'operational debt'.
It has been observed in Mobilox Innovative Private Limited vs. Kirusa Software Private Limited [2017] 1 IBJ(JP) 2 SC that while examining an application under Section 9 of the Act, will have to determine the following: -
Whether there is an "operational debt" as defined exceeding Rs. 1.00 lac (See Section 4 of the Act)
Whether the documentary evidence furnished with the application shows that the aforesaid debt is due and payable and has not yet been paid? and
Whether there is existence of a dispute between the parties or the record of the pendency of a suit or arbitration proceeding filed before the receipt of the demand notice of the unpaid operational debt in relation to such dispute?
If any of the aforesaid conditions is lacking, the application would have to be rejected.
Thus, under the facts and circumstances and as discussed herein above, in the light of the Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgement and the provisions thereof as enshrined in Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, this adjudicating authority is of the considered view that operational debt is due to the Applicant and it fulfilled the requirement of I & B Code. That, service is complete and no dispute has ever been raised by the respondent at any point of time. That, Applicant is an Operational Creditor within the meaning of Section 5 sub-section 20 of the Code. From the aforesaid material on record, petitioner is able to establish that there exists debt as well as occurrence of default and the amount claimed by operational creditor is payable in law by the corporate debtor as the same is not barred by any law of limitation and/or any other law for the time being in force.
Section 13 of the Code enjoins upon the Adjudicating Authority to exercise its discretion to pass an order to declare a moratorium for the purposes referred to in Section 14, to cause a public announcement of the initiation of corporate insolvency resolution and call for submission of claims as provided under Section 15 of the Code. Sub-section (2) of Section 13 says that public announcement shall be made immediately after the appointment of Interim Insolvency Resolution Professional. This Adjudicating Authority direct the Interim Resolution Professional to make public announcement of initiation of Corporate Insolvency Process and call for submission of claims under Section 15 as required by Section 13(1)(b) of the Code.
From the above stated discussion and on the basis of material available on record it is evident that the corporate debtor has committed default in payment of operational debt and, therefore, it is a fit case to initiate Insolvency Resolution Process by admitting the Application under Section 9(5)(1) of the Code.
The petition is, therefore, admitted and the moratorium is declared for prohibiting all of the following in terms of sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the Code: -
the institution of suits or continuation of pending suits or proceedings against the corporate debtor including execution of any judgment, decree or order in any court of law, tribunal, arbitration panel or other authority;
transferring, encumbering, alienating or disposing of by the corporate debtor any of its assets or any legal right or beneficial interest therein;
any action to foreclose, recover or enforce any security interest created by the corporate debtor in respect of its property including any action under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (54 of 2002);
the recovery of any property by an owner or lessor where such property is occupied by or in the possession of the corporate debtor.
It is further directed that the supply of goods and essential services to the Corporate Debtor, if continuing, shall not be terminated or suspended or interrupted during moratorium period. The provisions of sub-section (1) shall, however, not apply to such transactions as may be notified by the Central Government in consultation with any financial sector regulator.
The order of moratorium shall have effect from the date of receipt of authenticated copy of this order till the completion of the corporate insolvency resolution process or until this Bench approves the resolution plan under sub-section (1) of Section 31 or passes an order for liquidation of corporate debtor under Section 33 as the case may be.
The applicant/operational creditor has proposed the name of Mr. Amrish Navinchandra Gandhi to act as Interim Resolution Professional. Therefore, this Adjudicating Authority hereby appoint Mr. Mr. Amrish Navinchandra Gandhi, Shivalik Abaise-504, Opp. Shell Petrol Pump, Near Anand Nagar Bus Stand, Satellite, Ahmedabad 380 015 ([email protected]) having registration No. IBBI/IPA-002/IP-N00670/2018-19/12036 to act as an interim resolution professional under Section 13(1)(c) of the Code.
This Petition is accordingly admitted.
Communicate a copy of this order to the applicant, Corporate Debtor, Registrar of Companies and to the Interim Resolution Professional.
Registry is directed to inform the office of Registrar of Companies that the respondent company is under corporate insolvency resolution process and, therefore, no proceedings for striking off name of the respondent company be initiated arising out of non-compliances of Sections 159 to 162 & 220 etc. of the Companies Act, 2013 as it would be detrimental to the process of the liquidation and sale of assets to realise the amount for all the stakeholders.