Dharma Fintech Ltd. was going through Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process. Roma was duly appointed as the Resolution Professional. In a meeting of Committee of Creditors, the resolution plan was duly approved by the

CS Professional · Multidisciplinary Case Studies · PYQS · December 2024
Dharma Fintech Ltd. was going through Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process. Roma was duly appointed as the Resolution Professional. In a meeting of Committee of Creditors, the resolution plan was duly approved by the financial creditors, with a majority of 90% votes. Roma was asked by the Committee of Creditors to approach the NCLT' for its final order on the Resolution Plan. Instead of issuing its final order, NCLT issued a direction to the official liquidator of the Company to carry out a revaluation of the assets of the Company. Aggrieved by the order of NCLT, the Committee of Creditors asked Roma to approach NCLAT. On appeal, NCLT's decision was upheld by the NCLAT. Roma was evaluating to approach Supreme Court in this matter. In the background of a judicial precedent, advise Roma.

Answer & Explanation:

Answer 2(b) The facts and legal issue of the question similar to the case of Ramkrishna Forgings Limited (Appellant) Vs. Ravindra Loonkar, Resolution Professional of ACIL Limited & Anr. (Respondents) The present appeal under Section 62 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code before the Hon'ble Supreme Court against the Impugned Judgment passed by the NCLAT. Hon'ble Supreme Court inter alia observed that having considered the matter in depth, the Court is unable to uphold the decisions rendered by the Adjudicating Authority-NCLT as also the NCLAT. The moot question involved is the extent of the jurisdiction and powers of the Adjudicating Authority to go on the issue of revaluation in the background of the admitted and undisputed factual position that no objection was raised by any quarter with regard to any deficiency/irregularity, either by the RP or the appellant or the CoC, in finally approving the Resolution Plan which was sent to the Adjudicating Authority-NCLT for approval. Further, the statutory requirement of the RP involving two approved valuers for giving reports on fair market value and liquidation value was duly complied with and the figures in both reports were not at great variance. Significantly, the same were then put up before the CoC, which is the decision-maker and in the driver's seat, so to say, of the Corporate Debtor. K Sashidhar (supra) and Committee of Creditors of Essar Steel India Ltd. (supra) are clear authorities that the CoC's decision is not to be subjected to unnecessary judicial scrutiny and intervention. This came to be reiterated in Maharashtra Seamless Limited (supra), which also emphasised that the CoC's commercial analysis ought not to be qualitatively examined and the direction therein of the NCLAT to direct the successful Resolution Applicant to enhance its fund flow was disapproved of by this Court. Thus, if the CoC, including the FC(s) to whom money is due from the Corporate Debtor, had undertaken repeated negotiations with the appellant with regard to the Resolution Plan and thereafter, with a majority of 88.56% votes, approved the final negotiated Resolution Plan of the appellant, which the RP, in turn, presented to the Adjudicating Authority (NCLT) for approval, unless the same was failing the tests of the provisions of the Code, especially Sections 30 & 31, no interference was warranted. In Kalpraj Dharamshi v Kotak Investment Advisors Limited, (2021) 10 SCC 401, the Court concluded that '... in view of the paramount importance given to the decision of CoC, which is to be taken on the basis of "commercial wisdom", NCLAT was not correct in law in interfering with the commercial decision taken by CoC by a thumping majority of 84.36%.' In the present case, the CoC has approved the resolution plan with a majority of 90%. Thus, the order passed by NCLT and the NCLAT is in contradiction of the IBC, 2016. Thus, Roma is advised to approach the Supreme Court for relief.

Topics: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)

Open in Interactive Practice Hub · Full Practice Hub · Chapter Weightage · More in this subject

Related Questions in this Topic