Skip to main content

NCLAT: Personal guarantor has no right against corporate debtor

In Lalit Mishra & Ors. Vs Sharon Bio Medicine Ltd. & Ors., the Appellants/promotors challenged the approval of the Resolution Plan on the grounds that the Appellants/promoters were the shareholders and for them no amount has been provided under the ‘Resolution Plan’; and that some of the Appellants/promoters are also ‘personal guarantors’ who have been discriminated.

It was submitted by the Appellants/promotors that the lenders have not been treated similarly and restructuring for its entire claims of the ‘Corporate Debtor’ is against the provisions of the ‘I&B Code’ and that the security interest which include the personal guarantees of the Appellants have been reduced to ‘nil’ and thereby the ‘Resolution Plan’ have been submitted against the provisions of Sections 133 and 140 of the ‘Indian Contract Act’.

The NCLAT opined that it was not the intention of the legislature to benefit the ‘Personal Guarantors’ by excluding exercise of legal remedies available in law by the creditors, to recover legitimate dues by enforcing the personal guarantees, which are independent contracts. It is a settled position of law that the liabilities of guarantors is co-extensive with the borrower. The promoters, who are also among those responsible for having contributed to the insolvency of the ‘Corporate Debtor’. The ‘I&B Code’ prohibits the promoters from gaining, directly or indirectly, control of the ‘Corporate Debtor’, or benefiting from the ‘Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process’ or its outcome. The ‘I&B Code’ seeks to protect creditors of the ‘Corporate Debtor’ by preventing promoters from rewarding themselves at the expense of creditors and undermining the insolvency processes. The NCLAT also held that as the shareholders and promoters are not the creditors, if no amount is given to the promoters/ shareholders and the other equity shareholders who are not the promoters have been separately treated by providing certain amount in their favour, the Appellant cannot claim to have been discriminated.


Comments

Post a Comment

Most viewed this month

Michigan House Approves 'Right-to-Work' Bill

Amid raucous protests, the Republican-led Michigan House approved a contentious right-to-work bill on  Dec 11 limiting unions' strength in the state where the (Union for American Auto Workers)  UAW was born. The chamber passed a measure dealing with public-sector workers 58-51 as protesters shouted "shame on you" from the gallery and huge crowds of union backers massed in the state Capitol halls and on the grounds. Backers said a right-to-work law would bring more jobs to Michigan and give workers freedom. Critics said it would drive down wages and benefits. The right-to-work movement has been growing in the country since Wisconsin fought a similar battle with unions over two years ago. Michigan would become the 24th state to enact right-to-work provisions, and passage of the legislation would deal a stunning blow to the power of organized labor in the United States. Wisconsin Republicans in 2011 passed laws severely restricting the power of public s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Power to re-assess by AO and disclosure of material facts

In AVTEC Limited v. DCIT, the division of the Delhi High Court held that AO is bound to look at the litigation history of the assessee and cannot expect the assessee to inform him.  In the instant case, the Petitioner, engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling of automobiles, power trains and power shift transmissions along with their components, approached the High Court challenging the re-assessment order passed against them. For the year 2006-07, the Petitioner entered into a Business Transfer Agreement with Hindustan Motors Ltd, as per which, the Petitioner took over the business from HML.  While filing income tax return for the said year, the petitioner claimed the expenses incurred in respect of professional and legal charges for the purpose of taking over of the business from HML as capital expenses and claimed depreciation. Article referred: http://www.taxscan.in/assessing-officer-bound-look-litigation-history-assessee-delhi-hc-read-order/8087/
Post a Comment
Read more

The recovery of vehicles by the financier not an offence - SC

Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No. 8907  of 2009 Anup Sarmah (Petitioner) Vs Bhola Nath Sharma & Ors.(Respondents) The petitioner submitted that  respondents-financer had forcibly taken away the vehicle financed by them and  illegally deprived the petitioner from its lawful possession  and  thus,  committed  a crime. The complaint filed by the petitioner had been  entertained  by  the Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class), Gauhati (Assam) in Complaint Case  No.  608 of 2009, even directing the interim custody of the vehicle (Maruti  Zen)  be given to the petitioner vide order dated  17.3.2009.  The respondent on approaching the Guwahati High  Court against this order, the hon'ble court squashed the criminal  proceedings  pending   before  the  learned Magistrate. After hearing both sides, the Hon'ble Supreme Court decided on 30th...
7 comments
Read more