2016年破産倒産法は、目的やプロセスの異なる様々な法律が乱立していた従前と比較して、財務的困難な状況に陥った企業を救済する上で重要な役割を果たしています。破産倒産法の初期の成功要因は種々ありますが、インドの立法府が同法を適切に解釈し、適時に改正してきたことが主な要因として挙げられます。一定の成果を上げている破産倒産法ですが、会社法審判所（＝NCLT）および会社法上訴審判所（＝NCLAT）の機能およびプロセスの合理化には、未だ改善の余地があります。
本記事では、一見すると合理的に見える外部要因を考慮することで、債務不履行に陥った企業債務者が、法に基づく倒産処理手続に異議を唱えることができる根拠を意図せず広げてしまった可能性のある、Air Travel Enterprises India Ltd v. Union Bank of India & Ors.事件におけるNCLATの判決について考察しています。
Facts of the case
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) published discussion papers soliciting comments on issues relating to the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP Discussion Paper) and liquidation process (Liquidation Discussion Paper) on 27 August 2021. The IBBI on 30 September 2021 introduced amendments to the IBBI (Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 (CIRP Regulations) and the IBBI (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016 (Liquidation Regulations).
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) has played a significant role in rescuing financially distressed companies as compared to the former insolvency law regimes which were provided in various statues having different objectives and processes. The initial success of the Code is attributable to various factors including the manner in which the Indian judiciary interpreted the law as well as the timely amendments of the Code by the Legislature.
INTRODUCTION
This newsletter covers key updates about developments in the Insolvency Law during the month of September 2021.
We have summarized the key judgments passed by the Supreme Court of India (SC), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) and the National Company Law Tribunals (NCLT). Please see below the summary of the relevant regulatory developments.
IN THE NEWS
Government lifts (in part) the temporary insolvency measures
On 9 September 2021, the government announced that the temporary restrictions introduced by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (CIGA 2020) which were put in place to protect companies during the pandemic are being lifted, and will be replaced from 1 October 2021 with new temporary measures, which include the introduction of a temporary revised debt limit for presenting winding up petitions.
What have we been up to?
Aside from our collective (but not wholly unexpected) disappointment that the lifting of the remaining Covid restrictions has been pushed back to 19 July, the team continue to advise on a wide range of insolvency related matters, amongst the recent highlights being:
INTRODUCTION
今回のニュースレターでは、2021 年 7 月の破産倒産法関連の主なアップデートについて取り扱ってい ます。最高裁判所（＝SC）、会社法上訴審判所（＝NCLAT）、会社法審判所（＝NCLT）の各裁判所に おいて下された重要な判決をまとめると共に、2016 年破産倒産法の改正についても触れています。
1) THE LOAN AGREEMENT SHOULD BE IN WRITING BETWEEN THE FINANCIAL CREDITOR AND THE CORPORATE DEBTOR IN TERMS OF INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY (APPLICATION TO ADJUDICATING AUTHORITY) RULES, 2016
Matter: Pawan Kumar v. Utsav Securities Pvt. Ltd. and Anr.
Order dated: 03 August 2021.
INTRODUCTION
This newsletter covers key updates about developments in the Insolvency Law during the month of August 2021.
We have summarized the key judgments passed by the Supreme Court of India (SC), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), the National Company Law Tribunals (NCLT) and the amendments in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) by the Government of India. Please see below the summary of the relevant regulatory developments.
From 1 October 2021, those restrictions will be replaced by new measures brought about under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Amendment of Schedule 10 Regulations 2021) (the “Regulations”).
Under the Regulations, which are to be temporary and due to last until 31 March 2022, a creditor will be able to present a winding up petition against a corporate debtor where:-
(i) The debt is for a liquidated amount, which has fallen due and is not an ‘excluded debt’ (see below) (Condition A)
The Government has announced that it will be bringing an end (of sorts) to the temporary restrictions surrounding a creditor’s ability to present a statutory demand and winding up petition against a corporate debtor. Those restrictions, which were introduced under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 in a response to the Covid 19 pandemic, have been in place since June 2020 and were set to expire on 30 September 2021.