Following several civil appeals, the Supreme Court has decided in its final order and judgment dated 13 September 2021 (the judgment) whether a resolution plan that has already been approved by the requisite majority of the committee of creditors (CoC) and that is pending the approval of the adjudicating authority can be modified or withdrawn by a resolution applicant under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (the Code).
Introduction:
Aggrieved by the order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) refusing to condone a delay of 44 (forty-four) days in filing an appeal against the order passed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the Appellant (i.e., National Spot Exchange Limited) preferred an appeal before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
INTRODUCTION
1 | 6 Critique on the Standing Committee Report on Implementation of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code - Pitfalls and Solutions The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance for the year 2020-2021 (Standing Committee) has published the 32nd Report on Implementation of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code - Pitfalls and Solutions (Report) on 29 July 2021. The Report includes various observations and recommendations of the Standing Committee with respect to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (IBC) and the insolvency resolution regime in India.
Facts
The Supreme Court of India (SC) in Orator Marketing Private Limited v Samtex Desinz Private Limited, Civil Appeal No. 2231 of 2021, judgment dated 26th July 2021 has held that an interest free term loan constitutes a financial debt under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
The IBC provides that a financial debt is “a debt along with interest, if any, which is disbursed against the consideration for the time value of money” furthered by an inclusive list of examples that may be considered as a financial debt.
The National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench (Hon’ble NCLT) in application filed by Mr. R. Subramaniakumar, Administrator of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (Administrator) against the Committee of Creditors, through Union Bank of India & Ors. in the matter Reserve Bank of India (RBI) versus Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL) (IA.NO.449/MB/C-II/2021 in CP(IB)No.
With the exponential increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the second wave of the pandemic and the overall economic slowdown, demands are being made for further tweaks the insolvency regime equipped to tide over the crisis.