The recent judgment by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in  NCC Ltd. v. Golden Jubilee Hotels Pvt. Ltd.[i] sheds light on the treatment of operational creditors under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). This ruling emphasizes the evolving judicial perspective regarding the categorization and sub-classification of operational creditors, highlighting the need for flexibility based on objective considerations.

The promulgation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) introduced the categorization of creditors as either “financial” or “operational”. The rights and powers of creditors as either financial or operational creditors though treated equally at the stage of initiation of proceedings under IBC, undergo a sea change once proceedings under IBC stands initiated.

The treatment and position of statutory creditors having a statutory charge in insolvency proceedings gained criticality at the first instance upon passing of the judgment by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of STATE TAX OFFICER (I) VERSUS RAINBOW PAPERS LTD. 2022 SCC ONLINE SC 1162 (Rainbow Papers Case). The issue before the Hon’ble Supreme Court was whether in terms of Section 48 of the Gujarat Value Added Tax Act, 2003, the State Government shall be treated as a “Secured creditor” of the company undergoing insolvency proceedings.

The filing of voluntary insolvency proceedings by the promoters of Go Air in May 2023, being a first of its kind, gained a lot of limelight and the National Company Law Tribunal acted swiftly to admit the insolvency proceedings within a span of 10 days from the date of filing of the insolvency plea. At the time of initiation of proceedings against Go Air, the promptness on the part of the Promoters was being considered significant to assist an ailing airline company which stood grounded as on the date of initiation of insolvency proceedings.