The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) was recently announced as the adjudicating authority for insolvency proceedings relating to companies, limited liability partnerships and other body corporates under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016,(1) with effect from June 1 2016.(2) The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which will hear appeals from NCLT decisions, has also been established.(3) The NCLT will have 11 benches across India.
Introduction
From an investor's standpoint, a robust and effective bankruptcy regime is a prerequisite for the development of the corporate debt market. However, the existing insolvency and bankruptcy framework is highly fragmented, which has led to complex issues on how to reconcile various statutes with one another.
Introduction
Background and need
From the Justice Eradi Committee report of 1999 to the Department of Financial Services’ indicator of October 2015, the pendency of winding-up cases in India has been piling up to reach an alarmingly high level of backlog [see end note 1]. The World Bank has ranked India on the 130th position among 189 economies as it takes more than four years on an average to resolve insolvency in India [see end note 2].
The three-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India in the case of Madura Coats Limited (“the Appellant”) vs.
Introduction
Questions around the interplay between the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act 2002, the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act 1985, the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act 1993 and the Companies Act 1956 have frequently arisen in various high courts and the Supreme Court.
The upper house of Parliament (the Rajya Sabha) passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 on May 11 2016.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code passed by the Parliament is a welcome overhaul of the existing framework dealing with insolvency of corporates, individuals, partnerships and other entities. It paves the way for much needed reforms while focussing on creditor driven insolvency resolution.
BACKGROUND