Introduction
No single umbrella legislation governs insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings in India. Instead, there is a slew of legislation governing the legal framework, including:
The Supreme Court of India, with respect to the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interests Act, 2002 (“SARFAESI Act”), has held that powers under the Companies Act cannot be wielded by the Company courts to interfere with proceedings by a secured creditor to realize its secured interests in terms of the provisions of the SARFAESI Act
What is this all about?
India is proposing a new insolvency and bankruptcy code. It’s all part of the “Make In India” campaign by Narendra Modi’s government who are trying to attract businesses to India.
Current law
It does not appear that there has been a single separate law for bankruptcy legislation in the country’s history. Currently / historically the following have been used for insolvency purposes:
Delhi High Court has rejected the plea that the Company Court must exercise its jurisdiction to supervise the Scheme of Arrangements, to evict tenants of premises which are not owned by the company. Winding up proceedings were initiated against the company and with a view to realize assets Scheme of Arrangements was accepted by the court. During the pendency of the winding up proceedings and before the sanctioning of the Scheme by the Court, dues of all creditors were settled.
Proposed Swiss International Insolvency Law Reforms
In October 2015, the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police (Eidgenössisches Justiz- und Polizeidepartement) published a preliminary draft of reforms to title 11 of the Swiss Private International Law Act (“SPILA”), which governs insolvency proceedings and compensation proceedings (Articles 166–175 rev-SPILA), together with an explanatory report. The consultation procedure for the proposed reforms culminated on February 5, 2016.
Presently, prior to a listed Indian company filing a scheme (Scheme) before the High Court for merger/de-merger/amalgamation/reduction of capital (Reconstruction) under the Companies Act, 1956 (Companies Act), it is required to first submit the Scheme to the stock exchange for approval. Upon successful completion of the Reconstruction, the company must ensure that at least 25% of its post-issue capital is offered and allotted to the public.
Provisions under Companies Act , 1956
Chapter V of Part VI: Management and Administration of the Indian Companies Act, 1956 [hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act’] regulates Arbitration, Compromises, Arrangements and Reconstructions as covered under Section 390-396A of the said Act. Section 390 of the Act provides interpretation of Sections 391 and 393 as under:
390. INTERPRETATION OF SECTIONS 391 AND 393
In sections 391 and 393, -
The Supreme Court of India ("SC") has held that in the event of liquidation of a company, claims of employees have to be considered by the Official Liquidator of the company and not by the Debt Recovery Tribunal ("DRT"). The SC made this decision in the case of Bank of Maharashtra v. Pandurang Keshav Gorwardkar & Ors.1, and laid down certain rules for deciding employee claims.
FACTS
Last week we alerted clients to the need for a rapid assessment of their exposure to Satyam in the wake of the much-publicized acknowledgement of fraud and mis-reporting of financial results by the company’s founder and former Chairman.
Co-Author - Jehangir N. Mistry Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe
Co-Author - Shireen Pochkhanawalla Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe
This article was published in Bankruptcy Law360 and Corporate Finance Law360 on May 23, 2011. © Copyright 2011, Portfolio Media, Inc., publisher of Law360.