This Compendium consolidates all the case laws and notifications under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 circulated as prisms and summarised in the newsletters during the calendar period from January 2023 till December 2023. Application under Section 7 or 9 of the IBC is extendable only by an application under Section 5 of Limitation Act on grounds of sufficient cause The Supreme Court of India (“Supreme Court ”) in the case of Sabarmati Gas Limited vs.

In the case of Dilip B Jiwrajka v Union of India & Ors, a 3 (three) judge bench of the Supreme Court of India (“SupremeCourt”) has upheld the constitutional validity of Sections 95 to 100 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”).

Background

On October 4, 2023, a 2 (two) judge bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India (“Supreme Court”) in the case of Union Bank of India v. Rajat Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd and Sunview Assets Pvt Ltd. held that the powers of the Supreme Court under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, 1950 ("Constitution”), being inherent in nature, are complementary to those powers which are specifically conferred by statute.

Brief Facts

The National Company Law Tribunal, Kolkata Bench (“NCLT”), in EPC Constructions India Limited through its Liquidator – Abhijit Guhathkurtha v. M/s Matix Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited has ruled that preference shareholders cannot step into the shoes of a financial creditor unless their preference shares become redeemable.

Brief Facts

In a recent decision in the case of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd. v. HDFC Bank Ltd. and Another, the Supreme Court of India (“Supreme Court”) has held that the rents receivable by a borrower which was assigned to a lender of a lease rental discounting facility would not be treated as an asset of the borrower, and thus fall outside the purview of the asset and security freeze order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (“NCLAT”).

Brief Facts

In an application filed by Vishram Narayan Panchpor, resolution professional of Blue Frog Media Private Limited (“Corporate Debtor”) in the matter of M/s Blue Frog Media Private Limited¹ for approval of a resolution plan, the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (“NCLT Mumbai”) ruled that the object of Section 29A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”) requires a resolution professional to conduct adequate due diligence on a prospective resolution applicant and its related parti

In the matter of Mr. Shantanu Prakash vs. Mr. Mahendar Singh Khandelwal (resolution professional of Educomp Solutions Limited) and others, while disposing of an interim application filed under Section 60(5) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”), the New Delhi bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (“NCLT New Delhi”) held that a guarantor can question the valuation at which the security pledged by the borrower with its secured creditor is enforced.

Brief Facts

In a recent decision, the NCLAT in the case of Beetel Teletech Ltd. v. Arcelia IT Services Private Limited made 2 (two) relevant findings on the maintainability of applications under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”):

On October 3, 2023, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (“MCA”) issued a notification exempting transactions, arrangements or agreements under the Cape Town Convention (as defined below), relating to aircraft, aircraft engines, airframes and helicopters from moratorium under Section 14(1) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”) (“Notification”).

On September 18, 2023, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (“IBBI”) notified the IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2023 (“CIRP Amendment Regulations”) amending the IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 (“CIRP Regulations”) under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”).

In a nutshell, the CIRP Amendment Regulations: