Threshold Of Rs.1 Crore Is Required For Initiation of CIRP, Even If The Cause Of Action Arises Out Of Failure Of The Consent Terms Of The Earlier Section 7 Application: NCLAT

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) bench comprising of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Ms. Shreesha Merla in the case of Prafulla Purushottamrao Gadge v. Narayan Mangal held that an application filed after 24.03.2020 under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 below the threshold of Rs. One Crore is not maintainable. The suspended director of the Corporate Debtor filed the appeal against the order dated 04.04.2022 passed by NCLT Mumbai wherein CIRP was initiated against the Corporate Debtor for the default of INR 78,65,000/-. Brief Facts The Financial Creditor filed an application under Section 7 of IBC for an amount of INR 63,20,388/- against the Corporate Debtor but the same stands withdrawn on 13.12.2019 as the parties have amicably settled the matter and filed the consent terms before the NCLT Subsequently, another application under Section 7 of IBC was filed on 25.06.2021 for an amount of INR 78,65,000/- which was admitted by NCLT and the CIRP was initiated against the Corporate Debtor. Relevant law The Ministry of Corporate Affairs vide its notification dated 24.03.2020 increased the threshold under Section 4 of IBC to INR One Crore from INR One Lakhs "In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to section 4 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016), the Central Government hereby specifies one crore rupees as the minimum amount of default for the purposes of the said section." Contentions of Corporate Debtor It was contended by the Corporate Debtor that view of the Notification dated 24.03.2020 by which threshold of Rupees One Crore has been provided and minimum amount of default for the purpose of filing an Application under Part-II of the IBC, the Application filed on 25.06.2021 having not fulfilling the threshold ought to have been rejected and the NCLT did not even consider this aspect of minimum threshold and has admitted the application. Contentions of Financial Creditor It was contended by the Financial Creditor that the application dated 25.06.2021 is in continuation of the earlier application dated 12.10.2019 when no threshold of one Crore was applicable as the increased threshold was only introduced on 24.03.2020. Decision/Observation of NCLAT The NCLAT held that the application filed on 25.06.2021 has to fulfill the requirement of increased threshold as introduced in Section 4 of IBC by notification dated 24.03.2020. NCLAT refuted the contention of Financial Creditor regarding the continuation of earlier filed Section 7 application by stating that a restoration application was filed by Financial Creditor which was dismissed by NCLT and no appeal has been filed by the Financial Creditor against the same. NCLT further held that though the settlement agreement mentioned that in event of any default, there shall be a liberty to initiate fresh legal proceedings but same have to fulfill the threshold of Rupees One Crores. In view of the above, NCLAT set aside the order dated 04.04.2022 of NCLT, Mumbai. Case Title: Prafulla Purushottamrao Gadge v. Narayan Mangal Counsel for Appellant: Mr. Dhruv Gupta, Mr. Dhananjay Dhondarkar Counsel for Respondent: Mr. Pulkit Tare, Mr. Jatin Sehgal. Click Here To Read /Download Order

Threshold Of Rs.1 Crore Is Required For Initiation of CIRP, Even If The Cause Of Action Arises Out Of Failure Of The Consent Terms Of The Earlier Section 7 Application: NCLAT

Akshay Sharma

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