By virtue of the IBC (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2017 dated 25.05.2017, scheme approved by the Board of Industrial & Financial Reconstruction(BIFR), would be deemed to be an approved resolution plan under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner pointing out that by an order dated 21st January, 2010 (page 50), the Board of Industrial & Financial Reconstruction (‘BIFR’ hereafter) sanctioned a scheme (SS10) for demerger of two companies namely M/s Sharda Ispat Industries Ltd. (SIIL) and the Sarda Power and Steel Limited (SPSL) which demerger was being worked out. Due to the intervention of the Sick Industries Companies (Special Provisions) Repel Act, 2003 and Section 252 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the proceedings before the BIFR abated.
The petitioner has submitted that the BIFR had passed an order dated 26th March, 2013 (page 90). So far as the provisions before the erstwhile BIFR were concerned, orders dated 26th March, 2013 and 26th May, 2016 specifically issued directions and observations so far as the conduct of the Bombay Stock Exchange vis-a-vis the aforesaid scheme with regards to the two companies were concerned.
The petitioner is aggrieved that by virtue of abatement of the proceedings before the BIFR, the petitioner has been rendered remediless so far as the violation by the Bombay Stock Exchange is concerned.
“Provided also that any scheme sanctioned under sub-section (4) or any scheme under implementation under sub-section (12) of section 18 of the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 shall be deemed to be an approved resolution plan under sub-section (1) of section 31 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and the same shall be dealt with, in accordance with the provisions of Part II of the said Code.
Authority” (by Section 81) which is defined, by Clause (1) of Section 5, as the National Company Law Tribunal. The petitioner, therefore, has an appropriate remedy available under, Section 74 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, before the National Company Law Tribunal exercising jurisdiction therein.
In view of the above, learned counsel for the petitioner prays for leave to withdraw this writ petition with liberty to invoke the said remedy in accordance with law.
This writ petition is disposed of as withdrawn with liberty as prayed for.
We may note that the petitioner has also assailed the constitutional validity of the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Repeal Act, 2003. This question is left open.
We also make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the petitioner’s case.
Case Reference: In the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi, W.P (C)No.8565/2017, M/S Sharda Ispat Limited (SIL) vs. Union of India & ORS, Date of Order: 25.09.2017.