Proceedings by a secured creditor under SARFAESI Act cannot be interfered with by a Company Judge under the Companies Act #indianlaws

The required provisions of the Companies Act are incorporated in the SARFAESI Act for harmonizing the SARFAESI Act with the Companies Act in respect of dues of workmen and their protection under Section 529 A of the Companies Act. In view of such exercise already done by the legislature, it was held  by the Supreme Court as not trite to take recourse to any provisions of the Companies Act and permit interference in the proceedings under the SARFAESI Act either by the Company Judge or the liquidator.

Common issue of law that arose before the Apex Court in the instant matter was to determine as to whether a Company Court, directly or through an Official Liquidator, can wield any control in respect of sale of a secured asset by a secured creditor in exercise of powers available to such creditor under the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (‘the SARFAESI Act’)?

In other words the question is whether the Company Court enjoys jurisdiction to issue supervisory direction to a securitization company/ secured creditor in connection with a company in liquidation or under winding up in the face of Section 13 of the SARFAESI Act or securitization company opting to stand outside the winding up is absolutely free to utilise the sale proceeds of assets of the company in liquidation?

Sections 9 and 13 of the SARFAESI Act leaves no manner of doubt that for enforcement of its security interest, a secured creditor has been not only vested with powers to do so without the intervention of the court or tribunal but detailed procedure has also been prescribed to take care of various eventualities such as when the borrower company is under liquidation for which proviso to sub-section (9) of Section 13 contains clear mandate keeping in view the provisions of Section 529 and 529A of the Companies Act, 1956.  The interest of the workmen in respect of dues payable to them as per Section 529 and 529A of the Companies Act has been protected by permitting, wherever necessary, association of the Official Liquidator with the proceedings before the Debts Recovery Tribunal under the RDB Act.

The same view was held to be as required to be taken in context of SARFAESI Act also, for the additional reason that Section 13 requires notice to the borrower at various stages which in the case of a company under winding up being a borrower would mean requirement of notice to the Official Liquidator.  The Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules, 2002 (‘the Rules’) framed under the provisions of SARFAESI Act also require notice upon the borrower or his agent at different stages.  For sale of immovable secured assets, as per Rule 8, the authorized officer can take possession by delivering a Possession Notice to the borrower and by affixing Possession Notice on the outer door or at some conspicuous place of the property.  Before the sale also, the authorized officer is required to serve to the borrower a notice of 30 days.  Thus the Rules also ensure that the Official Liquidator is in knowledge of the proceedings under the SARFAESI Act in case the borrower happens to be a company under winding up.  As a borrower, the Official Liquidator has ample opportunity to get the details of the workers dues as ascertained under the Companies Act, placed before the authorized officer and seek proper distribution of the amount realised from the sale of secured assets in accordance with various provisos under sub-section (9) of Section 13 of the SARFAESI Act.

The above position supports the view taken by Delhi High Court that no order is required by the Company Judge for association of the Official Liquidator in order to protect the interest of workers and to realize their dues.

In the event, in the capacity of a borrower the Official Liquidator is not satisfied with the decisions or steps taken by the secured creditor or the authorized officer, at appropriate stage it has sufficient opportunity to avail right of appeal under Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act before the Debts Recovery Tribunal.  There is a right of further appeal under Section 18 before the Appellate Tribunal.  On the other hand, if the view taken by Punjab & Haryana High Court is accepted, there would be a conflict of rights and interest of the secured creditor who have the right and liberty to realize their secured interest in accordance with the provisions of the SARFAESI Act on one hand, and the statutory rights and liability of the Official Liquidator acting under the orders of the Company Judge as per provisions of the Companies Act, on the other.  The appellate fora would also differ, leading to a situation of uncertainty and conflict between the two Acts.

In view of the above, Supreme Court approved the view taken by Delhi High Court.

It was held as nothing is lacking in the Act so as to borrow anything from the Companies Act till the stage the secured assets are sold by the secured creditors in accordance with the provisions in the SARFAESI Act and the Rules. At the post sale stage, the rights of the persons or parties having any stake in the sale proceeds are also taken care of by sub-section (9) of Section 13 and its five provisos. Further, the required provisions of the Companies Act were incorporated in the SARFAESI Act for harmonizing this Act with the Companies Act in respect of dues of workmen and their protection under Section 529 A of the Companies Act.  In view of such exercise already done by the legislature, it was held as not trite to take recourse to any provisions of the Companies Act and permit interference in the proceedings under the SARFAESI Act either by the Company Judge or the liquidator.

[Pegasus Assets Reconstruction P. Ltd. vs. M/s. Haryana Concast Limited & Anr.]

(SC, 29.12.2015)

Civil Appeal No. 3646 of 2011