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2019 (12) TMI 1173 - NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNAL, CHENNAIApproval of the Resolution Plan - extension of time period for legal proceedings - invitation for "EoI" - filing of the Resolution Plan by the Resolution Applicant - Section 30(6) of I&B Code, 2016 - Since the Resolution Plan submitted by the successful Resolution Applicant scored more value, the same was placed before the COC for voting which was ultimately approved by the COC and voted with approval of 81.39% of share and now the Resolution Plan placed for consideration. HELD THAT:- It is a settled law that the Financial Creditors and the Operational Creditors cannot be treated on the same footing and moreover, the principle of equality cannot be stretched to treating unequals equally, as that will destroy the very objective of the Code. It is time and again reiterated by the Hon'ble Supreme Court that so long as the provisions of the Code and the Regulations have been met, it is the commercial wisdom of the requisite majority of the Committee of Creditors which is to negotiate and accept a resolution plan, which may involve differential payment to different classes of creditors, together with negotiating with a prospective resolution applicant for better or different terms which may also involve differences in distribution of amounts between different classes of creditors and hence the objections made by the Applicants are not sustainable A conjoint reading of Section 25(2)(h) of the IBC, 2016 with Regulation 36A (10), (11) and (12) would posit the fact that objections to inclusion or exclusion of a prospective resolution applicant in the provisional list referred to in sub-regulation (10) can be made with supporting documents within five days from the date of issue of the provisional list - In the present case, the intended prospective resolution applicant viz. Sai Trading and Interiors has expressed their interest by way of an email to the Resolution Professional on 17.04.2019 and his name was included in the provisional list of resolution applicant released by the Resolution Professional on 23.04.2019, however his name was left out from the final list of prospective resolution applicant released by the Resolution Professional on 28.04.2019. A perusal of the minutes of the 8th COC reveals the fact that exclusion of M/S. Sai Trading and Interiors from the prospective list of resolution applicant was deliberated upon by the COC in its 8th COC meeting dated 28.04.2019 and the COC and the Home buyers had serious doubts as to the capability, competence, quality, bonafide and financial soundness of M/S. Sai Trading and Interiors and upon detailed discussions made thereunder, it was finally resolved to exclude M/S. Sai Trading and Interiors from the prospective list of resolution applicant and moreover, as per Regulation 36A (11) of IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016, the COC is empowered to include or exclude any person from the prospective resolution applicant. The person challenging the Resolution Plan is not even an unsuccessful Resolution Applicant but only an intended prospective resolution applicant, whose name has been left out from the final list of resolution applicants, M/S. Sai Traders and Interiors has no vested right that his resolution plan ought to have been considered by the COC and no challenge can be preferred thereof before this Adjudicating Authority. The Resolution Plan is hereby approved and is binding on the Corporate Debtor and other stakeholders involved so that revival of the Debtor Company shall come into force with immediate effect and the "Moratorium" imposed under section 14 of IBC, 2016 shall not have any effect henceforth - application disposed off.
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