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2023 (10) TMI 1171 - NATIONAL COMPANY LAW APPELLATE TRIBUNAL , PRINCIPAL BENCH , NEW DELHI-LBMaintainability of section 9 application - initiation of CIRP - Application dismissed on the ground that it is barred by limitation - arbitration clause present in the agreement - eligibility for benefit of Section 14 of the Limitation Act. It is submitted that there is arbitration clause in the agreement and the suit could not have been decided on merits, hence, the benefit of Section 14 needs to be extended to the Appellant. Time Limitation - HELD THAT:- Benefit of Section 14 of the Limitation Act was sought by the Appellant on the basis of filing of suit and pendency of the suit during the period 03.10.2017 till 18.07.2022. The suit was withdrawn without any liberty from the Court to institute a fresh proceeding and termination of suit cannot be held on ground of defect of jurisdiction on cause of like nature. Thus, an essential condition for extending the benefit of Section 14 is absent. Thus, the delay in filing Section 9 application with delay cannot be said to be a sufficient cause within the meaning of Section 5. The benefit for exclusion of the time during which proceedings under SARFAESI Act was pending was based on the observation that the said proceedings are without jurisdiction, on which prima facie finding High Court has granted stay. Hon’ble Supreme Court in Sesh Nath Singh [2021 (3) TMI 1183 - SUPREME COURT] also observed that Section 5 of the Limitation Act is also applicable in proceedings under Section 9 and on sufficient cause, the said delay can be condoned - The Judgment of “Sesh Nath Singh” was in facts and grounds as noted above and does not help the Appellant in the present case. It is further observed that that the proceedings under IBC are not proceedings for recovery of contractual dues, as is apparent from the facts of the present case the Operational Creditor has initiated proceeding for recovery of its contractual dues arising out of contract between the parties. Suit for recovery of dues was already filed by the Appellant which was withdrawn by the Appellant. It is, however, relevant to notice that withdrawal of the suit was not on the ground contended by the Appellant nor any liberty was granted by the Civil Court to institute a fresh suit nor Appellant at any point of time resorted to the proceeding of arbitration which according to the Appellant was reason for withdrawal of suit. The present was a case filed by the Operational Creditor only for recovery of its contractual dues with regard to default committed as per the case of the Appellant on 30.04.2015 for stage 1 and 23.10.2018 for stage 2. The Adjudicating Authority did not commit any error in rejecting Section 9 application as barred by time - there are no merit in this Appeal - appeal dismissed.
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