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2019 (11) TMI 732 - HC - Companies LawHandover of possession of the properties belonging to the Company (In Liquidation) - Permission to Official Liquidator to break open the lock put by the ex-management of J.B. Diamonds Limited, the Company (In Liquidation) on the premises namely Bharat Diamond Bourse, Office Space No.8120, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai-400 051 - takeover of physical possession of the assets of the Company, of which symbolic possession has already been taken by the Official Liquidator, and if necessary, with the assistance of the Police Authorities, by directing the tenants (tenancy rights whereof are disputed by the Official Liquidator) to vacate the premises. HELD THAT:- The record reveals gross collusion between the ex-directors of the Company in liquidation and the directors/partners of the tenants. All the suits have been filed by the tenants in the year 2011, which is the same year in which the Company Petition was filed against the Company under Sections 433 and 434 of the Companies Act. It is during that time, the tenants, claiming a right in the assets of the Company (in liquidation), approached the Courts in Mumbai and in Surat, where the various assets of the Company are situated and obtained orders/decrees from the Courts, which forms the underlying basis on which the tenants are claiming protection and have obstructed the Official Liquidator from taking possession of the assets of the Company in liquidation. It is an admitted fact that the properties are the assets of the Company in liquidation. Hence, under the scheme and the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, this Court is required to protect the assets of the Company in order to not defeat the rights of the workers and the creditors of the Company. The record reveals a shocking state of affairs, which supports the stand of the Official Liquidator of the collusion and fraud on part of the ex-directors of the Company and the tenants. The relationship between the ex-directors of the Company and the directors/partners of the tenants is not in dispute - it can be hardly contended by the tenants that the orders/decrees were not collusive and/or that no fraud was played by the tenants and the ex-directors of the Company on the Courts in Mumbai and Surat. The orders/decrees passed by the Courts in favour of tenants declaring them to be tenants, are a nullity in the eyes of law and are declared illegal and void, as being coram non judice and hence not binding on the Official Liquidator of the Company (in liquidation) - The tenants are directed to handover physical possession of the properties set out in paragraphs 7 and 8 above within a period of one (1) week from the date of uploading this Order. The Official Liquidator's Report is accordingly disposed of.
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