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2023 (2) TMI 995 - HC - Companies LawSeeking winding up of the appellant company - Section 433(e) and 433(f) of the Companies Act, 1956 - HELD THAT:- It is well settled that proceedings for winding up of the company are not recovery proceedings. A company is liable to be wound up under Section 433(e) of the Companies Act, 1956 if it is unable to pay the debt. In terms of Section 434 of the Companies Act, if a company fails to pay an admitted debt after receipt of the notice under the said Section, it would be deemed to be unable to pay the debt. We are unable to accept that in the given facts, the appellant has failed to repay an admitted debt. Admittedly, only a sum of ₹30,00,000/- was received by the appellant and the respondent had paid the remaining amount as claimed by it to PCI Middle East FZE. The learned Company Court had also noted that PCI Middle East FZE was a subsidiary of the appellant. Although, PCI Middle East FZE may be a subsidiary of the appellant, it is a separate entity. Undeniably, in cases where the defence against the claim of debt is found to be moonshine or a sham, the petition for winding up would be maintainable on account of inability to pay the debt. However, the facts of the case must clearly establish that there is no plausible defence available to the debtor company. The defence so raised has been solely for the purposes of avoiding repayment of admitted debt and in most cases, to camouflage the inability to do so. Appeal allowed.
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