2023 (5) TMI 869 - AT - Corporate Laws

Oppression and Mismanagement - whether on the date of passing of the impugned order had ceased to be company under the Companies Act and its name was already struck off from the register of the ROC? - HELD THAT:- It is true that the appellant, while was on the role of the register of ROC, had filed a Company Petition on an allegation of oppression and mismanagement of Respondent No.1 company which was numbered as CP No.58/2012, but during the pendency of the said petition the name of the appellant company was struck off due to his own default of non-filing of statutory return before the ROC continuously after 2012 and finally on 08.08.2018 the name of the appellant company was struck off from the register of the ROC. CP No.58/2012 was filed by the appellant in the capacity of company incorporated under the Companies Act. Once the name of the appellant company was ceased to be company it was not competent to maintain the CP No.58/2012.

There is no doubt that after the striking off the name, a company ceases to remain as a company. However, even after dissolution of the company in view of striking off its name from the register, its existence remains only for the purpose of realising the amount due to the company or for the payment or discharge of the liabilities or obligations of the company. Meaning thereby that after striking off the name of the appellant company the appellant was not entitled to pursue the CP No.58/2012 which was primarily filed on an allegation of oppression and mismanagement of Respondent No.1 not for realisation of any debt.

The present case cannot be equated with a dispute relating to realisation/claim of the Income Tax liabilities.

Since the appellant on the date of passing of the impugned order had ceased to be company under the Companies Act and its name was already struck off from the register of the ROC, the CP No.58/2012 had become infructuous and learned NCLT has rightly dismissed the CP No.58/2012 - Appeal dismissed.