India, Israel ink historic MoU in Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector (See 'Corp Brief') Food Processing to play Decisive Role in Realising Vision of Viksit Bharat: Paswan (See 'Corp Brief') MoRTH sensitizes Stakeholders on 'PM RAHAT' - Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims (See 'Corp Brief') Nadda to head reconstituted Hindi Advisory Committee in Chemicals Ministry (See 'Corp Brief') MoS urges scaling up bamboo utilisation (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Liability to pay interest on a decretal amount ceases to run from date funds are made unconditionally available for withdrawal by Decree Holder: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Winners of 'Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0' bag total prize pool of Rs. 6.85 Cr (See 'Corp Brief') MSME Ministry upgrades National Small Industries Corporation to ‘Schedule A' CPSE (See 'Corp Brief') NMDC R&D Centre Partners with IIT Hyderabad for Advanced Mining Research (See 'Corp Brief') Gulmarg to become Global Hub for Winter Sports: Mandaviya (See 'Corp Brief') Misc - CA, who holds position of trust, is guilty of misconduct if he conspire to manipulate public issue by using ante-dated financial instruments to facilitate irregular share allotments for personal benefit: HC (See 'Legal Desk') PM GatiShakti Group evaluates key Infrastructure projects (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Waiver of rights under contract such as debenture trust deed cannot be implied if agreement explicitly requires such waiver to be in writing: SC (See 'Legal Desk') IBC - Manner in which bank classifies loan as non-performing asset for accounting or provisioning purposes does not determine IBC, if debt was restructured and acknowledged in fresh agreements: SC (See 'Legal Desk') IBC - corporate restructuring under IBC must be prioritized over stalled and ineffective proceedings under Companies Act to protect public funds and larger economic interest: SC (See 'Legal Desk') IBC - NCLT can't Reject Sec 7 application citing corporate debtor's financial health, once twin requirements of debt & default are established: SC LB (See 'Legal Desk') Misc - civil suit cannot be rejected at threshold under Order VII Rule 11 of CPC merely because it contains ground of coercion, undue influence or misrepresentation: SC (See 'Legal Desk') NI Act - Sec 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act pertaining to cheque dishonor apply only when payment fails because of lack of funds: HC (See 'Legal Desk') SEBI - Principles of natural justice required disclosure of the names and basic details of the complainants, as the adjudication would entail civil consequences: SAT (See 'Legal Desk') India, Kenya hold Working Group Meeting on Agriculture through Virtual Mode (See 'Corp Brief') NIFTEM-K to organise Global Platform with Participation from 25 Countries (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Moratorium u/s 14 of IBC is intended to preserve debtor's estate from creditor actions aimed at debt recovery, but does not interdict sovereign proceedings in rem for attachment or confiscation under Benami Act: SC (See 'Legal Desk') ESIC commences 75th Foundation Year Celebrations (See 'Corp Brief') Misc - Telecom operator is liable to pay reserve price fixed for November 2012, 2G spectrum auction from February 2, 2012, date on which its licence stood quashed: SC (See 'Legal Desk') Stakeholder Consultation held for inputs on proposed Advanced Manufacturing Systems Mission (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Registration of Device Mark is to be considered as whole and while determining deceptive similarity with another Trade Mark: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Biotechnology will power next industrial revolution: MoS (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Trademark could not be removed simply for non-use: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Union Minister inaugurates Special Handloom Expo (See 'Corp Brief') India, Brazil sign TKDL Access Agreement for protection of Patent (See 'Corp Brief') Memorandum of Cooperation signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi and AP (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Registered mark is liable to be removed if not used for continuous period of five years & three months prior to filing of petition, unless special circumstances are shown: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Footwear Design and Development Institute celebrates 5th Convocation Ceremony (See 'Corp Brief') 96% houses under PMAY-U 2.0 allotted for women (See 'Corp Brief') SEBI - Adjudication proceedings are nullified where the noticee has ceased to exist on account of being struck off the RoC: SEBI (See 'Legal Desk') India-Brazil MoU signed to Deepen MSME Cooperation (See 'Corp Brief') IFSCA-IICA unveil Strategic Roadmap to institutionalize Corporate Governance Ecosystem at GIFT-IFSC (See 'Corp Brief') Grant support extended to 5 Innovators under CSR-backed Programme (See 'Corp Brief') Misc - Notice u/s 91 of CrPC cannot be issued to accused person to compel them to furnish information that is based on their personal knowledge: HC (See 'Legal Desk') MoS holds bilateral Talks with Rwanda ICT Minister (See 'Corp Brief') India, Brazil sign MoU to strengthen and secure steel supply chain (See 'Corp Brief') Misc - SICA - failure to repay dues or subsequent financial incapacity cannot constitute cheating in he absence of fraudulent intent at time of inducement: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Supreme Court Clears Path For Single Insolvency Proceedings Against Linked Group Companies (See CORP EINSICHT)

NCLT admits Aircel's bankruptcy plea, rejects GTL Infrastructure's intervention

Published: Mar 09, 2018

By TIOLCORPLAWS News Service

MUMBAI, MAR 9, 2018: The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Thursday admitted the bankruptcy petition filed by Aircel Ltd and rejected the intervention sought by GTL Infrastructure Ltd, an operational creditor of the Chennai-based telecom company.

GTL had earlier filed a case against Aircel in the Delhi High Court over non-payment of dues. It intervened in the bankruptcy case, arguing that the High Court in a 29 January interim order had said that separate applications had to be filed before it for issues such as sale of assets.

However, NCLT said that an operational creditor cannot intervene at this juncture (before the admission of insolvency petition) and admitted Aircel's insolvency plea.

Aircel and its subsidiaries Aircel Cellular Ltd and Dishnet Wireless Ltd together owe around Rs 50,000 cr to creditors. The combined liability of the firms towards financial creditors stands at Rs 15,545 cr and towards operational creditors at around Rs 35,000 cr.

Aircel's lawyer argued that the operator was not prohibited by the high court from filing for bankruptcy, and said the admission of the firm for insolvency proceedings required a sense of “urgency” as several stakeholders were being affected. He said the appointment of an interim resolution professional would increase the probability of maximizing the asset value instead of continuing in a distressed state.

Aircel's assets including spectrum licences and fibre, are valued at around Rs 32,362 cr.

Aircel Group had on 1 December 2017 informed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) that it intended to surrender its licence in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (West), following which the company shut services in these circles from 31 January.

TIOL CORP SEARCH

TIOL GROUP WEBSITES