Can a Corporate Debtor file an application under Section 8 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, after filing a reply to an application under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC)? – Century Aluminium Company Ltd. Vs. Religare Finvest Ltd. – NCLAT New Delhi
Hon’ble NCLAT held that:
(i) Right to move Section 8 Application was forfeited since Corporate Debtor did not choose to file the Application.
(ii) Whether Arbitration Proceedings are pending on the date when Section 7 Application is filed or it is sought to be initiated subsequent to filing of Section 7 Application is immaterial.
(iii) By not filing of Application under Section 8 at the time of filing of a Reply to Section 7, Corporate Debtor has forfeited his right to file his Application under Section 8.
(iv) Arbitration Proceeding which were initiated by Financial Creditor are still pending, that neither preclude the Financial Creditor from filing a Section 7 Application nor preclude the Adjudicating Authority to proceed to consider the debt and default in Section 7 Application.