NCLAT upholds admission of IBC Sec. 10 application and issue of applicability of moratorium where aircrafts leases were terminated prior to admission of Section 10 application need to be considered by NCLT – SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd. Vs. Interim RP of Go Airlines (India) Ltd., Abhilash Lal – NCLAT New Delhi
May 24, 2023
NCLAT upheld the decision of NCLT in Go Airlines (India) Ltd. and held that (i) the mere fact that no notice was issued to the creditors or any opportunity was given to the objectors before proceeding to hear, the Corporate Applicant, cannot be held to vitiate any procedure or violating the principles of natural justice, more so when objectors were heard by the Adjudicating Authority. (ii) In appropriate case where there is an Application under Section 65 of the Code before the Adjudicating Authority, the Adjudicating Authority after initiation of proceedings under Section 10 and before passing any order on Section 10 Application notices that initiation is fraudulent and malicious, the Adjudicating Authority is well within its jurisdiction to consider the Application and if it is held and found that initiation is fraudulent and malicious, the Adjudicating Authority is fully entitled to reject the said Application. Further, NCLAT directed that (i) The Appellant(s) as well as IRP are at liberty to make appropriate Application before the Adjudicating Authority for declaration with regard to applicability of the moratorium on the aircrafts with regard to which Leases in favour of the Corporate Applicant were terminated prior to admission of Section 10 Application, which Application need to be considered and decided by the Adjudicating Authority in accordance with law. (ii) The Appellant(s) and the IRP are also at liberty to make an appropriate Application under Section 60, sub-section (5) with regard to claim of possession and other respective claims of both the parties relating to the aircrafts in question, which need to be decided by the Adjudicating Authority in accordance with law.