Jagatjit Brown Forman (India) Ltd. v. Official Liquidator

Delhi High Court · 03 Jun 2011 · 2011:DHC:8238
Manmohan J
Co. Appi.(C) 2/2007 & Co. Appl. 399/2011 in Co. Pet. 19112007
2011:DHC:8238
corporate appeal_dismissed

AI Summary

The Court dismissed recovery applications under Section 446 of the Companies Act, 1956 in a company liquidation where no creditors claimed dues and the joint venture partners were uninterested in revival.

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Present: Mr. Anil Airi, Advocate with Mr. Siddharth Bawa, Advocate for Jagajit Industries Ltd.
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Mr. Rajiv Bahl, Advocate for Official Liquidator.
Co. Appi.(C) 2/2007 & Co. Appl. 399/2011 in Co. Pet. 19112007
Co. Appl. (C) 3/2007 & Co. Appl. 400/2011 in Co. Pet. 439/1999
Co. Appl. (C) 8/2007 in Co. Pet. 439/1999
Co. Appl. (C) 1112007 & Co. Appl. 402/2011 in Co. Pet. 439/1999
Co. Appl. (C) 14/2007 & Co. Appl. 403/2011 in Co. Pet. 439/1999
Co. Appl. (C) 16/2007 in Co. Pet. 439/1999
Co. Appl. (C) 23/2007 & Co. Appl. 404/2011 in Co. Pet. 439/1999
Co. Appl. (C) 24/2007 & Co. Appl. 405/2011 in Co. Pet. 439/1999
Co. Appl. (C) 3/2008 in Co. Pet. 439/1999
Co. Appl. (C) 4112008 in Co. Pet. 439/1999
(In the matter ofM/s. Jagatjit Brown Forman (India) Ltd.)
On 26th May, 2011, this Court in similar matters had passed the following order:-
"On 23rd May, 2011, this Court had passed the following
"Mr. Anil Airi, learned counsel along with Mr. Siddharth Bawa, learned counselfor Mls. Jagatjit
Industries states that the company (In liqn.) was a joint venture between Mls. Brown Forman
Mauritius Limited and M/s. Jagatjit Industries.
He states that the aforesaid joint venture had turned 'sour' way back in the year, 1999. He also states that this Court vide detailed order dated
h December, 2003 appointed a Provisional
Liquidator under Section 433(j) ofthe Companies
Act, 1956. Mr. Anil Airi, learned counsel contends that ever since then, the foreign company namely Mls. Brown Forman Mauritius
2011:DHC:8238
/
Limited has not shown any interest in the company (In liqn.). He also states that Mls.
Jagatjit Industries is also not interested in reviving this company.
I also asked Ms. Purnima Sethi, learned counsel for Official Liquidator as to whether any amount is due and payable to any secured or unsecured creditor or to any workman. She states that though no claim has been invitedfrom the public at large, but till date neither any workman nor any secured or unsecured creditor has filed any claim with the Official Liquidator.
If this is the position, then I fail to understand as to why the Official Liquidator is pursuing various claims against third parties at great cost because even if the Official Liquidator were successful in recovering the money, the same would be refunded back to the contributories-who are not interested in pursuing the proceedings any further.
Consequently, I direct the Official Liquidator to be personally present before this Court on 26th May, 2011.
List the matters on 26th May, 2011."
In pursuance to the said order, Mr. S.B. Gautam, Official Liquidator is personally present in Court. He confirms that claims had been invited in the year, 2005 and advertisements were published in 'Statesman'
(English) and 'Dainik Jagran' (Hindi) on 29th December,
ORDER

2005. He points out that despite the last date offiling of the claims being 3rt January, 2006, no claim either from any secured or unsecured ·creditor or from any workmen has been received. Mr. S.B. Gautam, Official Liquidator states that a sum ofRs.4, 00,0001- has been recovered from sale oftwo \') vehicles andfrom some decrees passed under Section 446 of the Companies Act, 1956. He also states that in case notices have to be served upon the unserved respondents in the various applications listed today and in those pending before the Registrar, the official Liquidator would have to incur expenditure worth Rs. 7,00,0001-. Mr. Gautam, Official Liquidator further candidly admits that the ledger entries on the basis ofwhich present recovery proceedings under Section 446 ofthe Companies Act, 1956 have been filed are not supported by any primary document like a voucher. He also states that no debit or credit notes are available with the Official Liquidator. Mr. Gautam lastly states that even ifmoney decrees were to be passed by this Court, it would be very difficult to the Official Liquidator to execute the said recovery decree as most of the respondents being Annual Indian Made Foreign Liquor Licence holders would not be traceable. Mr. Ani! Airi, learned counsel for Jagatjit Ltd. on instructions of Mr. K.K. Kohli, Company Secretary of Jagatjit Brown Forman (India) Ltd. confirms the fact that there are no secured or unsecured creditors of the company in liquidation and no further dues are payable to any workman. He also reaffirms the fact that none ofthe joint venture partners is interested in reviving the company in liquidation and/or in incurring any expenditure zn serving majority ofthe unserved respondents. In view of the aforesaid statement by the Official Liquidator and Mr. Anil Airi, learned counsel for Jagatjit Brown Forman (India) Ltd. as well as thefact thatprimary documents like invoices and vouchers are not available and further the amount recovered in the present proceedings would be used to repay the contributories who are not interested in pursuing the presentproceedings as is apparent from the consent order dated 1ih January, 2005 passed in C.P. 439/1999, this Court is ofthe opinion that no fruitful purpose would be served in carrying on with the presentproceedings. Accordingly, the present applications are dismissed. The Registry is directed to list all pending applications filed under Section 446 ofthe Companies Act in the case of Mls. Jagatjit Brown Forman (India) Ltd. before this Court on 03rd June, 2011. Let a copy of this order be placed on all CAs files pertaining to the company in liquidation. " In view of the aforesaid, present applications are also dismissed and the next date ofhearing stands cancelled. JUNE 03,2011 JS llJ MANMOHAN,J ·