Full Order Text
Final Order 1 · 29 Sept 2020 · CNR MHCC010034192020
Order Details: Notice of Motion Pdf Text: 1 IN THE BOMBAY CITY CIVIL COURT AT GREATER BOMBAY NOTICE OF MOTION N0.1233 OF 2020 IN COMMERCIAL SUIT STAMP NO.3786 OF 2020 (CNR NO.MHCC010034192020) Mr.Kunal Jiwarajka & Ors. ) ...Plaintiffs. V/s. Union Bank of India & Ors. ) ...Defendants. CORAM: HIS HONOUR JUDGE SHRI R.V.KOKARE DATE : 29/09/2020 (C.R.No.31) Appearance: Adv Nimay Dave a/w. Adv Ms. Megha Gupta for plaintiffs. Adv Jamshed Ansari for deft nos.1 to 9. Adv. Sahil Sayyed a/w. Adv. Niyati Merchant for deft no.10. ORDER This is a notice of motion taken out by the plaintiffs for temporarily restrained to the defendants from taking any coercive action against the plaintiffs on the basis of Letter dated 16/03/2020 issued by the defendant no.1 to the plaintiffs which is annexed alongwith plaint at ExhibitI at page no. 167. Brief facts of notice of motion of the plaintiffs are as under. 2 The plaintiff no.1 is the Director ( Suspended Board in view of admission of Section 7 application under provisions of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 by the Hon'ble NCLT Mumbai) of M/s JSK Marketing Limited which is hereinafter referred to as the “Company” or JSKML”. The plaintiff Nos. 2 and 3 are the former Exdirectors and have resigned from their Directors post on 31/03/2019 before the company was admitted under Section 7 of IBC. The defendants are the -- 1 of 18 -- 2 consortium lenders of the Company and are the Banks constituted under the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The subject matter of the present suit is the arbitrary, illegal, dishonest, wrongful and improper act of the defendants in labeling the accounts of the JSKML Company as “Red flagged Accounts status” and subsequently, declaring the company's account as fraud/willful defaulter with the malafide and dishonest intention and that also without following the due procedure of law and totally going against the principles of Natural Justice, which plaintiffs apprehends. The aforesaid apprehension of arbitrary, illegal dishonest, wrongful and improper act of the defendants for the sake of brevity and conciseness is hereinafter referred to as the “ Impugned Action”. 3. The plaintiffs state that the JSKML Marketing Limited Company has been incorporated on 11/09/1985 and registered at Registrar of Companies, Mumbai under the provisions of the Companies Act 1956. The JSKML Company was involved mainly into the business of trading of consumer electronics, FMCG products, cameras, batteries, etc. and was in the said business since the past more than 34 years. The JSKML was a marketing and distribution organization serving as a link between the manufacturer and the consumer. The JSKML Company had branches in all major states in the country and at one point of time covered around 1,50,000 retail outlets all over the country. 4. The plaintiffs state that the defendants have sanctioned various facilities to the company and accordingly, the defendants have sanctioned the credit facilities to the company only after detailed due diligence of the promoters, directors and the Company's account and it business over the years and only after satisfaction, have renewed the -- 2 of 18 -- 3 credit facilities from time to time. The company has been enjoying working capital limits with its bankers for over 7 years and in the past there have been no instances, where the company had delayed servicing its dues to any of the banks. The defendant no. 6 advanced loan to the company in the year 2013. Thereafter, defendants no. 1 sanctioned loan limit of Rs. 20 crore in the year 2015, leading to multiple banking limit of 60 crore. Furthermore, in the year 2016, consortium was formed with enhanced lending limit of Rs. 180 crore, and further enhanced to Rs. 280 crore in the year 2018. 5. The plaintiffs state that the customers of JSKML were having a good financial standing for past several years and almost all the banks including the lead bank had also supported them continuously over the years by sanctioning substantial amount of finances. The company had also supplied materials to these parties on credit basis after effecting required due diligence akin to banks having extended credit facilities to similar customers. The plaintiffs state that being the Directors of the company, the plaintiffs have furnished guarantee in favour of the defendants bank for the loan obtained by the company from the bank, the plaintiffs also provided and furnished collateral securities and guarantees to the defendants bank to the JSKML Company. 6. The plaintiffs state that the JSKML company started facing financial problems. The plaintiffs state that as the realization from debtors has been sluggish resulting in tightness in liquidity and led to a major impact on the bottomline as well cash flows. The company could not recover dues from its customers facing restrictions in their cash flows. The company's operations had been under strain and the liquidity suffered on account of various external reasons beyond control of the -- 3 of 18 -- 4 management and accordingly, the company committed defaults in repayment of the loan granted by the financial creditors to the company. One of the financial creditor of the JSKML Company by the name “ Bombay sales agency”, approached the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai on 16th April 2019 and filed a petition under the provisions of Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 read with Rule 4 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Application to Adjudicating Authority Rules, 2016 for initiating Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process ( CIRP) against the JSKML Company. The plaintiffs state that the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai vide an order dated 23/09/2019 was pleased to admit the aforesaid application thereby admitting the JSKML under the CIRP and appointing IRP. 7. The plaintiffs state that, as the realisation from debtors has been sluggish resulting in tightness in liquidity and further the high rates of interest and bank changes have led to a major impact on the bottom line as well as at cash flows. The company could not recover dues from its customers facing restrictions in their cash flows. The company had started pursuing for recovery of claims from various clients which is outstanding and recoverable. The company officials had met lead bank and have appraised about the elongated working capital cycle and also about delay in receipt of payments from debtors, which had commenced affecting the cash flows of company. In the consortium meeting held on 26/12/2018, the company again presented to the consortium members, the reasons and need for reassessment of the working capital limits considering increased working capital cycles. In a consortium meeting held on 22/01/2020, wherein the company's performance was reviewed, all the consortium banks confirmed that the plaintiffs company account are regular and standardized as on date. -- 4 of 18 -- 5 8. The plaintiffs state that as per the Reserve Bank of India Guidelines in respect of Formation of JLF and the conclusion thereof, the entire exercise finalising the CAP and sanction thereof should have been completed within a period of 60 days from the date of Formation of JLF. Further, the lead bank of the consortium is also entrusted with completing the formalities in this regard. The plaintiffs state that in spite of formation of the JLF, the timelines prescribed in RBI Guidelines have not been adhered to and the sanctions have not been completed within the stipulated period of 60 days by SBI. The defendants have already declared the accounts of Company as NPA somewhere in mid of 2019. The plaintiffs state that during the period when accounts of the Company have got irregular due to losses, number of other similar industries have suffered losses and have got irregular and have ultimately been classified as NPA. The plaintiffs state that neither the plaintiffs nor the Company is fraud/willful defaulter but have been victim of reasons beyond their control. 9. The plaintiffs state that the defendants were doing forensic audit of the company since mid August 2019, checking upon the money trails etc. of the company. The defendants have appointed Alvarez & Marshal ( A & M) their independent auditors providing them in details the scope of the audit. The plaintiffs issued a letter dated 03/03/2020 to the defendants asking about the dates and details as to when the plaintiffs and the Company account has been declared as fraud/willful defaulters. The defendants neither gave any reply nor informed the plaintiffs about their apprehensions and continued with the impugned actions against the plaintiffs and its company. The need to file the instant civil suit has arisen because of illegal arbitrary impugned action on the part of defendants by using the provisions, guidelines contained in Master -- 5 of 18 -- 6 Circular dated 1st July, 2016 bearing no. DBS.Co.CFMC.BC No. 1/23,04.001/201516. 10. The plaintiffs state that on 16/03/2020, the plaintiffs were shocked to receive a letter from defendant no.1 stating that the account of the Company has been declared as fraud and appropriate steps have been initiated as per RBI Guidelines. However, the defendants never convey any reason for such declaration neither did the defendants provide any relevant documents/papers on which they have relied on for such a severe declaration. This act of defendantbanks is a gross violation of principle of natural justice, even more so, when the consequences of such declaration, fraud, has the power of ruining not only the company reputation but also jeopardizing the corporate life of its directors i.e. plaintiffs as well as dire criminal consequences too. The defendants have not followed the due process of law and have not followed the Guidelines as provided under the relevant RBI Master Circular to declare the account as Red Flagged Account or fraud/willful defaulter in total contraventions and against the provisions and guidelines of the Master Circular. The plaintiffs state that they have the strong apprehension that the defendants would continue taking the action on the basis of impugned action of declaring the plaintiffs accounts as Red flagged and subsequently as fraud and willful defaulter. Hence, this notice of motion. 11. The defendant nos. 1 to 9 and 10 resisted this notice of motion taken out by the plaintiffs by filing their reply. Brief facts of reply of the defendants are as under 12. By a letter of sanction dated 13/03/2018, the defendant no. 1 has -- 6 of 18 -- 7 advanced a loan of Rs. 50,00,00,000.00 to M/s. JSK Marketing Limited. The repayment of the said loan was secured by creation of mortgage of several assets. On or about 28/06/2019, the account of borrower/JSK Marketing Limited as classified NPA and accordingly the defendant no.1 has initiated action under the provisions of SARFAESI Act, 2002 and issued demand notice under Sec. 13(2) of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 . Since right from the beginning, various irregularities including diversion of funds, submission of false stock statements were observed in the account of the Company. In the month of February 2019, the company has shown stock and book debt worth Rs.441,35,74,920. However, in the month of March, 2019, the company was unable to serve interest on devolved letter of credit. This leads to two probabilities. (i) either the stock statement submitted by the Company was false or (ii) the Company has diverted the funds. 13. The defendants bank conducted the stock audit in the month of June, 2019 which has shown negligible stock value. The bank has classified the account of Red Flagged Account under the guidelines dated 1st July, 2017 of RBI. It may be noted that one of the member bank of the consortium has already filed original application in Mumbai DRT for recovery of the loan due and payable by the Company. It may be noted that two directors of the Company namely Laxmidevi Jiwrajka and Mrs.Sakshi Kunal Jiwrajka have resigned from the board of the Company on or about 30th March, 2020, without intimating the Bankers. 14. The defendants further submitted that the company has also taken loan from nearly 85 persons to the tune of Rs.22 crores and defaulted in the repaying the amounts. Consequently, the -- 7 of 18 -- 8 lenders/investors have approached EOW which resulted in registration of FIR No. 12 of 2020 against the company and its directors including the present plaintiffs. The plaintiffs have filed ABA No. 648 of 2020, but the same was rejected by an order dated 11/06/2020. 15. The Bankers have conducted forensic audit of the account of the company which is underway and the report is likely to be available in a week or two. Thus, considering the irregularities committed by the company ( M/s. JSK Marketing Limited) they are liable to be declared as fraud and their account as fraud account. This proposed action of the bank is the consonance of RBI Guidelines dated 1st July, 2017. 16. The defendants have taken objections by submitting that the suit as framed and filed as premature, the plaintiffs have no locus standi, Bar under section 17 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, non joinder of necessary party, suit is not maintainable as commercial suits, proper court fee is not paid, the plaint does not disclose cause of action, the frame of the suit is improper, injunction relief as sought are barred under Sec. 41(d) of the Specific Relief Act 1963 and etc. 17. The defendants further submitted that the defendants bank is not declared the account of plaintiffs company as fraud and hence the question of setting aside the same does not arise at all. The company of the plaintiffs have taken loan with clear intention to defraud the banks. They have defrauded various other people. Therefore, the plaintiffs have failed to make out prima facie case, balance of convenience and irreparable loss. The plaintiffs are not entitled for getting any relief. On these grounds, the defendants have submitted that this notice of motion may kindly be dismissed with costs. -- 8 of 18 -- 9 18. Upon hearing arguments of the learned counsel of both the parties, on perusal of notes of arguments and documents produced on record on behalf of both the sides, during the course of arguments and in the written notes of arguments, the learned counsel on behalf of the defendants have been raised various objection such as the suit of the plaintiff is premature, the plaintiffs have no locus standi, the plaint does not disclose cause of action, the suit is barred, this court has no jurisdiction to try and decide this matter, the plaintiffs have not paid sufficient court fees etc. 19. During the course of arguments, the learned counsels for the defendant bank have argued that the plaintiffs have filed the present suit on presumption that the respective defendants have already declared the account of M/s. JSK Marketing Limited as fraud. It is not the fact that the defendants have not declared fraud to M/s.JSK Marketing Limited or to the plaintiffs. As a matter of fact, the defendant no. 1 has only classified the account as Red Flagged (RAF) Account. Therefore, the present suit and notice of motion are not maintainable. 20. On perusal of the pleadings of the plaintiffs, it appears to me that in the present suit and notice of motion have challenged letter dated 16/03/2020, issued by the defendant no.1 bank to the plaintiffs which is at Exh.I alongwith plaint at page no. 167. On scrutiny of the said letter under challenge it appears that, it has mentioned in the said letter that the steps has been taken according to the RBI Master Direction on fraud. It is admitted fact that the defendant no.1 bank has classified the account as Red Flagged. It is the allegation of the plaintiffs that the defendants have been taken steps for declaring fraud and classified to -- 9 of 18 -- 10 the JSK Marketing Account as Red Flagged without giving opportunity for hearing to the plaintiffs. Therefore, the plaintiffs have apprehension that in hurriedly the defendants bank will initiate criminal action against the plaintiffs. Under such circumstances, I am of the opinion that the plaintiffs have right to challenge any action taken by the defendants. Therefore, the present suit and notice of motion are not premature and the cause of action arose for filing the present suit. 21. The learned counsels on behalf of the defendants have argued that in the present suit, the plaintiffs have not made party to the Company of JSK Marketing Limited which is necessary party in the present suit and they have filed the present suit without adding the Company. Therefore, the present suit is not maintainable. The learned counsel on behalf of the defendants have relied on the Judgement of the Supreme Court of India in Innoventive Industries Ltd. V/s. ICICI Bank and Ors., reported in MANU/SC/1063/2017, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has observed in para no 11 of the Judgement that once an insolvency professional is appointed to manage the company, the erstwhile directors who are no longer in management, obviously, cannot maintain an appeal on behalf of the company. 22. A perusal of the observations held in the above citations it appears to me that with due respect the ratio held in above citations is not applicable to the present case in my hand due to differ of facts and circumstances. In the present case in my hand, the plaintiffs are the Directors as well as Guarantors of the loan amount granted by the defendants bank to the JSK Marketing Ltd. -- 10 of 18 -- 11 23. The learned counsels on behalf of the defendants have argued that the present suit is not tenable in view of provisions of Section 9 of the Civil Procedure Code. It is argued by the learned counsel on behalf of the plaintiffs that this is a suit for declaration against the action initiated by the defendant no.1. The plaintiffs are challenging the virus of action taken by defendant no.1 and therefore, suit will lie as per Section 9 of Civil Procedure Code. 24. Section 9 of C.P.C. deals with jurisdiction of the Civil Courts and bar thereon. It says that Court is empowered to try all Civil suits unless barred by law. It is settled legal position is that Civil Court has every jurisdiction to try the suit. No doubt, Civil Court cannot try and entertain the suit which are expressly or implied barred. Here, plaintiffs are seeking declaration against the action of defendant no. 1. The action levelled by defendant no.1 is based on Master Circular issued under R.B.I. Guidelines. Therefore, in my opinion, nothing will bar from presenting such grievance before Civil Court. As such, I am of the opinion that Civil Court has every jurisdiction to try and entertain such nature of suit. Therefore, there is no any force for argument of the learned counsels on behalf of the defendants for saying that this Court has no jurisdiction to entertain and decided this suit in view of Section 9 of Civil Procedure Code. 25. The learned counsel on behalf of the defendants have argued that in view of provision of Section 41(d) of the Specific Relief Act, injunction cannot be granted. I have gone through Section 41 of Specific Relief Act. It is regarding “ injunction when refused ”. As per Sub Section (d) injunction cannot be granted to restrain any person from instituting or prosecuting any proceeding or any criminal matter. -- 11 of 18 -- 12 No doubt, in such case injunction cannot be granted. However, here the circumstances are some what different. Plaintiffs are challenged letter dated 16/03/2020 issued by the defendant no.1 is not as per procedure laid down in Master Circular. Plaintiffs are challenging the virus of the action taken by the defendant no.1. In such circumstances, if said decision is not taken in accordance with the procedure laid down, then the aggrieved party has every right to ask for injunction. So, the bar as mentioned in Section 41(d) of Specific Relief Act is not applicable here. 26. The learned counsel on behalf of the defendants have argued that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has jurisdiction to entertain or dispose of any application or proceeding or any claim made by or against the Corporate Debtor. Section 63 r/w. Section 231 of the Insolvency Code, no Civil Court or authority has jurisdiction to entertain any Civil Suit or proceedings in respect of any matter with respect to which the NCLT as jurisdiction. As against this, the learned counsel for the plaintiffs has argued that the Civil Court has jurisdiction to entertain and decide the present suit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs. 27. I have gone through Section 17 of the I.B.Code 2016. Said chapter is regarding Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). As per said section, after appointment of Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) the management of affairs of corporate debtor vest in (IRP). So also the power of directors, partners and guarantors stand suspended. So also as per section 231 of said Code no Civil Court have jurisdiction in respect of any matter in which the adjudicating authority is empowered by or under, this court to pass any order and no injunction shall be granted by court in respect of any action taken in pursuance of order passed by adjudicating authority. So on going through above -- 12 of 18 -- 13 sections and more particularly section 231 of I.B.Code there is a bar in respect of matter within the jurisdiction of adjudicating authority i.e. NCLT. So also there is bar to pass injunction order in respect of any action taken by said authority. 28. It is an admitted position on record that defendant has approached before NCLT, DRT and also started recovery proceeding under the SARFAESI and other available Acts. Since beginning it is made clear by Ld. Counsel for plaintiffs that plaintiffs are not against the recover proceedings nor by way of this suit plaintiffs are challenging or restraining the recover proceeding. No doubt, plaintiffs are not challenging the recovery proceedings nor challenging the proceedings which is pending before NCLT. Here, plaintiffs being suspended directors are challenging the red flag and the notice issued by defendant no. 1 bank to the plaintiff dated 16/03/2020 issued by the defendant no. 1 without following the procedure given in Master Circular. Therefore, in my opinion the bar as contemplated under section 231 of I.B Code will not apply here and so the present suit and notice of motion filed on behalf of the plaintiffs are maintainable. 29. The learned counsel for the defendants argued that the plaintiffs have filed the present suit as a commercial suit which is not maintainable and cause of action shows in the plaint does not fit within the ambit of commercial dispute which is defined under Section 2(c) of the Commercial Court Act 2015. Thus, the suit is not maintainable as Commercial Suit. As against this, the learned counsel on behalf of the plaintiffs has argued that the present suit is maintainable in view of Section 2(c) of the Commercial Court Act 2015. I have reproduced the definition 2(c) of the Commercial Court Act 2015 “ the Commercial -- 13 of 18 -- 14 dispute means a dispute arising out of (i) ordinary transaction of merchants, bankers, financiers and traders such as those relating to mercantile documents, including enforcement and interpretation of such documents. From the definition contained in 2(c) (i), it is clear that ordinary transactions of bankers and financier are covered in the definitions. The definition is all inclusive which is reflected from use of words “ such as those relating to mercantile documents including enforcement and interpretation of such documents ”. The definition makes it clear that the documents which are connected with the transaction of bankers and financiers are covered. In the present case, the action of defendants in classifying the JSK's account as RFA is based on Master Circular which is applicable to all the accounts where under the defendants have lent money in ordinary course of their transaction. Thus, the action of classification as RFA by the defendant is maintainable as a Commercial Suit. 30. The learned counsel for the defendants have argued that the present suit is not maintainable as a commercial suit and therefore, the plaint ought to be rejected on this ground alone. The learned counsels in their submissions relied on the following Judgements. (i) Bank of India V/s. Gupta Coak India Pvt. Limited & Anr. in the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Nagpur Bench, in Civil Revision Application No. 97/2017. In this Judgement, the objection raised before the Hon'ble High Court was that the suit should be treated as Commercial Suit and not an ordinary suit, but the Hon'ble High Court held that the suit of the present nature cannot be a Commercial Suit. (ii) In the Judgement of Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal No 75/1962 in MANU/SC/0227/1963 in Raizada Topandas and Ors. -- 14 of 18 -- 15 V/s Gorakhram Gokalchand. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has held that the plaint can be returned for presentation before appropriate court when a court lacks territorial or pecuniary jurisdiction but not when it lacks inherent jurisdiction. Thus, this Hon'ble Court lacks inherent jurisdiction and cannot and ought not to grant any relief. The Court ought to reject the plaint entirely forthwith. 31. I have gone through the above citations with due respect the ratio held in above citations are not applicable to the present case in my hand. In the present case the nature of the suit is a Commercial Suit and not an ordinary Suit. 32. The learned counsel on behalf of defendants have argued that the plaintiffs have not paid sufficient court fees. It regard to this objection of the defendants regarding court fees, the plaintiffs have submitted that they have paid court fees accordingly. However, the plaintiffs are ready to pay the deficient court fees, if any, as adjudicated by the court. Therefore, I am of the opinion that at this stage for deciding this notice of motion does not require to give findings about the court fees while the plaintiffs have submitted that the plaintiffs shall pay the deficient court fees, if any, as adjudicated by the court. 33. The learned counsel on behalf of the plaintiffs has argued that the defendant no.1 has classified to the account of the JSKMLplaintiff as Red Flagged and received a letter dated 16/03/2020 which is at Exh.I of the plaint without following Master Circular and therefore, the defendants have not followed the principles of natural justice. 34. The learned counsel on behalf of the plaintiffs has relied on -- 15 of 18 -- 16 Judgement reported in MANU/PH/1231/2017, in the case of Oswal Apparels Private Limited and Ors. Vs. State Bank of India, Ludhiana and Ors., the Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that “ It is also settled principle of law that the documents that are relied upon by any authority in arriving at a conclusion must be made available to the affected party to conform to the principles of natural justice. That apart, the petitioners ought to have been afforded adequate opportunity to present their case in its correct perspective.” In this judgement the Hon'ble Court clearly states that not just an opportunity of being heard is mandated under principles of natural justice but also, documents which are relied upon by the authority should be made available to the affected party. 35. It appears from the contention of the plaintiffs that the JSKML Company started facing financial problems. The realization from debtors of the company has been sluggish resulting in tightness in liquidity and led to a major impact on the bottomline as well cash flows. The company could not recover dues from its customers facing restrictions in their cash flows. The plaintiffs have filed various suit for recovery of amount against companies debtors. 36. It is contended by the learned counsels for the defendants that plaintiffs may repay the loan, thereafter no action will be initiated against the plaintiffs. It appears that the defendants bank has initiated the action for recovery of the loan under the grab of Master Circular. 37. Considering wide scope of Master Circular, the balance of convenience lies in favour of plaintiffs. Obviously, irreparable loss will be caused to the plaintiffs, if the court refuse to grant injunction as -- 16 of 18 -- 17 prayed. Hence, the order. ORDER 1. The Notice of Motion No. 1233/2020 is allowed. 2. The defendants bank personally or through its representatives are restrained from taking coercive action against plaintiffs on account of red flag or fraud account, based on master circular. Defendants or their representatives are restrained from branding the plaintiffs as fraud and publishing the name of plaintiffs as fraud till final disposal of the suit. 3. It is needless to say that defendants are at liberty to proceed against the plaintiffs regarding recovery proceedings, attachment, sale of attachment property to recover the defaulted loan. 4. Cost in cause. 5. Notice of Motion No. 1233/20 is disposed off accordingly. Dtd: 29/09/2020. Judge City Civil & Sessions Court, Gr.Mumbai. -- 17 of 18 -- 18 CERTIFIED TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNED JUDGEMENT/ORDER” UPLOAD DATE TIME NAME OF STENOGRAPHER 03/10/2020 2.00p.m. Mrs. V.V.Malgaonkar Name of the Judge H.H.J.Shri R.V.KOKARE (C.R.31) Date of Pronouncement of Judgement/Order 29/09/2020 Judgement/order signed by P.O on 03/10/2020 Judgement/order uploaded on 03/10/2020 -- 18 of 18 --
