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Issues:
Petition for winding up under Companies Act, 1956 - Dispute over payment amount - Jurisdiction of company court - Locus standi of petitioners - Succession certificate requirement. Analysis: The petitioners sought winding up of the respondent-company under sections 433(e), (f) and 434(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 1956, due to non-payment of Rs. 1,02,460 for supplied goods. The respondent disputed the amount, claiming quality issues and negotiated a reduced liability of Rs. 64,630.30. They argued that the company court lacked jurisdiction due to a bona fide dispute, citing Supreme Court precedents. The court noted the dispute and the respondent's documents supporting their position, emphasizing that a winding-up petition is not a means to enforce disputed debts. The court highlighted the discretionary nature of winding-up orders and the requirement for a determined sum payable immediately or in the future. The court addressed the issue of locus standi after the managing partner's death, allowing substitution of petitioners. However, the court ultimately dismissed the company petition, emphasizing that the debt dispute was substantial and bona fide. The judgment referenced legal principles from Supreme Court cases, emphasizing that winding up should not be used as a debt recovery tool and that a disputed debt, supported by substantial defense, warrants denial of a winding-up order. The court concluded that in light of the disputed debt and the respondent's evidence, exercising discretion in favor of winding up was unwarranted. The judgment clarified that a winding-up order should not be a means to realize disputed debts and highlighted the need for a determined sum payable immediately or in the future. The court dismissed the petition, emphasizing the substantial and bona fide nature of the debt dispute, as evidenced by the respondent's documents. The judgment underscored that the court's discretion should not be used to wind up a company in cases of disputed debts, especially when a substantial defense is presented. The court's decision was based on the legal principles outlined in Supreme Court judgments, emphasizing the commercial sense of debt inability and the discretionary nature of winding-up orders.
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