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TMI Blog2022 (11) TMI 929X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... under Section 98 is contemplated. The principles of natural justice, which were considered by the Bombay High Court in the above cited judgment, are not violated by not providing for a notice before appointment of IRP, as can be seen from Section 99 of IBC. Any amount of audience is provided to the debtor before the Resolution Professional submits a report. Section 99(2) of IBC gives an opportunity to the debtor to prove repayment of debt claimed as unpaid by the creditor. Section 99(4) of IBC, empowers the Resolution Professional to seek further information or explanation in connection with the application as may be required from the Debtor or the Creditor or any other person, who, in the opinion of the Resolution Professional, may provide such information. Hence it is not as if, the Debtor is not provided an audience before the submission of the report. Thus, no notice is required for the Respondent at the stage of appointment of Resolution Professional (RP) - this Tribunal is of the considered opinion that there is no hurdle to entertain this application under Section 95 of IBC, 2016, since the application is found to be complete. Mr. Madasa Kumar is appointed as the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... g Authority, if the application is filed through a Resolution Professional, shall direct the Board within seven days of the date of the application to confirm that there are no disciplinary proceedings pending against Resolution Professional and the Board shall within seven days of receipt of directions under sub-section (1) of Section 97 of IBC, communicate to the Adjudicating Authority in writing either: (a) Confirming the appointment of the resolution professional; or (b) Rejecting the appointment of the resolution professional and nominating another resolution professional for the insolvency resolution process. Under Sub-Section (3) of Section 97 of IBC Where an application under section 94 or 95 is filed by the debtor or the creditor himself, and not through the resolution professional, the Adjudicating Authority shall direct the Board, within seven days of the filing of such application, to nominate a resolution professional for the insolvency resolution process. Under Sub-Section (4) of Section 97 of IBC The Board shall nominate a resolution professional within ten days and then the Adjudicating Authority under Sub-Section (5) shall by order appoint the Resolu ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... not interfere with the order of the Adjudicating Authority therein, appointing the Interim Resolution Professional, which was without notice. The NCLAT common judgment in Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 316 of 2021 between Mr. Ravi Ajit Kulkarni vs. State Bank of India and Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 317 of 2021 between Mr. Mr. Ajit Bhagwan Kulkarni vs. State Bank of India dated 12.08.2021 was also relied upon by the Respondent's Counsel therein, in support of the contention that no notice is required to be given to the Personal Guarantor at the stage of appointment of Interim Resolution Professional (IRP). Considering that the legislature has provided in Section 99(10) of IBC, that a copy of report of the IRP be furnished to the Debtor as complying with the requirement of the principles of natural justice, the High Court of Bombay felt that an opportunity need to be given under Section 100(1) of IBC, 2016 in furtherance of the principles of natural justice. Since no notice is mandated under Section 100, Bombay High Court observed that notice before admission under Section 100(1) would serve the principles of natural justice, but it did not say that notice before ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Guarantor, notice of the application already filed before the Adjudicating Authority. Section 95(5) requires the Creditor to provide a copy of the application made under sub-section (1) , to the Debtor. Thus, serving advance copy is not contemplated. 6. The arguments that Section 98 provides for replacement of the Resolution Professional and hence the Guarantor should have an opportunity to seek replacement of Resolution Professional and hence he should be heard before appointment of IRP was also considered and held that going through Section 98 of IBC, 2016, it is found that Section 98 is not stage specific. Section 98 itself shows that the section could be resorted to even at stages like implementation of repayment plan which would be a stage beyond Section 116, where implementation and supervision of repayment plan is provided for. It was held that the argument, that before report of Resolution Professional the Debtor must get a chance to seek replacement of Resolution Professional and thus notice was required to be given, has no substance. It is clearly held that, it is only after the Resolution Professional is appointed by the Adjudicating Authority under Section 97(5), t ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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