M/s. Pani Trading Corporation Vs. Mr. Jagadishchandra B Mistri - Resolution Professional had rejected the claim of the applicant based on the records and audited books of accounts and his action in doing so cannot be faulted with.

NCLT Ahmedabad (31.07.2023) In M/s. Pani Trading Corporation Vs. Mr. Jagadishchandra B Mistri [IA No. 458 / NCLT / AHM / 2020 in CP(IB) No. 586 / NCLT / AHM / 2019, (2023) ibclaw.in 416 NCLT] held that; 

• Resolution Professional had rejected the claim of the applicant based on the records and audited books of accounts and his action in doing so cannot be faulted with. 

Excerpts of the Order;  

# 1. The present application is filed against the rejection of the claim of the applicant by the Resolution Professional (RP). The applicant had made two claims before the Resolution Professional. First claim was as a Financial Creditor of Rs.4,62,14,949/- and the second claim was as an Operational Creditor of Rs.2,28,51,680/-. Resolution Professional had rejected both the claims. 

# 2. We have gone through the records and submissions made by both sides. It is admitted fact that there is no written loan agreement between the applicant and the Corporate Debtor. The applicant had explained that the claim was based on ledger account given on page 37 & 38 of the application. 

# 3. Learned Senior Counsel Mr. Rasesh Sanjanwala for the Resolution Professional pointed out that as per the ledger account submitted by the applicant itself, interest was paid in earlier years and no entry regarding interest is made in the later years. The applicant had suddenly, on the initiation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process, raised interest of multiple years in its ledger account. Learned Senior Counsel for the Resolution Professional further explained that interest was paid in earlier years and in lieu of the loan, the Corporate Debtor had issued Rs.28,60,000/- share of Rs.10 each to the applicant and this was the reason that in the subsequent ledger account, no interest was provided by the applicant. Learned Senior Counsel further submitted that in fact as per the audited books of account of the Corporate Debtor, no amount is payable to the applicant and the Corporate Debtor has to recover Rs.3.55 Crores from the applicant. Learned Senior Counsel further submitted that this being summary proceeding, cross claims cannot be adjudicated in the summary jurisdiction of this Tribunal. 

# 4. It has been held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Swiss Ribbons Pvt. Ltd. & Another vs. Union of India & Ors. (Civil Original / Appellate Jurisdiction Writ Petition (Civil) No.99 of 2018 that Resolution Professional is given administrative as opposed to quasi-judicial powers. Relevant portion of the said judgement is extracted below: 

• “59… It is clear from a reading of these Regulations that the Resolution Professional is given administrative as opposed to quasi-judicial powers. In fact, even when the Resolution Professional is to make a determination under Regulation 35A, he is only to apply to the Adjudicating Authority for appropriate relief…” 

# 5. Resolution Professional had rejected the claim of the applicant based on the records and audited books of accounts and his action in doing so cannot be faulted with. 

# 6. As sequel to the above discussion, application is rejected and disposed of

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