IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
(PANAJI BENCH)
Britto N.A., J.
Fomento Resorts And Hotels Ltd . ... . Petitioner.
Versus
Goa Golf Club Pvt. Ltd . ... Respondents.
Company Petition No. 19-F of 2003,
decided on 7-6-2006.
Advocates appeared:
M.S. Usgaonkar, Sr.A. with Sudesh. Usgaonkar, for petitioner.
S.G. Dessai, Sr.A.with M. S. Sonak, for respondents.
COMPANIES ACT, 1956 - Section 433(a) Winding up petition. Where petitioner’s claim was strongly opposed by respondent by raising a bona fide dispute and not based on any virtual admitted liability therefore winding up petition is an abuse of process of law, liable to be dismissed with costs.
COMPANIES ACT, 1956 - Section 433(a) Winding up petition. Where Civil Court concluded that petitioner’s claim is voidable on account of duress, coercion order thus winding up petition is not legitimate means of seeking to enforce payment of debts which is bona fidely disputed by a company.
COMPANIES ACT, 1956 - Sections 433(f) and 439 Winding up petition. Since Company Court not conclusively adjudicate claim of parties but investigate summarily whether dispute as regards indebtedness is bona fide or not hence finding given by Civil Judge is binding on Company Court.
COMPANIES ACT, 1956 - Sections 433(f) and 439 Summary procedure for recovery of money. Where winding up petition was strongly refused by filing set off, the Company Court to go by summary procedure and not to deal with evidence in detail.
2. Some facts are required to be stated to dispose of the petition.
3. The petitioner owns a Five Star Resort known as Cidade de Goa. In terms of section 13-A of the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 a Casino i.e. games of electronic amusementl slot machines can be run only in a Five Star Hotel. The respondent had specialized knowledge and expertise in running a Casino i.e. games of electronic amusement/slot machines, and the respondents Director obtained a licence from the Government of Goa dated 15-2-1994. One Dr. William Britto is the Manging Director of the respondent-Company as well as of its sister concern namely Britto Amusement Pvt. Ltd.
4. By agreement dated 15-4-1995 the petitioner and the respondent agreed to set up a Casino in a place referred to as a "Hall" in Cidade de Goa Hotel in terms and conditions mentioned therein. This agreement was to commence from 1-9-1995 and to end on 31-8-2002 and could be renewed for a further period of 10 years and thereafter the respondent had a first right to extend the agreement on mutually acceptable terms and conditions. On or about 26-9-1997 the respondent renewed the Casino licence with additional machines valid from 26-9-1997 to 25-9-2002. The petitioner and the respondent modified the said agreement by another agreement dated 1-1-1999 and thereby modified the terms of the. earlier agreement dated 15-4-1995. In terms of Clause 36 of the agreement dated 1-1-1999, the parties agreed that the respondent would shift the said Casino (games of electronic amusement/slot machines) to the premises owned or arranged by the respondent but leased to the petitioner and in any case not later than 31-3-2002 and further agreed that all the amounts mentioned in Clause 1 30 of the said agreement would not be required to be paid by the respondent from the date the respondent shifted the said Casino. The said sister concern of the respondent i.e. M/s. Britto Amusements Pvt. Ltd. by registered Sale Deed dated 18-2-1999 purchased plot nos. 184, 186 and 187 for a sum of Rs. 32,64,750/- and a building has been constructed thereon named as "Chances" and the respondent on or about 14-9-2000 shifted the said Casino from the premises of the petitioners hotel Cidade de Goa to the first floor of the said building t known as "Chances". This shifting, as per the petitioner was in violation of the said f Clause 36. Ort or about 8-3-2001 the respondents Casino at the "Chances" came to be raided by the Police upon a complaint filed by the petitioner on the ground that the said Casino was being run in an unauthorised premises and on 28-3-2001 the Sub-Divisional Magistrate made a report that the Casino was run in unauthorised premises i.e. outside the Five Star Hotel premises.
5. On or about 15-4-2001 the parties entered into another agreement under which the respondent was to pay to the petitioner a sum of Rs. 2,50,000/ - to run the said CasiNo. The said agreement was for a period of 11 months only and ended on 25-9-2002. Simultaneously, another agreement was executed between the petitioner and the respondents sister concern namely Britto Amusements Pvt. Ltd. by which the said M/ s. Britto Amusements Pvt. Ltd. licenced the first floor of the building known as "Chances" to the petitioner for a period of 11 months from 15-4-2001 to 14-3-2002 on
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