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1971 Supreme(Pat) 30

PATNA HIGH COURT
S.N.P.Singh and Kanhaiyaji JJ.
Industrial Finance Corporation Of India
Versus
Thakur Paper Mills Ltd.And Anr.
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 885 of 1969 ;
Civil Revision No. 836 of 1969 ;
Decided On : FEBRUARY 27, 1971

The appointment of a receiver is a matter of judicial discretion, and the court will only appoint a receiver if it is just and convenient to do so.

Headnote:

INDUSTRIAL FINANCE CORPORATION ACT - SECTION 30 - ORDER 40 RULE 1, SECTION 151 CPC - APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER - COURT'S DISCRETION - JUST AND CONVENIENT - MORTGAGEE'S RIGHT TO APPOINT RECEIVER - TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, SECTION 69-A - COURT'S POWER TO APPOINT RECEIVER - CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE CONSIDERED.

Fact of the Case:

The Industrial Finance Corporation (Corporation) advanced a loan to Thakur Paper Mills Ltd. (Company) secured by a mortgage of the Company's assets. The Company defaulted on the loan, and the Corporation filed a proceeding under Section 30 of the Industrial Finance Corporation Act (Act) for realization of dues by sale of the mortgaged properties. The Corporation also applied for the appointment of a receiver, arguing that the plant and machinery were not being properly maintained and that the Company had leased out parts of the mortgaged property without consent.

Finding of the Court:

The District Judge rejected the Corporation's application for the appointment of a receiver, holding that it was not just and proper in the circumstances of the case. The Corporation challenged this order in the High Court.

Issues: 1. Whether the District Judge had the power to appoint a receiver in a proceeding under Section 30 of the Act. 2. Whether the appointment of a receiver was just and convenient in the circumstances of the case.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The Court held that the District Judge had the power to appoint a receiver in a proceeding under Section 30 of the Act, as the proceedings under the Act were similar to proceedings in the nature of a suit, and the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) was applicable to such proceedings. 2. The Court held that the appointment of a receiver was not just and convenient in the circumstances of the case. The Court noted that the Company had not removed the machinery from the premises, and that an ad interim injunction had already been granted to protect the Corporation's interests. The Court also noted that the Company had experts who were properly maintaining the machinery, and that the alleged lease of part of the mortgaged property was of a temporary nature and did not breach the terms of the mortgage bond.

Final Decision: The Court dismissed the Corporation's applications for the appointment of a receiver.

Judgment

Kanhaiyaji, J.

1. The writ application under Article 227 of the Constitution and the civil revision application under Sec.115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, both filed by the petitioners, arise put of the same proceeding before the District Judge, Darbhanga, under Sec.30 of the Industrial Finance Corporation Act (XV of 1948), hereinafter called the Act, read with Order 40, Rule 1 and Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, hereinafter called the Code.

2. M/s. Thakur Paper Mills Ltd., respondent-opposite party No. 1, hereinafter referred to as the Company, applied for, and requested the petitioner, the Industrial Finance Corporation, of India, hereinafter referred to as the Corporation, for, lending and advancing a sum of Rs. 20 lakhs, to which the Corporation agreed- The company executed a registered deed of English mortgage in favour of the Corporation on the 28th June, 1962, mortgaging its entire assets in favour of the Corporation, and the Corporation advanced a sum of Rs. 18,76,000.00 in various instalments. The Company failed to make the payments as stipulated in the aforesaid mortgage. The Corporation filed a case under Section 30 of the Act before the District Judge of Darbhanga for realisation of the entire dues, then amounting to Rupees 19,61,476.36 paise by sale of the mortgaged properties. The case was registered as Miscellaneous Case No. 33 of 1967 of that court.

3. It is stated in the applications that the General Manager, the Chief Technical Officer and the Branch Manager of Calcutta, all of the Corporation, made a local inspection of the factory site of the Company situated at Samastipur and found that the plant and machineries were not properly maintained. It is also stated in the applications that as a result of the inspection and enquiries, it became known that the Company had leased out the buildings and structures, being parts of the mortgaged properties, to various persons without the consent of the Corporation- The application filed for appointment of a receiver also contained statement that under Clause 5 (10) of the mortgage, the Company was precluded from exercising its powers of granting lease in respect of any part of the mortgaged property without the prior consent in writing of the Corporation. It was further stated in the applications that due to the deteriorating condition of the plant and machineries, there was imminent danger of rapid diminution in their value, and, as such, the Corporation was entitled to have a receiver appointed by the Company under Section 69-A of the Transfer of Property Act and under Clause 5 (7) of the mortgage deed. It was claimed that in the case of an English mortgage the mortgagee was entitled to sell the property for default of payment of interest and so the appointment of a receiver should be made almost as a matter of course. The Company, on the other hand, objected that the Act did not contain any provision for appointment of a receiver, nor had the case for appointment of a receiver been made out.

4. The Act was passed to establish the Industrial Finance Corporation of India for the purpose of making medium and long-term credits more readily available to industrial concerns in India, particularly in circumstances where normal banking accommodation was inappropriate. The object was to advance loan to industrial concerns for industrial development. This was followed by the State Government where also another Act known as the State Financial Corporation Act containing similar provisions was passed. In this case, the Corporation and the State Financial Corporation had made advances to the Company on the same security. Subsequently, there was default in payment of the loan amount. Both these mortgagees prayed for ad interim injunction. In view of the fact that the subject-matter was the same, injunction was granted in the case filed by the State Financial Corporation, and there was no objection by the Corporation. Thereafter, both the mortgagees filed ap

























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