BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
T. RAVINDRAN, J.
The Managing Director – Petitioner
Vs.
V.K.Akkaiyasamy & Ors. – Respondents
C.R.P.(MD) No.603 of 2016 and C.M.P.(MD) No.2720 of 2016
Decided On : 11-07-2017
Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920 - Section 28 and 28(2) - Respondents 1 to 3 had initiated insolvency proceedings against fourth respondent/debtor and it is also noted that the respondents 1 to 3 had also filed seeking for pro-order of attachment prohibiting garnishees i.e., civil revision petitioner and respondents 5 and 6 from disbursing the amount to an extent of payable to garnishees and to direct that amount to be deposited into Court. petitioner and the respondents 5 & 6/garnishees had been set ex party and it is also found that the petition to set aside the ex- party order was also not entertained, as against which it is also found that C.R.P.No.809 had been preferred - In meanwhile it is also noted that the pro-order of attachment was made absolute in the above said proceedings - It is not in dispute that in I.P.No.11 , the debtor i.e., fourth respondent herein had been declared as insolvent - It is also not in dispute that along with the said I.P.No.11 creditors i.e., respondents 1 to 3 had also preferred seeking for pro-order of attachment prohibiting the garnishees from disbursing the amount payable to debtor and for a direction to deposit said amount into the Court - It is also not in dispute that the initial order of attachment made in the above said I.A.No.32 was subsequently made absolute – Held, Trial Court for rejecting I.A.No.32 is that the garnishees had debited the amount and odd towards surcharge proceedings - As rightly argued by the learned counsel for the respondents 1 to 3/creditors, fourth respondent/debtor having been declared as insolvent automatically it is found that Section 28 of the Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920 would come into operation - It is mandatory on part of creditors to whom property of insolvent is vested to seek the leave of Insolvency Court before commencement of any proceedings as against the properties of insolvent - In such view of the matter, when the fourth respondent/debtor had been admittedly declared as insolvent Appellate Court has rightly found that the failure of the garnishees in seeking the leave of the Insolvency Court before initiating surcharge proceedings is against law and therefore, the Appellate Court has held that the surcharge proceedings initiated by the garnishees is void and non-erst in the eye of law - In light of provisions of Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920 as adverted it is found that Appellate Court has rightly held that the surcharge proceedings has no legal force and binding upon the respondents 1 to 3/creditors - In the light of the afore-mentioned reasons, the two grounds on which the Trial Court had rejected I.A.No.32 being found to be incorrect and against the provisions of law and the same having been rightly set aside by the Appellate Court and in such view of the matter, the Judgment of the Appellate Court does not call for any interference from this Court - Accordingly, the civil revision petition is dismissed - Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
1. Heard both sides.
2. The respondents 1 to 3 had initiated insolvency proceedings against the fourth respondent/debtor in I.P.No.11 of 2000 and it is also noted that the respondents 1 to 3 had also filed I.A.No.32 of 2000 seeking for pro-order of attachment prohibiting the garnishees i.e., civil revision petitioner and the respondents 5 and 6 from disbursing the amount to an extent of Rs.15,00,000/- payable to the garnishees and to direct that the amount to be deposited into the Court.
3. Initially, in the above said application, it is found that the petitioner and the respondents 5 & 6/garnishees had been set ex parte and it is also found that the petition to set aside the ex parte order was also not entertained, as against which it is also found that C.R.P.No.809 of 2006 had been preferred. In the meanwhile it is also noted that the pro-order of attachment was made absolute in the above said proceedings.
4. The Trial Court, on a consideration of the materials placed, dismissed the I.A.No.32 of 2000 on two grounds i.e., the debtor shown in the insolvency petition and shown in I.A.No.32 of 2000 are different and therefore, the respondents 1 to 3 are not entitled to proceed with the properties of the fourth respondent/creditor in the above said proceedings. The second ground on which the application was dismissed is that the garnishees had initiated surcharge proceedings as against the debtor and appropriated the amount and therefore, I.A.No.32 of 2000 is not entitled for acceptance.
5. It is not in dispute that in I.P.No.11 of 2000, the debtor i.e., fourth respondent herein had been declared as insolvent on 18.08.2005. It is also not in dispute that along with the said I.P.No.11 of 2000, the creditors i.e., respondents 1 to 3 had also preferred I.A.No.32 of 2000 seeking for pro-order of attachment prohibiting the garnishees from disbursing the amount of Rs. 15,00,000/- payable to the debtor and for a direction to deposit the said amount into the Court. It is also not in dispute that the initial order of attachment made in the above said I.A.No.32 of 2000 was subsequently made absolute.
6. Originally, it is found that the garnishees had been set ex parte in I.A.No.32 of 2000 and the application to set aside the same was also not entertained and as against which, C.R.P.No.809 of 2006 had been preferred and pursuant to the order in the above said civil revision petition, it is found that finally, I.A.No.32 of 2000 had been disposed of by the Trial Court and the Trial Court had dismissed the said application on the above said two grounds adverted supra. Challenging the same, the respondents 1 to 3/creditors preferred C.M.A.No.18 of 2007 and the Appellate Court had set aside the order of the Trial Court passed in I.A.No.32 of 2000 and thereby entertained the application filed in I.A.No.32 of 2000. Challenging the same, the petitioner/garnishee has preferred the present civil revision petition.
7. As adverted above, on two grounds, the Trial Court had dismissed the application in I.A.No.32 of 2000. As seen from the records, it is noted that the debtor has been described as G. Sivashanmuganathan, Chairman, Green Lands, in both proceedings. Therefore, as rightly putforth by the learned counsel for the respondents 1 to 3/creditors, it is noted that the above mentioned proceedings had been initiated against the said Sivashanmuganathan, in his capacity as the Chairman of Green Lands and in such view of the matter, the findings of the Trial Court that the fourth respondent/debtor is not one and the same in the above said proceedings and hence the respondents 1 to 3/creditors are not entitled to proceed as against the properties of the Green Lands in the hands of the garnishees are unacceptable. As rightly determined by the Appellate Court, the proceedings having been initiated against Sivashanmuganathan, Chairman, Green Lands, in his capacity as Chairman, it is found that the Appellate Court has rightly held that both the proceedings h
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