Proper procedural compliance with the provisions of the MSMED Act, particularly Sections 18(2) and 18(3), is essential for the validity of orders and awards.

JUDGMENT

(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records in MSEFC/CR/110/2019 on the file of the 2nd respondent, Chairperson MSE Facilitation Council, Chennai-Region and to quash the Award dated 06.11.2020 passed in the same.)

1. The petitioner has come out with the present Writ Petition challenging the impugned order passed by the 2nd respondent in MSEFC/CR/110/2019, dated 06.11.2020 and to quash the same.

2. The petitioner is an ESA Grade Contractor and Panel Board Fabricator in Tamil Nadu as well as other states. The petitioner in the course of its business had been purchasing switch gears, panel parts, cables etc., since the year 2014 till 2018 as a running account from the 1st respondent and had duly paid all amounts due to the 1st respondent towards the supplies made by the 1st respondent to the petitioner. The 1st respondent produced certain back dated invoices which were not part of any purchases made or ordered for by the petitioner and claimed payment against those invoices. The said invoices did not form part of the running account between the petitioner and the 1st respondent and such invoices were also not accompanied by any supporting documents including delivery challans etc. When the petitioner protested these suspect invocies, the 1st respondent filed a petition under Section 18(1) of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, (hereinafter referred as 'the MSMED Act') before the 2nd respondent. The petitioner appeared before the 2nd respondent through Advocate and contested the claim. In the conciliation proceedings conducted by the 2nd respondent, no settlement was arrived at. The 2nd respondent instead of closing conciliation proceedings and arbitrate the matter by itself or by any other Agency referred by it, mechanically passed the impugned order directing the petitioner to pay the claim amount along with the interest to the 1st respondent.

3. Mr.V.Ezhilan representing Mr.B.Mohan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the impugned order is illegal as the 2nd respondent failed to follow the procedure contemplated under Sections 18(2) and 18(3) of the MSMED Act and prayed for setting aside the impugned order of the 2nd respondent.

4. Mr.Raghavendra Ross Divakar, learned counsel appearing for the 1st respondent submitted that the petitioner agreed to settle the claim of the 1st respondent during conciliation proceedings and subsequently gone back on their promise to settle the claim. In view of the same, the 2nd respondent passed the impugned order which is valid and legal. The Writ Petition challenging the order passed by the 2nd respondent is not maintainable. In order to avoid predeposit of 75% as per Section 90 of the MSMED Act, the petitioner has come out with the present Writ Petition and prayed for dismissal of the Writ Petition.

5. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, the learned counsel appearing for the 1st respondent as well as the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the 2nd respondent and perused the materials on record.

6. From the materials on record, it is seen that the petitioner is challenging the impugned order of the 2nd respondent on the ground that the 2nd respondent failed to follow the provisions of Sections 18(2) and 18(3) of the MSMED Act. Section 18 of the MSMED Act is extracted hereunder for better appreciation of the contention of the parties herein:

“Section 18: Reference to Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council.

18. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, any party to a dispute may, with regard to any amount due under section 17, make a reference to the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council.

(2) On receipt of a reference under sub-section (1), the Council shall either itself conduct conciliation in the matter or seek the assistance of any