IBC Pecuniary Threshold: – Interest Component to Be Merged with Principal Debt?
The interest component can include in the principal debt to acquire a minimum threshold limit i.e., 1 crore if delayed payment stipulated in the agreement or invoice.
The interest component can include in the principal debt to acquire a minimum threshold limit i.e., 1 crore if delayed payment stipulated in the agreement or invoice.
‘Financial Debt’ would have to be construed to include interest free loans advanced to finance the business operations of a corporate body.
A pre-existing dispute towards interest on the delayed payments before the issuance of the demand notice and that the alleged claim amount towards interest on loan alone, cannot be termed as an “Operational Debt”.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (for short “I&B Code”), enacted in 2016, marked a significant reform in India’s economic landscape by streamlining the insolvency resolution process and providing a balanced framework.
It is evident upon reading Section 33(5) that this clause merely forbids the filing of a lawsuit or other legal action against the Corporate Debtor. It in no way precludes the filing of a lawsuit or starting another legal action against a ship or vessel owned by the corporate debtor.
A recently evolved notion of co-relation of Principal amount and interest levied on it, for the purpose of Section 5(8) of the code and its implication in the application filed under Section 7.
The minimum threshold limit mentioned under section 4 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 can include both principal and interest amount. The invoices/bills raised by the Operational Creditor clearly mentioned that the interest will be charged @18% after the due date of the bill.
Proceeding against the Corporate Debtor for the recovery of the dues and hence can file a petition against the Corporate Debtor under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 before the Adjudicating Authority.
NCLT held that the “interest” component alone cannot be claimed or pursued, in absence of the debt, to trigger a CIRP against the corporate Debtor. Further, the application pursued realization of the interest amount alone is against the intent of the IBC, 2016.
The Supreme Court did not agree to the payment of amounts deposited by the promoter to homebuyers on the grounds that it would be preferential payment to one class of creditors.
The UP-RERA has now requested the RBI to consider restructuring the loans taken by the builders for the completion of real estate projects.
The MahaRERA in three separate orders directed the CCI Projects Ltd to pay interest on delayed period of possession after the ongoing six-month moratorium due to covid-19 crisis is over.
The rationale of the Ordinance is certainly to ensure that Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 lives up to its preamble that is – maximization of value of assets. The newly inserted Section 10A certainly brings about a balance of interest between creditors and debtors.
COVID19 Emergency-The Indian Economy is already facing a slowdown in growth but this situation to get worse if the countermeasure is not implemented sooner.
Whether the delay in delivering possession is due to the Corporate Debtor & in case the delay is not due to the Corporate Debtor, but force majeure, it cannot be alleged that the Corporate Debtor has defaulted in delivering the possession.