logo
NCLT adjourns Bhushan Power & Steel insolvency case hearing to May 26

NCLT adjourns Bhushan Power & Steel insolvency case hearing to May 26

Time of India21-05-2025
Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
New Delhi: The National Company Law Tribunal, on Wednesday, deferred the hearing of Bhushan Power and Steel Limited 's (BPSL) insolvency case to May 26. The NCLT sought the assistance of the counsels appearing in the case to implement the Supreme Court's judgment.Earlier this month, the Supreme Court scrapped JSW Steel 's ₹19,700-crore acquisition of BPSL completed four years ago, citing "gross violation" of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and ordered the liquidation of the company.The top court has observed violations of norms or processes by key stakeholders - JSW Steel, the committee of creditors, and the resolution professional.Emphasising that NCLT has to operate within the findings of the SC and its role is limited, NCLT president, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar, asked the counsels: "How do you want to address this? Are you reviewing this? The decision, he said is very clear. "It (SC) says NCLT, NCLAT, please strictly obey our orders. So, we have to be doubly careful," Sudhakar said.He also posed a question regarding the management of BPSL."Someone has to take control, or there has to be something to safeguard the state of Corporate Debtor?" he asked.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Former Standard Chartered Research CEO moves for insolvency over unpaid dues, wrongful dismissal
Former Standard Chartered Research CEO moves for insolvency over unpaid dues, wrongful dismissal

Mint

time3 hours ago

  • Mint

Former Standard Chartered Research CEO moves for insolvency over unpaid dues, wrongful dismissal

Amit Bansal, the recently terminated chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Research and Technology India Pvt. Ltd (SCRTIPL—known as Solv), has approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) seeking insolvency proceedings against his former employer. Bansal has alleged non-payment of dues and wrongful termination in his filing under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. He has sought ₹1.05 crore in unpaid and statutory dues—including ₹12.4 lakh in salary up to his termination date, three months' notice period pay of ₹54.9 lakh, and encashment of 45 days' unavailed leave of ₹38 lakh. Bansal has also sought compensation for 832,330.5 vested employee stock options (ESOPs), valued at ₹24.9 crore, alleging these were lawfully earned but 'wrongfully denied or forfeited" by Solv. His total claim aggregates to ₹25.95 crore. Bansal insisted that Solv acknowledged liability for due salary, notice, and leave encashment in correspondence but failed to pay, while 'wrongfully" denying his vested ESOPs without justification. The NCLT will assess whether Bansal's claims are recognized as 'operational debt" under the IBC and if any default on payment justifies insolvency proceedings. Admission of the case could subject Solv to a court-supervised resolution, potentially altering management or asset ownership. Bansal, in his petition before the Bengaluru bench of the NCLT, said that after taking charge as CEO in April 2021 he led Solv's rise as a prominent marketplace for micro, small and medium enterprises. Solv reached nearly $400 million in valuation and $650 million in gross merchandise value by early 2025, serving over 400,000 small businesses, he added. On 19 February 2025, Standard Chartered Research dismissed Bansal. In his petition, Bansal alleged the dismissal was abrupt, without due process, and retaliatory as he had raised concerns over corporate governance issues and his exclusion from Solv's merger talks with Jumbotail Technologies. As per Bansal's petition, the termination letter specified payment of salary, notice period dues, and leave encashment. These, he alleged, remain unpaid. Bansal filed his petition on 29 July. During the hearing on 1 August, Standard Chartered Research sought time to file its response to the petition. The court has not year notified the next date of hearing. Claims before NCLT The NCLT's role in adjudicating such disputes goes beyond employment claims, said legal observers. 'The NCLT's jurisdiction includes examining whether removals of key managerial personnel are simply contractual or rise to the level of shareholder oppression or poor governance," said Shri Venkatesh, founding partner, SKV Law Offices. He pointed to high-profile precedents: while the tribunal upheld Tata Sons' right to dismiss Cyrus Mistry, in the McDonald's–Vikram Bakshi dispute, the NCLT sided with Bakshi, finding executive removal had crossed into shareholder oppression. Amir Bavani, founder of AB Legal, Hyderabad, said senior-level disputes at multinational corporations are always highly charged given the nature of the parties involved. 'Proceedings initiated by top management can change the complexion of the dispute. If the operational creditor succeeds, it could pave the way for other instances where insolvency threats prompt multinationals to proactively resolve such disputes. However, such petitions can easily be settled by compensating the personnel as per the employment contract," Bavani said. Under Section 9 of the IBC, operational creditors are entitled to seek insolvency proceedings if companies neglect undisputed dues after a formal demand notice. Bansal, who is represented by Waseem Pangarkar, partner at MZM Legal, asserted that all such procedures had been followed. Registered in India in 2019 as part of Standard Chartered's digital innovation push, SCRTIPL, under the Solv brand, became a significant business-to-business (B2B) platform for MSMEs, incubated by SC Ventures. Earlier this year, Jumbotail, a leading e-commerce and retail platform, acquired Solv India—operated by SCRTIPL—after receiving clearance from the Competition Commission of India. Jumbotail now owns 100% of this entity, fully integrating Solv's offerings with its nationwide network of neighbourhood stores and business clients. In July, Jumbotail raised $120 million in a Series D fundraising round led by SC Ventures, the investment arm of Standard Chartered Plc. 'As the matter is sub judice, SCRTIPL (Solv) will refrain from commenting at this stage. Our position has been clearly articulated in our submissions to the court, and we have full faith in the fairness and integrity of the judicial process," Solv said in response to Mint's queries. Jumbotail and Amit Bansal did not respond to Mint's requests for comment.

SC proposes panel to manage Banke Bihari temple till HC decides on UP ordinance
SC proposes panel to manage Banke Bihari temple till HC decides on UP ordinance

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

SC proposes panel to manage Banke Bihari temple till HC decides on UP ordinance

. New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday proposed an interim committee, headed by a retired high court judge and comprising the district collector and Goswamis (pujaris), for management of Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan till Allahabad HC decides the validity of UP govt's ordinance for all-round development of the temple area to provide facilities to pilgrims. A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked additional solicitor general K M Nataraj to seek state govt's response by Tuesday morning, when it will take up a batch of petitions that have questioned the manner in which state govt, prompted by an SC order, had come out with a temple development project proposed to be implemented at a cost of Rs 500 crore. The Goswamis, through senior advocate Shyam Divan, said taking over of the temple through an ordinance was extraordinary as the issue was not before constitutional courts, which were only dealing with alleged mismanagement of Guriraj temple. In the guise of better management of temples in the 'Braj area', the SC passed an order without even hearing temple Goswamis, which prompted the state to issue the ordinance, they said. The bench agreed that such an order without hearing the Goswamis could not have been passed. However, the Justice Kant-led bench said, "It is only for development of the temple and its surroundings. The state's intention does not appear to siphon out temple funds but to spend it on providing facilities to pilgrims." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Andrea Bergs Auto schockiert die ganze Welt, Beweis in Fotos! Weight Loss Groove Undo Divan said Banke Bihari temple was a private temple and any law brought about by govt or any order passed by courts could not have been without hearing the Goswamis, who have been managing it for centuries. The bench saw a point in Divan's argument and said, "The state cannot be seen coming to the court in a clandestine manner and getting an order set aside in a case which had nothing to do with Banke Bihari temple. We will set aside that part of the order, set up an interim committee to manage the temple and permit the HC to decide the legality of the ordinance." However, the bench was in favour of development around the temple to provide space for parking and places to stay for pilgrims with all facilities. "Religious tourism is assuming great importance. It can also be a big revenue earner and help in job creation. But there has to be adequate facilities to handle pilgrims," it said. The interim committee may also have to induct representatives of Archaeological Survey of India as well as independent architects proficient in ancient building restoration to protect the temple, the bench said.

As per SC order, J&K govt. takes over iconic Nedou's Hotel in Gulmarg
As per SC order, J&K govt. takes over iconic Nedou's Hotel in Gulmarg

The Hindu

time8 hours ago

  • The Hindu

As per SC order, J&K govt. takes over iconic Nedou's Hotel in Gulmarg

Under a tight security cover, the iconic and historic Nedou's Hotel was 'smoothly' taken over by the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) after evicting the Nedou's family and their staff, running the place for the past 137 years, as per a Supreme Court order. 'It was a smooth transition. They [the Nedou's family] cooperated well. The hotel structures and the huts have been sealed as per the court orders. The GDA has taken over everything, including the articles inside for now,' Tariq Hussain Naik, Chief Executive Officer, GDA, who oversaw the takeover, told The Hindu. The GDA also made an inventory of the articles inside the structures, which include heritage furniture and artefacts. Perched on a small hill in Gulmarg with snow-capped mountains in the backdrop, the iconic Nedou's Hotel was set up in 1888 by Michael Adam Nedou, a European who discovered Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. Afterwards, it became a popular holiday destination for Europeans and royalty. After 1947, the hotel became a favourite haunt for politicians like Congress leader Indira Gandhi and Bollywood stars like Dilip Kumar. Several movies and songs were shot in and around the iconic wooden structure. At the time of eviction, officials said Omar K. Nedou, the great-grandson of Michael Nedou, and his wife Dilnawaz Nedou, who oversaw the Food and Beverage department, were present. Over 45 staff members also stood with the family members who worked for the hotel for several decades. The District Magistrate, Baramulla, provided adequate security personnel 'to ensure the peaceful execution of the eviction process and maintenance of public order'. The Nedous were in possession of nearly 98 kanals and 11 marlas of government land. The family had earned multiple leases from the government from 1888 till 1985. However, the family, which is related to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, failed to renew the lease after its expiration in 1985. The Jammu and Kashmir government rejected the lease in February 2015. Later, the High Court too dismissed the hotel's plea for lease renewal and declared it as an unauthorised occupant under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988. The Supreme Court also issued eviction orders against the Nedous. 'Nobody is above law,' CEO Mr. Naik said. It is highly unlikely the family can apply for the property again because under the amended Land Grants Act rules 2022, the previous occupant cannot apply for the lease again.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store