Case: Icici Bank Ltd Vs. Sidco Leathers Ltd.

queue for receiving money owed to him. It, however, does not stand obliterated only by the filing of an affidavit or proof of claim with the official liquidator. Such a claim had been filed pursuant to a notice issued by the official liquidator. If the creditor does not respond to the said notice, he would not be in a position to bring to the notice of the official liquidator, the existence of his right. 60. Sub-section (3) of Section 47 clearly envisages the position where he does not either realise or relinquish his security. He, in such a situation, may state in his Affidavit of Proof, the particulars of the security and value at which he assesses the same. The consequences therefor would ensue. If the Official Receiver proceeds to sell the security, the Court first has to pay the amount at which the security was valued to the secured creditor out of the sale proceeds. 61. In Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. v. Union of India & Anr. [(1979) 2 SCC 529] , it was stated: "That has to be determined on an interpretation of Section 13(2) in the light of the context or setting in which it occurs and having regard to the object and purpose of its enactment. Now, one thing is clear that the power conferred under Section 13(2) is a corrective or rectificatory power and it is conferred in terms of widest amplitude. - It is left to the discretion of the Commission whether the power should be exercised in a given case and if so, to what extent. But it must be remembered that this discretion being a judicial or in any event a quasi judicial discretion, cannot be "arbitrary, vague or fanciful" : it must be guided by relevant considerations. It is not possible to enumerate exhaustively the various relevant considerations which may legitimately weigh with the Commission in exercising its discretion, nor would it be prudent or wise to do so, since the teeming multiplicity of circumstances and situations which may arise from time to time in this kaleidoscopic world cannot be cast in any definite or rigid mould or be imprisoned in any strait-jacket formula" 62. The question came up for consideration before a learned Single Judge of Karnataka High Court in State Bank of Mysore v. Official Liquidator & Ors. [1985 (58) Company Cases 609], wherein the law was stated in the following terms: "It will be thus plain that what section 47 provides is only for the benefit of the mortgagee and not to his detriment. He can follow any one of the three procedures suggested in the section. In this case, I do not think it can be validly argued that the mortgagee has relinquished his security. Exhibit B-1 makes it clear that he had no objection if the property is sold free of mortgage but a lien is kept in so far as the value he had assessed is concerned and is preferentially paid out of the sale proceeds. There are no words in Exhibit B-1 which warrant any conclusion that the mortgagee had relinquished his security" 63. In fact, sub-section (3) of section 47 lends support to this method of payment to the mortgagee. If the official receiver proceeds to sell the security, the court first has to pay the amount at which the security was valued to the secured creditor out of the sale proceeds. Whatever may be the position in regard to the balance, in so far as the value of his assessment is concerned, he can be preferentially paid out of the sale proceeds.64. If the sale was valid, I fail to see how the mortgagee could be deprived of his security, particularly when he had not relinquished. The property was sold with a clear understanding that the mortgagee will be paid firm from the sale proceeds. This mode of realization of security is not, in my view, derogatory either to section 47 or to section 59 of the Act. 65. It was further held: "Sub-s. (3) of s. 47 of the Act does not come in the way of the official liquidator entertaining the application of the bank for payment of secured loans in accordance with the hypothecation agreement and the mortgage by deposit of title deeds, as proved by the bank. In the result, the bank is entitled to realize that amount on a preferential basis as a secured creditor notwithstanding the fact that it filed the affidavit indicating that it stands within liquidation but subject to the reservation of its security being continued." 66. A Division bench of the Gujarat High Court in Gujarat Steel Tube Employees Union & Anr. v. O.L. of Gujarat Steel Tubes Ltd. & Ors. [disposed of on 9.1.2006], held: "The Court is also of the view that simply because the secured creditors participate in the sale proceedings undertaken by the Court and they also became the members of the Sale Committee constituted pursuant to the directions issued by the Court does not mean that they have exercised their option of remaining outside the winding up and they have relinquished their security. As a matter of fact, relinquishment of security by the secured creditors require a positive action on the part of the secured creditors. They have never stated in any of the proceedings that they are relinquishing their securities. On the contrary, they have made it clear that they remain outside the winding up and they participate in the sale proceeds only with a view to facilitate the sale proceeds so as to get the auction proceedings completed as expeditiously as possible. There is also substance in the say of the secured creditors that as soon as the assets of the companies are sold and realization is taken place, their securities are converted from the specified assets into cash and they have equal right in cash which is realized on sale of the assets of the Company in liquidation" 67. We agree with the said view.68.

Decision (1 = appeal accepted, 0 = rejected): 1

Explanation:
1[ds]Section 47 of the Provincial Insolvency Act is attracted by virtue of Section 529(1) of the Companies Act. Sub-section (2) of Section 47 would become applicable where a secured creditor voluntarily relinquishes his security for the general benefit of theenvisages a conscious act, i.e., an act where a person was aware of his right and then relinquishes the same. The same must be for the general benefit of the creditors. His action must lead to a conclusion that he, for one reason or the other, intended to stand in the queue for receiving money owed to him. It, however, does not stand obliterated only by the filing of an affidavit or proof of claim with the official liquidator. Such a claim had been filed pursuant to a notice issued by the official liquidator. If the creditor does not respond to the said notice, he would not be in a position to bring to the notice of the official liquidator, the existence of his(3) of Section 47 clearly envisages the position where he does not either realise or relinquish his security. He, in such a situation, may state in his Affidavit of Proof, the particulars of the security and value at which he assesses the same. The consequences therefor would ensue. If the Official Receiver proceeds to sell the security, the Court first has to pay the amount at which the security was valued to the secured creditor out of the salefact, sub-section (3) of section 47 lends support to this method of payment to the mortgagee. If the official receiver proceeds to sell the security, the court first has to pay the amount at which the security was valued to the secured creditor out of the sale proceeds. Whatever may be the position in regard to the balance, in so far as the value of his assessment is concerned, he can be preferentially paid out of the sale proceeds.64. If the sale was valid, I fail to see how the mortgagee could be deprived of his security, particularly when he had not relinquished. The property was sold with a clear understanding that the mortgagee will be paid firm from the sale proceeds. This mode of realization of security is not, in my view, derogatory either to section 47 or to section 59 of the Act.It was further(3) of s. 47 of the Act does not come in the way of the official liquidator entertaining the application of the bank for payment of secured loans in accordance with the hypothecation agreement and the mortgage by deposit of title deeds, as proved by the bank. In the result, the bank is entitled to realize that amount on a preferential basis as a secured creditor notwithstanding the fact that it filed the affidavit indicating that it stands within liquidation but subject to the reservation of its security being continued.A Division bench of the Gujarat High Court in Gujarat Steel Tube Employees Union & Anr. v. O.L. of Gujarat Steel Tubes Ltd. & Ors. [disposed of on 9.1.2006],Court is also of the view that simply because the secured creditors participate in the sale proceedings undertaken by the Court and they also became the members of the Sale Committee constituted pursuant to the directions issued by the Court does not mean that they have exercised their option of remaining outside the winding up and they have relinquished their security. As a matter of fact, relinquishment of security by the secured creditors require a positive action on the part of the secured creditors. They have never stated in any of the proceedings that they are relinquishing their securities. On the contrary, they have made it clear that they remain outside the winding up and they participate in the sale proceeds only with a view to facilitate the sale proceeds so as to get the auction proceedings completed as expeditiously as possible. There is also substance in the say of the secured creditors that as soon as the assets of the companies are sold and realization is taken place, their securities are converted from the specified assets into cash and they have equal right in cash which is realized on sale of the assets of the Company inWe agree with the said view.