Mrs. Jagi Mangat Panda vs Srei Equipment Finance Limited & Ors.

Court
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal
Case type
Company Appeal(AT)(Ins)
Decided on
20-03-2026
<div> <b>NATIONAL COMPANY LAW APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, </b><br /> <b>PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI </b><br /> <b>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 1530 of 2024 </b><br /> <br /> (Arising out of Order dated 22.07.2024 passed by the Adjudicating Authority <br /> (National Company Law Tribunal), New Delhi, Court III in IB-337(ND)/2022) <br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b>IN THE MATTER OF: </b><br /> <b>JAGI MANGAT PANDA </b><br /> W/o Shri Baijayant Panda <br /> R/o Plot No. 8, Bhoi Nagar, <br /> Nayapalli Khorda, <br /> Bhubaneswar, Odisha - 751012 <br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> …Appellant </b><br /> <b> </b> <b> </b><br /> <b>Versus </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b>1. SREI EQUIPMENT FINANCE LIMITED </b><br /> Through its Administrator <br /> Vishwakarma 86C, Topsia Road (South), <br /> Kolkata~ West Bengal- 700046. <br /> <b> </b><br /> <b>ALSO AT: </b><br /> 6A, Kiran Shankar Roy Road, <br /> Kolkata, West Bengal – 700001. <br /> <br /> <b>2. SHRI SAJJAN KUMAR DOKANIA </b><br /> Resolution Professional <br /> 25, Globus Fab City, Chunabhatti, <br /> Kolar Road, Near Suyash Hospital, <br /> Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462016. <br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> …Respondents </b><br /> <b> </b> <b> </b> <b> </b><br /> <b>Present: </b><br /> <b>For Appellant: </b> <b>Mr. Anuj Shah, Advocate. </b><br /> <b>For Respondents: </b> <b>Mr. Sanjiv Sen, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Anirban </b><br /> <b>Bhattacharya, </b> <b>Mr. </b> <b>Rajeev </b> <b>Chowdhary, </b> <b>Mr. </b><br /> <b>Prahalad </b> <b>Balaji </b> <b>and </b> <b>Ms. </b> <b>Priyanka </b> <b>Bhatt, </b><br /> <b>Advocates for R-1. </b><br /> <b>Mr. Sajjan Kumar Dokania, RP with Mr. Vinod </b><br /> <b>Chaurasia, Advocate for R-2. </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <i>Cont’d…/ </i><br /><br /> 2 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>J U D G M E N T </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b>ASHOK BHUSHAN, J. </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> This appeal by a Personal Guarantor has been filed challenging the <br /> order dated 22.07.2024 passed by the Adjudicating Authority (National <br /> Company Law Tribunal) New Delhi, Court – III admitting Section 95 <br /> application filed by the Financial Creditor - SREI Equipment Finance Ltd. <br /> Brief facts of the case necessary to be noticed for deciding this appeal are: <br /> (i) Various loan agreements were executed between M/ s. Ortel <br /> Communications Ltd. and M/s SREI Equipment Finance Ltd. – <br /> Respondent No.1 herein on 01.07.2018. Deed of Guarantee was <br /> executed by the Appellant on 01.07.2018 giving guarantee for <br /> repayment of money received by the Corporate Debtor from the <br /> Financial Creditor. Default was committed by the Corporate Debtor <br /> and CIRP against the Corporate Debtor commenced on 27.11.2018. <br /> <br /> (ii) On 15.02.2022, the Financial Creditor issued a demand notice in <br /> Form B under Rule 7(1) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy <br /> (Application to Adjudicating Authority for Insolvency Resolution <br /> Process for Personal Guarantors to Corporate Debtors) Rules, 2019 <br /> demanding an amount of Rs.113,38,41,436/-. <br /> (iii) The Personal Guarantor issued a response by letter dated <br /> 05.04.2022 to the notice. <br /> (iv) The Financial Creditor filed an application under Section 95 in May, <br /> 2022 in which the Resolution Professional was appointed by the <br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 3 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Adjudicating Authority. The Resolution Professional submitted a <br /> report under Section 99 recommending for admission of Section 95 <br /> application. The Personal Guarantor filed an objection pleading <br /> that guarantee has not been invoked in terms of Clause 3(a) of the <br /> guarantee. There being non-compliance of Rule 3(e) of 2019 Rules, <br /> the issuance of notice dated 15.02.2022 in Form B does not <br /> substantively amount to invocation. <br /> (v) Before the Adjudicating Authority an application was filed by the <br /> Financial Creditor being I.A. No.816 of 2024 seeking to bring the <br /> alleged loan recall notice dated 11.06.2019 on record. The <br /> application came to be heard by the Adjudicating Authority on <br /> 03.05.2024, on which date both learned counsel for the Resolution <br /> Professional and Financial Creditor submitted that they will not rely <br /> on the notice dated 11.06.2019. After noticing the said statement, <br /> the Adjudicating Authority directed the parties to file written <br /> submissions and by order dated 22.07.2024 has admitted Section <br /> 95 application. Aggrieved by which order this appeal has been filed. <br /> (vi) In this appeal, the Respondent No.1 has filed an I.A. No.910 of 2026 <br /> praying to take on record notice dated 11.06.2019 invoking the <br /> personal guarantee and the affidavit dated 09.04.2024 filed by the <br /> Resolution Professional, which application has been objected by the <br /> Appellant by filing a reply. <br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 4 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 2. We have heard Mr. Anuj Shah, learned counsel for the Appellant, Mr. <br /> Sanjiv Sen, learned senior counsel appearing for Respondent No.1 and Mr. <br /> Sajjan Kumar Dokania, Resolution Professional – Respondent No.2. <br /> 3. Learned counsel for the Appellant challenging the order submits that <br /> the Financial Creditor having never invoked the personal guarantee given by <br /> the Appellant, the application filed under Section 95 was not maintainable. <br /> It is submitted that notice under Rule 7(1) in Form B can only be issued <br /> when guarantee has been invoked. The notice received by the Appellant <br /> under Rule 7(1) dated 15.02.2022 cannot be accepted as notice for <br /> invocation of guarantee. Law is well settled by this Tribunal in <b><i>“State Bank </i></b><br /> <b><i>of India vs. Deepak Kumar Singhania, Company Appeal (AT) (Ins.) </i></b><br /> <b><i>No.191 of 2025”</i></b> where it was held that notice under Rule 7(1) is not notice <br /> for invocation of bank guarantee and without invocation of bank guarantee <br /> Section 95 application is not maintainable. Learned counsel for the <br /> Appellant submits that the notice dated 11.06.2019, which is sought to be <br /> introduced by IA No.910 of 2026 cannot be accepted. It is submitted that <br /> attempt was made by the Respondent No.1 before the Adjudicating <br /> Authority for placing the notice dated 11.06.2019, which notice was not <br /> permitted to be taken on record and both the Financial Creditor and the <br /> Resolution Professional has made statement that they will not rely on the <br /> said document i.e. notice dated 11.06.2019. When the Respondents clearly <br /> stated that they are not relying on the notice dated 11.06.2019, they cannot <br /> be permitted to rely on said notice in this appeal. <br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 5 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 4. Shri Sanjiv Sen, learned counsel for the Respondent submits that by <br /> notice dated 11.06.2019, the personal guarantee was invoked which is filed <br /> along with I.A. No.910 of 2026. It is submitted that by said notice the Bank <br /> had already invoked the personal guarantee, hence, bank was fully entitled <br /> to issue notice under Rule 7(1) of 2019 Rules and the application has rightly <br /> been admitted by the Adjudicating Authority under Section 95. It is <br /> submitted that law which is laid down by this Tribunal in <b><i>State Bank of </i></b><br /> <b><i>India vs. Deepak Kumar Singhania</i></b> dated 28.05.2025 was not law on the <br /> date when order was passed by the Adjudicating Authority on 22.07.2024, <br /> hence, application was filed by the Financial Creditor relying on the existing <br /> law which did not require separate invocation of guarantee apart from <br /> issuance of notice under Rule 7. <br /> 5. We have considered the submissions of learned counsel for the parties <br /> and perused the record. <br /> 6. We need to first notice the copy of the application filed by the <br /> Financial Creditor under Section 95(1) under Rule 7(2) of the Insolvency and <br /> Bankruptcy (Application to Adjudicating Authority for Insolvency Resolution <br /> Process for Personal Guarantors to Corporate Debtors) Rules, 2019. Copy of <br /> the said application is brought on the record as Annexure 2 to the appeal. <br /> Application is based on Deed of Guarantee dated 01.07.2018 and in the <br /> application the Financial Creditor has relied on demand notice dated <br /> 15.02.2022, which was annexed as Annexure 5 to the application. In Paras <br /> 10 and 11 of the synopsis of the application following was pleaded: <br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>“10. That having failed to yet recover its dues under </i><br /> <i>the loan facilities availed by the Corporate Debtor, the </i><br /> <i>Applicant/Financial Creditor issued a Demand Notice </i><br /> <i>dated </i> <i>15.02.2022 </i> <i>to </i> <i>the </i> <i>Respondent/Personal </i><br /> <i>Guarantor in Form-B as provided under Rule 7 ( 1) of </i><br /> <i>the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India </i><br /> <i>(Application to Adjudicating Authority for Insolvency </i><br /> <i>Resolution </i> <i>Process </i> <i>for </i> <i>Personal </i> <i>Guarantors </i> <i>to </i><br /> <i>Corporate Debtors) Rules, 2019 for the outstanding </i><br /> <i>dues of Rs, 1,13,38,41,436/- (Rupees One Hundred </i><br /> <i>Thirteen Crores Thirty Eight Lakhs Forty One </i><br /> <i>Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty Six Only) due to </i><br /> <i>be payable to the Applicant/Financial Creditor by the </i><br /> <i>Corporate Debtor, A copy of the Demand Notice dated </i><br /> <i>15,02.2022 issued in Form-B as provided under Rule </i><br /> <i>7 (1) of the by the Applicant/Financial Creditor </i><br /> <i>Insolvency </i> <i>and </i> <i>Bankruptcy </i> <i>Board </i> <i>of </i> <i>India </i><br /> <i>(Application to Adjudicating Authority for Insolvency </i><br /> <i>Resolution </i> <i>Process </i> <i>for </i> <i>Personal </i> <i>Guarantors </i> <i>to </i><br /> <i>Corporate Debtors) Rules, 2019 is annexed herewith </i><br /> <i>and marked as Annexure - 4. </i><br /> <i>11. </i> <i>That </i> <i>vide </i> <i>letter </i> <i>dated </i> <i>05.04.2022, </i> <i>the </i><br /> <i>Respondent/Personal Guarantor issued her response </i><br /> <i>to the Form- B Demand Notice dated 15.02.2022 </i><br /> <i>stating therein that in the Resolution Plan for Ortel </i><br /> <i>Communications Ltd., it had been stated that the </i><br /> <i>rights of the Financial Creditor to proceed against any </i><br /> <i>third party shall be deemed to be assigned. The </i><br /> <i>Respondent/Personal Guarantor further stated that </i><br /> <i>the claim of the Applicant/Financial Creditor had not </i><br /> <i>been accepted in totality in the Resolution Plan and </i><br /> <i>that </i> <i>the </i> <i>Demand </i> <i>Notice </i> <i>was </i> <i>premature, </i><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 7 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>unsustainable and illegal and thus, requested the </i><br /> <i>Applicant/Personal </i> <i>Guarantor </i> <i>to </i> <i>withdraw </i> <i>the </i><br /> <i>Demand Notice dated 15.02.2022. </i><br /> <i>A copy of the reply of the Respondent/Personal </i><br /> <i>Guarantor dated 05.04.2022 in response to the Form </i><br /> <i>- B Demand Notice dated 15.02.2022 is annexed </i><br /> <i>herewith and marked as Annexure - 5.” </i><br /> 7. When we look into the Part-III of the application, according to the <br /> Financial Creditor the date on which default occurred was 27.11.2018 and <br /> on 15.02.2022 when notice under Rule 7 was issued. 27.11.2018 is the <br /> date when default was committed by the Principal Borrower. In the list of <br /> documents referred to in the Part-III apart from loan agreement, personal <br /> guarantees only notice annexed was notice under Rule 7 in Form B dated <br /> 15.02.2022. Column 15 of Part-III of the Section 95 application is as <br /> follows: <br /></div><table><thead><tr><th>15.</th><th>List of documents&lt;br&gt;attached to this&lt;br&gt;application in order to&lt;br&gt;prove the existence of&lt;br&gt;debt and the amount&lt;br&gt;in default</th><th>1. Loan Agreements bearing nos.&lt;br&gt;1725751 172573, 172530,&lt;br&gt;171853, 172577, 172576 and&lt;br&gt;172529 dated 01.07.2018 are&lt;br&gt;annexed herewith and marked&lt;br&gt;as Annexure - 8 (Colly).&lt;br&gt;2. Personal Guarantees bearing&lt;br&gt;nos. 172575! 172573, 172530,&lt;br&gt;171853, 172577, 172576 and&lt;br&gt;172529 dated 01.07.2018 are&lt;br&gt;annexed herewith and marked</th></tr></thead><tbody></tbody></table><div><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 8 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /></div><table><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th>as Annexure - 9 (Colly).&lt;br&gt;3. Notice under Form - B dated&lt;br&gt;15.02.2022 is annexed herewith&lt;br&gt;and marked as Annexure - 4.&lt;br&gt;4. A copy of the reply of the&lt;br&gt;Respondent/ Personal Guarantor&lt;br&gt;dated 05.04.2022 in response to&lt;br&gt;the Form - B Demand Notice&lt;br&gt;dated 25.02.2022 is annexed&lt;br&gt;herewith and marked as&lt;br&gt;Annexure-5.&lt;br&gt;5. Statement of Account is&lt;br&gt;annexed herewith and marked&lt;br&gt;as Annexure - 7.&lt;br&gt;6. Master Data of the Corporate&lt;br&gt;Debtor is annexed herewith and&lt;br&gt;marked as Annexure - 10</th></tr></thead><tbody></tbody></table><div><br /> 8. The Adjudicating Authority while admitting the Section 95 application <br /> has held that the notice under Rule 7 issued in Form B is notice invoking <br /> guarantee and it would be unreasonable to interpret the Personal Guarantor <br /> Rules as requiring a separate invocation notice in addition to the mandatory <br /> demand notice issued per Form-B. In Para 17 of the order following was <br /> held: <br /> <i>“17. A reading of the clause of the Deed of Guarantee </i><br /> <i>and the above definition makes it clear that, </i><br /> <i>notwithstanding the fact that the deed of guarantee </i><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 9 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>contains an invocation clause or not, the Rules have </i><br /> <i>made the invocation of personal guarantee mandatory </i><br /> <i>in all cases. We are of considered view that it would </i><br /> <i>be unreasonable to interpret the Personal Guarantor </i><br /> <i>Rules as requiring a separate invocation notice in </i><br /> <i>addition to the mandatory demand notice issued per </i><br /> <i>Form-B. Both notices serve the same purpose: </i><br /> <i>enforcing the Personal Guarantor&#x27;s obligations under </i><br /> <i>the Personal Guarantee by demanding payment of the </i><br /> <i>Corporate Debtor&#x27;s unpaid debt. Therefore, issuing a </i><br /> <i>Demand Notice dated 15.02.2022 as per Form-B </i><br /> <i>effectively constitutes the &#x27;invocation&#x27; of a personal </i><br /> <i>guarantee.” </i><br /> 9. The Adjudicating Authority then proceeded on premise that notice <br /> under Rule 7 in Form B is itself invocation of guarantee. The law on the <br /> subject is laid down by this Tribunal in <b><i>“State Bank of India vs. Deepak </i></b><br /> <b><i>Kumar Singhania, Company Appeal (AT) (Ins.) No.191 of 2025”</i></b> where <br /> this Tribunal after considering the Rule 7 of the 2019 Rules has laid down <br /> that before issuance of demand notice under Rule 7(1) in Form B there has <br /> to be invocation of guarantee. The argument raised in the above case was <br /> that notice under Rule 7(1) in Form B is itself invocation of guarantee, which <br /> was specifically dealt with and rejected. In Para 14 to 17 following was laid <br /> down: <br /> <i>“14. Sub-section (4) of Section 95 provides that an </i><br /> <i>application </i> <i>under </i> <i>sub-section </i> <i>(1) </i> <i>shall </i> <i>be </i><br /> <i>accompanied with details and documents as referred </i><br /> <i>to therein. Sub-section (7) provides that details and </i><br /> <i>documents required to be submitted under sub-</i><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 10 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>section (4) shall be such as may be specified. Rule 2 </i><br /> <i>of 2019 Rules provides that these rules shall apply to </i><br /> <i>insolvency resolution process for personal guarantors </i><br /> <i>to Corporate Debtors. The application under Section </i><br /> <i>95 has been filed against the Respondent – Personal </i><br /> <i>Guarantor of the Corporate Debtor – LML Ltd. Hence, </i><br /> <i>the application under Section 95 has to be as per </i><br /> <i>2019 Rules. Rule 3, sub-section (1) (e) defines </i><br /> <i>‘guarantor’, which is as follows: </i><br /> <i>“3(e) “guarantor” means a debtor who is a </i><br /> <i>personal guarantor to a corporate debtor and in </i><br /> <i>respect of whom guarantee has been invoked by </i><br /> <i>the creditor and remains unpaid in full or part;” </i><br /> <i>15. The ‘Guarantor’ within the meaning of 2019 </i><br /> <i>Rules, means a Debtor who is a Personal Guarantor </i><br /> <i>to a Corporate Debtor and in respect of whom </i><br /> <i>guarantee has been invoked by the Creditor and </i><br /> <i>remains unpaid in full or part. Learned Counsel for </i><br /> <i>the Appellant has relied on definition of ‘Personal </i><br /> <i>Guarantor’ as contained in Section 5, sub-section (22) </i><br /> <i>of the IBC. Section 5, sub-section (22) of the IBC is in </i><br /> <i>Part-II, whereas Section 95 of the IBC is in Part-III. </i><br /> <i>Hence, the definition of ‘Personal Guarantor’ under </i><br /> <i>Rule 5(22) may not be applicable with regard to </i><br /> <i>initiation of insolvency resolution process against the </i><br /> <i>Personal Guarantor and the definition given in Rule 3, </i><br /> <i>sub-rule (1) (e) of 2019 Rules has to be looked into for </i><br /> <i>the purpose of initiating insolvency resolution process </i><br /> <i>against the Personal Guarantor. Rule 7, deals with </i><br /> <i>‘Application by creditor’. Rule 7 of 2019 Rules is as </i><br /> <i>follows: </i><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 11 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>“</i> <b><i>7. Application by creditor.―</i></b> <i> (1) A demand </i><br /> <i>notice under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of </i><br /> <i>section 95 shall be served on the guarantor </i><br /> <i>demanding payment of the amount of default, in </i><br /> <i>Form B. </i><br /> <i>(2) The application under sub-section (1) of </i><br /> <i>section 95 shall be submitted in Form C, along </i><br /> <i>with a fee of two thousand rupees. </i><br /> <i>(3) The creditor shall serve forthwith a copy of </i><br /> <i>the application referred to in sub-rule (2) to the </i><br /> <i>guarantor and the corporate debtor for whom the </i><br /> <i>guarantor is a personal guarantor. </i><br /> <i>(4) In case of a joint application, the creditors </i><br /> <i>may nominate one amongst themselves to act on </i><br /> <i>behalf of all the creditors.” </i><br /> <i>16. Rule 7, sub-rule (1) provides that Demand Notice </i><br /> <i>under Clause (b) of sub-section (4) of Section 95 shall </i><br /> <i>be served on the Guarantor demanding payment of </i><br /> <i>the amount of default, in Form B. Sub-section (4) of </i><br /> <i>Section 95 refers to documents relating to debts owed </i><br /> <i>by the Debtor to the Creditor. Rule 7, sub-rule (1) </i><br /> <i>contemplate service of Demand Notice under Clause </i><br /> <i>(b) of sub-section (4) on the Guarantor, demanding </i><br /> <i>payment of the amount of default in Form B. </i><br /> <i>17. </i> <i>The </i> <i>Notice, </i> <i>thus, </i> <i>contemplate </i> <i>demanding </i><br /> <i>payment of the amount of default. The above Rule </i><br /> <i>clearly indicate that Demand Notice has to be issued, </i><br /> <i>demanding payment of the amount in default. Thus, </i><br /> <i>the default by Guarantor has to exist on the date </i><br /> <i>when Notice in Form-B is being issued. When we </i><br /> <i>read Section 95, sub-section (4) and Rule 7 of </i><br /> <i>2019Rules, the above is the only intendment of the </i><br /> <i>legislative scheme, i.e. default on the part of </i><br /> <i>Guarantor should exist on the date when Notice in </i><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 12 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>Form-B has to be issued. We have noticed the </i><br /> <i>definitions of ‘debt’ and ‘default’ in Section 3 (11) and </i><br /> <i>(12) of the IBC. Default shall arise on account of non-</i><br /> <i>payment of debt, when whole or part of it become </i><br /> <i>due. ‘Debt’ means a liability or obligation in respect </i><br /> <i>of a claim which is due from any person. Thus, for a </i><br /> <i>default, debt has to be due and Debtor shall be only </i><br /> <i>that person, to whom debt is due. A Personal </i><br /> <i>Guarantor becomes a Debtor only when guarantee is </i><br /> <i>invoked, making him liable to make the payment to </i><br /> <i>the Lender. We have noticed Clause 2 and Clause 21 </i><br /> <i>of the Deed of Guarantee in the foregoing paragraphs </i><br /> <i>of this judgment, which clearly contemplate that </i><br /> <i>liability on Guarantor shall arise only when demand </i><br /> <i>is made by the Lender, in event Principal Borrower </i><br /> <i>fails to repay the amount. In the present case, there </i><br /> <i>is no case setup by the Appellant that at any point of </i><br /> <i>time guarantee was invoked, except issuance of </i><br /> <i>Notice in Form-B, which is claimed by the Appellant to </i><br /> <i>be treated as Notice for invocation of guarantee. </i><br /> <i>Further, we have noticed the definition of ‘Guarantor’ </i><br /> <i>under Rule 3(1)(e), which while defining a ‘Guarantor’ </i><br /> <i>contain two conditions, i.e. (i) who is a Personal </i><br /> <i>Guarantor to a Corporate Debtor; and (ii) in respect of </i><br /> <i>whom, guarantee has been invoked by the Creditor </i><br /> <i>and remains unpaid in full or part. Learned Counsel </i><br /> <i>for the Appellant has contended that expression ‘and’ </i><br /> <i>used in Rule 3 (1)(e) needs to be read as ‘or’ to make </i><br /> <i>the provision workable and to avoid producing an </i><br /> <i>unintelligible and absurd result. Learned Counsel for </i><br /> <i>the Appellant has relied on two judgments of the </i><br /> <i>Hon’ble Supreme Court in support of the above </i><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 13 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>submission, i.e. AIR 1968 SC 1450 – Ishwar Singh </i><br /> <i>Bindra and Ors. vs. State of U.P. The Hon’ble </i><br /> <i>Supreme Court in the above case had occasion to </i><br /> <i>consider the definition of ‘drug’ contained in Section </i><br /> <i>3(b)(i) of Drugs Act 1940. Expression ‘and’ used in </i><br /> <i>Section 3(b)(1) of the Drugs Act was considered in the </i><br /> <i>said case and in paragraph 11 of the judgment, </i><br /> <i>following was laid down: </i><br /> <i>“11. Now if the expression “substances” is to be </i><br /> <i>taken to mean something other than “medicine” </i><br /> <i>as has been held in our previous decision it </i><br /> <i>becomes difficult to understand how the word </i><br /> <i>“and” as used in the definition of drug in Section </i><br /> <i>3(b)(i) between “medicines” and “substances” </i><br /> <i>could have been intended to have been used </i><br /> <i>conjunctively. It would be much more appropriate </i><br /> <i>in the context to read it disconjunctively. </i><br /> <i>In Stroud&#x27;s Judicial Dictionary, 3rd Edn. it is </i><br /> <i>stated at p. 135 that “and” has generally a </i><br /> <i>cumulative sense, requiring the fulfilment of all </i><br /> <i>the conditions that it joins together, and herein it </i><br /> <i>is the antithesis of or. Sometimes, however, even </i><br /> <i>in such a connection, it is, by force of a contexts, </i><br /> <i>read </i> <i>as </i> <i>“or”. </i> <i>Similarly </i> <i>in Maxwell </i> <i>on </i><br /> <i>Interpretation of Statutes, 11th Edn., it has been </i><br /> <i>accepted that “to carry out the intention of the </i><br /> <i>legislature it is occasionally found necessary to </i><br /> <i>read the conjunctions ‘or’ and ‘and’ one for the </i><br /> <i>other”.” </i><br /> 10. This Tribunal in recent judgment of this Tribunal in <b><i> “Mukul Somany </i></b><br /> <b><i>vs. DBS Bank Ltd. &amp; Anr., Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.999 of </i></b><br /> <b><i>2024 and other appeals”</i></b> , decided on 04.02.2026 has again reiterated the <br /> proposition laid down by this Tribunal in <b><i>State Bank of India vs. Deepak </i></b><br /> <b><i>Kumar Singhania.</i></b> In Para 17 and 18 of the judgment following was held: <br /> <i>“17. In view of the foregoing discussions, we are of </i><br /> <i>the view that the Financial Creditors having not </i><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 14 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>invoked the guarantee prior to issuing demand notice </i><br /> <i>in Form B, the application under Section 95 could not </i><br /> <i>have been filed by Financial Creditor before invoking </i><br /> <i>the guarantee. </i><br /> <i>18. In result, both the Appeals are allowed and order </i><br /> <i>impugned dated 03.05.2024 admitting Section 95 </i><br /> <i>application is set aside. Dismissal of Section 95 </i><br /> <i>application shall not preclude the Financial Creditor to </i><br /> <i>take such proceeding as permissible in law.” </i><br /> 11. In view of the law laid down by this Tribunal, as noted above, view <br /> taken by the Adjudicating Authority in Para 17 that notice under Rule 7 is <br /> the notice invoking the guarantee cannot be said to be in accordance with <br /> correct proposition of law. <br /> 12. A copy of the Deed of Guarantee is on record. In Para 16 of the order, <br /> Col. 3(a) of the Deed of Guarantee has been extracted, which is to the <br /> following effect: <br /> <i>“16. Clause 3 (a) of the Deed of Guarantee provides </i><br /> <i>as under: </i><br /> <i>“In the event of any default on the part of the </i><br /> <i>Customer in payment/ repayment of any of the </i><br /> <i>moneys referred to in Clause 2 above, or in the </i><br /> <i>event of any default on the part of the Customer </i><br /> <i>to comply with or perform any of the terms, </i><br /> <i>conditions and covenants contained in the </i><br /> <i>Facility Documents, the Guarantor (s) shall, upon </i><br /> <i>demand, forthwith pay to SEFL without demur </i><br /> <i>all the amounts payable by the Customer under </i><br /> <i>the Facility Documents. Any such demand made </i><br /> <i>by SEFL on the Guarantor(s) shall be final, </i><br /> <i>conclusive and binding notwithstanding any </i><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 15 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>difference or any dispute between SEFL and the </i><br /> <i>Customer/ </i> <i>arbitration </i> <i>or </i> <i>any </i> <i>other </i> <i>legal </i><br /> <i>proceedings, pending before any court, tribunal, </i><br /> <i>arbitrator or any other authority. </i><br /> <i>Rule 3 (e) of the Personal Guarantor Rules </i><br /> <i>defines &quot;guarantor&quot; as &quot;a debtor who is a </i><br /> <i>personal guarantor to a corporate debtor and in </i><br /> <i>respect of whom guarantee has been invoked by </i><br /> <i>the creditor and remains unpaid in full or part”.” </i><br /> 13. The Deed of Guarantee required issuance of notice of payment of <br /> default. Thus, the guarantee clearly contemplated demand from the <br /> Financial Creditor and invocation of guarantee was mandatory. <br /> 14. Now we look into the submission of the Respondent - Financial <br /> Creditor relying on notice dated 11.06.2019 which according to the <br /> Respondent can be treated to be notice demanding from personal guarantor. <br /> There are two reasons due to which the above submission cannot be <br /> accepted. Firstly, in the application which was filed under Section 95, the <br /> Financial Creditor has not come with any case that apart from notice under <br /> Form B dated 15.02.2022 there is any other notice invoking guarantee. As <br /> noticed above, in Part-III of the application only document referred to is <br /> notice in Form B dated 15.02.2022. Financial Creditor has not come up <br /> with any case that prior to notice under Form B dated 15.02.2022, any <br /> earlier notice was issued. Secondly, the Financial Creditor sought to bring <br /> on record notice dated 11.06.2018 by filing I.A. No.816 of 2024 before the <br /> Adjudicating Authority. The Resolution Professional has also filed an <br /> affidavit bringing on record recall notice dated 11.06.2019. When the IA <br /> No.816 of 2024 along with IB-337(ND)/2022 came for consideration, both <br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 16 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> learned counsel for the Financial Creditor and Resolution Professional <br /> submitted that they will not rely on notice dated 11.06.2019. The order <br /> passed by the Adjudicating Authority dated 03.05.2024 is as follows: <br /> <i>“</i> <b><i>HYBRID HEARING (PHYSICAL &amp; VC) </i></b><br /> <b><i>ORDER </i></b><br /> <b><i>ΙΑ-816/2024:- </i></b><br /> <i> </i><br /> <i>The Resolution Professional had filed an affidavit </i><br /> <i>on 09.04.2024 seeking to bring on record a document </i><br /> <i>alleged to be a loan recall notice issued on </i><br /> <i>11.06.2019 Mr. Gaurav Mitra, Learned Counsel </i><br /> <i>appearing for the Personal Quarantor strongly </i><br /> <i>objected to take the said document on record. Mr. </i><br /> <i>Bhattacharya, Learned Counsel appearing for the </i><br /> <i>Applicant/Financial Creditor has submitted that he </i><br /> <i>will be advancing his arguments without relying upon </i><br /> <i>the said document. Mr. Vinod Chaursia, Learned </i><br /> <i>Counsel appearing for the Resolution Professional has </i><br /> <i>also submitted that he will not be relying upon on the </i><br /> <i>said affidavit filed on 09.04.2024 and the document </i><br /> <i>in question. </i><br /> <i>We have heard the submissions made by Mr. </i><br /> <i>Anirban Bhattacharya, Learned Counsel appearing </i><br /> <i>for the Applicant. </i><br /> <i>Arguments heard. The parties are at liberty to </i><br /> <i>file written submissions along with case laws, if any, </i><br /> <i>within one week. </i><br /> <i>List the matter on </i> <b><i>17.05.2024</i></b> <i> for compliance.</i> <i>”</i> <i> </i><br /> 15. We, thus, are unable to accept the prayer of the Respondent No.1 by <br /> I.A. No.910 of 2026 taking notice dated 11.06.2019 on record. When the <br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 17 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Respondent – Financial Creditor and Resolution Professional both made <br /> submission before the Adjudicating Authority that they will not rely on the <br /> notice dated 11.06.2019, they cannot be allowed to rely on said notice in <br /> this appeal. <br /> 16. One more submission made by the Respondent needs to be noticed. It <br /> is submitted by the Respondent that at the time when order was passed by <br /> the Adjudicating Authority, the judgment of this Tribunal in <b><i>State Bank of </i></b><br /> <b><i>India vs. Deepak Kumar Singhania</i></b> was not delivered, which was only <br /> delivered on 28.02.2025, hence, there was no requirement of bringing notice <br /> dated 11.06.2019 on record. <br /> 17. When the application is filed under Section 95 by a Financial Creditor, <br /> all relevant materials including the demand notice and notice for invocation <br /> of the bank guarantee are required to be pleaded. When there is no <br /> pleading of the notice dated 11.06.2019 in Section 95 application, it is not <br /> open for the Respondent to contend that the judgment of this Tribunal in <br /> <b><i>State Bank of India vs. Deepak Kumar Singhania</i></b> was not delivered at <br /> that relevant time hence there was no requirement. The judgment of this <br /> Tribunal in <b><i>State Bank of India vs. Deepak Kumar Singhania</i></b> is a <br /> judgment declaring law and it shall be treated that law as declared by this <br /> Tribunal in the above judgment was law on the all times on Rule 7(1) of <br /> 2019 Rules. We, thus, do not find any substance in this submission of the <br /> Respondent. <br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> <br /><br /> 18 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 18. Learned counsel for the Respondent has also relied on judgment of <br /> this Tribunal in <b><i>“Paresh Rastogi vs. Omkara Assets Reconstruction </i></b><br /> <b><i>Private Limited, (Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 2053 of 2024”</i></b> <br /> decided on 18.03.2025. The question which has come up for consideration <br /> in the present case was not considered and answered in the above <br /> judgment, hence, this judgment cannot help the Respondent in the present <br /> case. <br /> 19. In result of the foregoing discussion and our conclusions, order <br /> passed by the Adjudicating Authority dated 22.07.2024 cannot be <br /> sustained. Appeal is allowed. Order dated 22.07.2024 is set aside. <br /> Company Petition IB-337(ND)/2022 is dismissed. We make it clear that <br /> dismissal of Company Petition IB-337(ND)/2022 shall not preclude the <br /> Financial Creditor to take such other measures as permissible in law. <br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b>[Justice Ashok Bhushan] </b><br /> <b>Chairperson </b><br /> <b> </b> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> [Barun Mitra] </b><br /> <b>Member (Technical) </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b>[Arun Baroka] </b><br /> <b>Member (Technical) </b><br /> <b>NEW DELHI </b><br /> <b> </b><br /> <b>th</b><br /> <b>20</b> <b> March, 2026 </b><br /> <i> </i><br /> <i>Archana</i> <i> </i><br /> <i>Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No.1530 of 2024 </i><br /> </div>