Full Judgment Text
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO.6669 OF 2021
Electrosteel Castings Limited ..Appellant(S)
VERSUS
UV Asset Reconstruction ..Respondent(S)
Company Limited &Ors.
J U D G M E N T
M. R. Shah, J.
1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned
judgment and order dated 13.08.2021 passed by the High
Court of Judicature at Madras in O.S.A. No.292 of 2019, by
which the Division Bench of the High Court has dismissed
the said appeal preferred by the original plaintiff rejecting the
plaint/suit filed by the appellant herein – original plaintiff on
Signature Not Verified
the ground that the suit is barred by Section 34 of the
Digitally signed by R
Natarajan
Date: 2021.11.26
17:14:35 IST
Reason:
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SARFAESI Act, 2002, the original plaintiff has preferred the
present appeal.
2. The facts leading to the present appeal in nutshell are as
under:
2.1 That original defendant No.3 respondent No.3 herein
(hereinafter referred to as original defendant No.3) availed the
loan facility vide Rupee Loan Agreement dated 26.07.2011
from defendant No.2 respondent No.2 herein – SREI
Infrastructure Finance Limited and availed the financial
assistance to the extent of Rs.500 crores. The appellant
herein – original plaintiff stood as guarantor. A mortgage was
created by the appellant herein – original plaintiff in favour of
defendant No.2 – respondent No.2 herein – financial creditor
over its factory land at Evalur, Tamil Nadu along with plant
and machinery, by way of deposit of title deeds in terms of
the declaration to secure the repayment, discharge and
redemption by original defendant No.3. That original
defendant No.3 – corporate debtor could not pay the loan
amount, therefore the proceedings under the Insolvency
Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) was initiated against the
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corporate debtor. An application under Section 7 of the IBC
was filed by the State Bank of India against original
defendant No.3 – corporate debtor. The default amount was
INR 923,75,00,000/. The resolution process was initiated
and an interim resolution professional was appointed under
the provisions of IBC. A resolution plan came to be approved
by the Committee of Creditors under Section 30(4) of the IBC.
The learned Adjudicating Authority vide order dated
17.04.2018 approved the resolution plan. Under the
approved resolution plan an amount of INR
241,71,84,839.18 was required to be paid and 67,23,710
equity shares of the corporate debtor were to be allotted. As
per the case on behalf of the plaintiff – appellant herein on
payment of aforesaid amount and transfer of aforesaid shares
No Due Certificate was issued in favour of the corporate
debtor – original defendant No.3 on 25.06.2018 and the
corporate debtor came to be discharged. It appears that
thereafter an assignment agreement was executed between
defendant No.2 – respondent No.2 herein and defendant No.1
– respondent No.1 herein on 30.06.2018, assigning all the
rights, titles and interest in all the financial assistance
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provided by defendant No.2 – financial creditor respondent
No.2 herein in terms of agreement dated 26.07.2011 in
favour of assignee respondent No.1. As assignee
respondent No.1 herein pursuant to the assignment
agreement dated 30.06.2018 had issued letter to all the
interested parties, namely, assignor financial creditor,
guarantor and corporate debtor informing that assignor –
financial creditor respondent No.2 herein had absolutely
assigned all the rights, title and interest in all the financial
assistance granted by financial creditor respondent No.2
herein from time to time to corporate debtor in favour of
assignee respondent No.1 herein vide assignment
agreement dated 30.06.2018. The said letter was responded
by the plaintiff – appellant herein stating the following :
(i) “Respondent No.2 had duly filed its claim
before the Resolution Professional in accordance
with the provisions of IBC.
(ii) This claim was crystallised and admitted at
INR 577.90 Crores and also formed part of the
approved Resolution Plan of Vedanta Limited.
(iii) Pursuant to the approved Resolution Plan,
the entire debt of Respondent No.2 has been
discharged by way of allotment of shares and
payment in cash on 6.06.2018 and 21.06.2018
respectively.
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(iv) It was also highlighted that in terms of
section 3.2(xi) of the approved Resolution Plan,
upon discharge of financial creditors (including
Respondent No.2), the financial creditors were
required to redeliver and cause to be delivered to
Petitioner all documents encumbered with the
financial creditors.
(v) Therefore, when no due was outstanding
and in fact redelivery of encumbered assets was
required, there was no basis under contract or law
for assignment of loan/debts/securities.
(vi) It was emphasised that assignment
agreement dated 30.06.2018 was null, void ab
initio and without any basis.”
2.2 That thereafter on the basis of the assignment agreement
dated 30.06.2018, the assignee – original defendant No.1 –
respondent No.1 herein initiated the proceedings against the
plaintiff – appellant herein, who stood as guarantor, under
Section 13(2) of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of
Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act,
2002 (SARFAESI Act) by issuing a notice dated 27.12.2018,
demanding the payment of INR 587,10,08,309 due under the
rupee term loan agreement dated 26.07.2011. Notice dated
27.12.2018 of the SARFAESI Act was responded by the
plaintiff – appellant herein vide reply dated 20.02.2019
stating that pursuant to repayment of amount in terms of the
approved resolution plan, all the claims of financial creditor
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respondent No.2 herein stand extinguished and
consequently, no claim can be made by the assignee
respondent No.1 herein for the same default and that no
amount is due and payable to assignee respondent No.1.
That thereafter a possession notice dated 19.06.2019 was
issued under rule 8 (1) of the Security Interest (Enforcement)
Rules, 2002 by the assignee to the plaintiff – appellant
herein. Thus a possession notice was published in the
newspaper on 22.06.2019.
2.3 That thereafter the plaintiff – appellant herein instituted a
Civil Suit being C.S.(D) No.18962 of 2019 on 22.06.2019
before the High Court of Madras and prayed for the following
reliefs:
“(i). To declare that the 1st Defendant
acquired no rights against the Applicant
herein under the Assignment Deed dated
30.06.2018, arid consequently, declare that
the 1st Defendant is not a secured creditor
visavis, the Applicant herein; and
(ii). Consequently, to declare Possession
Notice dated 19.6.2019 issued by the 1st
Defendant herein has null and vend and
render justice.”
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2.4 The suit was filed with an application seeking leave to file the
suit with the aforesaid prayers. As observed hereinabove, the
suit was filed on 22.06.2019. Immediately thereafter
appellant herein – plaintiff also filed an application before the
Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), Chennai under Section 17(1)
of SARFAESI Act on 17.07.2019 against the possession
notice dated 19.06.2019 praying that the assignee has
acquired no rights under the assignment agreement dated
30.06.2018 and consequently, assignee respondent No.1 is
not a secured creditor visavis the appellant – plaintiff and
also to declare possession notice dated 19.06.2019 as null
and void. The registry of DRT returned the application filed
under Section 17(1) of SARFAESI Act by observing as under:
“Counsel for the Appellant has represented SA
without complying with the defects read out,
however with an endorsement that he is a
proper and necessary party and that relief
prayed for vide Para VII(i) is maintainable. He
has reiterated that relief has to be sought in
relation to the notice under challenge.
May be returned.”
2.5 The defendants appeared before the High Court in C.S.(D)
No.18962 of 2019, affidavits and counter affidavits were filed
by the parties to the suit. By order dated 30.09.2019, the
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learned Single Judge of the High Court dismissed application
No.4322 of 2019 and C.S.(D) No.18962 of 2019 on the
ground of jurisdiction observing that the suit is for land and
property situated outside the jurisdiction of the court and
therefore the suit is not maintainable. It was also observed
and held that the civil court’s jurisdiction is barred in view of
Section 34 of the SARFAESI Act and only DRT had
competence to decide the matter.
3. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the order passed by
the learned Single Judge of the High Court dismissing the
application as well as the suit vide order dated 30.09.2019,
appellant herein – original plaintiff filed an appeal before the
Division Bench of the High Court being O.S.A. No.292 of
2019. By the impugned judgment and order the Division
Bench of the High Court has dismissed the said appeal in
view of the bar under Section 34 of the SARFAESI Act.
4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned
judgment and order passed by the Division Bench of the High
Court confirming the judgment and order passed by the
learned Single Judge rejecting the plaint/dismissing the suit
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as not maintainable in view of the bar under Section 34 of
the SARFAESI Act, original plaintiff – appellant herein has
preferred the present appeal.
5. Dr. A.M. Singhvi, learned Senior Advocate has appeared on
behalf of the appellant and Shri Shyam Divan, learned Senior
Advocate has appeared with Shri Huzefa Ahmadi, learned
Senior Advocate, on behalf of the respondents – defendants.
5.1 Dr. Singhvi, learned Senior Advocate appearing on behalf of
the plaintiff appellant herein has vehemently submitted
that in the facts and circumstances of the case both, learned
Single Judge as well as the Division Bench have materially
erred in rejecting the plaint and dismissing the suit on the
ground that the suit is barred in view of the bar under
Section 34 of SARFAESI Act.
5.2 It is submitted that the High Court has not properly
appreciated and considered the fact that in the suit plaintiff
had pleaded the fraud and it was the case on behalf of the
plaintiff – appellant herein that the assignment agreement
dated 30.06.2018 is fraudulent and relief was sought to
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declare the assignment agreement dated 30.06.2018 as null
and void by the plaintiff – appellant herein, the said relief
cannot be granted by the DRT under the provisions of the
SARFAESI Act and therefore the bar under Section 34 of the
SARFAESI Act shall not be applicable.
5.3 It is submitted that when the suit is filed alleging ‘fraud’ the
bar under Section 34 of the SARFAESI Act shall not be
applicable and the suit for the reliefs sought in the plaint
shall be maintainable.
5.4 It is submitted that even otherwise considering the fact that
subsequently and before the assignment agreement, the
proceedings under the IBC against the corporate debtor with
respect to the loan agreement dated 26.07.2011were initiated
and the resolution plan was approved and entire amount due
and payable under the approved resolution plan was paid to
the successful resolution applicants and even 67,23,710
equity shares of the corporate debtor came to be transferred
as per the approved resolution plan and the original loanee –
corporate debtor was discharged and NOC was issued,
therefore, assignment deed can be said to be ‘fraudulent’
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after the resolution plan under IBC and the amount paid
under the resolution plan and on transfer of the shares as
per the approved resolution plan and the corporate debtor
was discharged. Therefore, there shall not be any dues to be
paid by the appellant herein as guarantor.
5.5 It is submitted that as such not only the assignment
agreement dated 30.06.2018 is null and void and is
‘fraudulent’ even the assignee cannot be said to be a secured
creditor so far as the appellant is concerned.
5.6 It is further submitted by Dr. Singhvi, learned Senior
Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellant that there is
no legally enforceable debt by the plaintiff – appellant herein
for the reasons stated above and therefore the initiation of
the proceedings under the SARFAESI Act are bad in law and
not maintainable.
5.7 In the alternative, it is prayed by Dr. Singhvi, learned Senior
Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellant that in case
this Court is not inclined to entertain the present appeal,
confirming the judgment and order passed by the High Court
11
rejecting the plaint/dismissing the suit, in that case the
original plaintiff – appellant may be given an opportunity to
file the proceedings before the DRT under the SARFAESI Act
and all the contentions including that assignment agreement
is null and void; that assignee cannot be said to be the
secured creditor under the assignment agreement dated
30.06.2018; and that there are no dues so far as the
appellant – plaintiff is concerned may be kept open. He has
stated that in that case the appellant shall file appropriate
proceedings before the DRT within a period of two weeks
from today.
6. Present appeal is vehemently opposed by Shri Shyam Divan,
learned Senior Advocate and Shri Huzefa Ahmadi, learned
Senior Advocate, appearing on behalf of the contesting
defendants – original defendants – respondents herein.
6.1 It is vehemently submitted that the suit before the learned
Single Judge filed by the appellant is rightly held to be not
maintainable in view of the bar under Section 34 of the
SARFAESI Act.
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6.2 It is vehemently submitted that as such the suit is rightly
held to be not maintainable. It is submitted that initiation of
the proceedings by the appellant by filing of the suit for the
reliefs sought in the plaint is nothing but abuse of process of
law and court.
6.3 It is submitted that the allegations of ‘fraud’ are nothing but
a clever drafting only with a view to bring the suit
maintainable before the civil court despite the bar under
Section 34 of the SARFAESI Act.
6.4 It is vehemently submitted by the learned senior counsel
appearing on behalf of the respondents herein – original
defendants that except using the word ‘fraud’/’fraudulent’,
there are no other particulars pleaded in support of the
allegations of fraud. It is submitted that pleading of ‘fraud’ is
made at two places in the plaint namely para 31 and para
46. At both these places, the assertion is that consequent to
the alleged discharge of the debt of the corporate debtor
through the proceedings under the IBC, no assignment of
such debt in favour of assignee could have been made and,
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thus, for this reason, the initiation of proceedings under the
SARFAESI Act, is fraudulent. It is submitted that on the
aforesaid ground the assignment deed cannot be said to be
‘fraudulent’.
6.5 It is further submitted that the word ‘fraud’/’fraudulent’ are
used in the plaint only with a view to bring the suit
maintainable before the civil court and to get out of the bar
under Section 34 of the SARFAESI Act. It is submitted that
after a month of filing of the suit, the appellant filed an
application under Section 17(1) of SARFAESI ACT before the
DRT, Chennai, assailing the possession notice issued by the
assignee under section 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act, however,
in the said application, no allegation of any kind of fraud was
made against any of the respondents.
6.6 It is submitted that in any case a bare review of the
assertions in paras 31 and 46, it can be seen that no
material particulars have been pleaded so as to constitute a
pleading of ‘fraud’ as required under Order VI Rule 4 of the
Civil Procedure Code,1908 (CPC). It is submitted that apart
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from use of adjectives such as ‘fraudulent’ etc., qua the
assignment deed, no actual material particulars have been
given with regard to the ‘fraud’. It is submitted that the
pleadings in para 31 and para 46 do not satisfy the test of
‘fraud’ under Section 17 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
6.7 It is vehemently submitted by the learned Senior Advocates
appearing on behalf of the respondents herein that as per the
settled preposition of law pleading without any material
particulars would not tantamount to a pleading of ‘fraud’.
Reliance is placed on the decisions of this Court in the cases
of Bishundeo Narain & Anr. vs. Seogeni Rai & Jagernath,
(1951) SCR 548
; Ladli Parshad Jaiswal vs. The Karnal
Distillery Co. Ltd., Karnal &Ors., (1964) 1 SCR 270 ; Canara
Bank vs. P. Selathal & Ors., (2020) 13 SCC 143 ; H.S
(2021) 5 SCC 241
Goutham vs. Rama Murthy & Anr., ; Ram
Singh vs. Gram Panchayat Mehal Kalan & Ors., (1986) 4
SCC 364 ; and Union of India & Anr. vs. K.C Sharma &
(2020) 15 SCC 209
Company & Ors., .
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6.8 Making the above submissions and relying upon the
decisions of this Court in aforesaid cases, it is prayed to
dismiss the present appeal.
7. We have heard the learned senior counsel appearing on
behalf of the respective parties at length.
7.1 It is the case on behalf of the plaintiff – appellant herein that
in the plaint there are allegations of the ‘fraud’ with respect
to the assignment agreement dated 30.06.2018 and it is the
case on behalf of the plaintiff – appellant herein that
assignment agreement is ‘fraudulent’ in as much as after the
full payment as per the approved resolution plan under the
IBC and the original corporate debtor is discharged, there
shall not be any debt by the plaintiff – appellant herein as a
guarantor and therefore Assignment deed is fraudulent.
Therefore, it is the case on behalf of the plaintiff – appellant
herein that the suit in which there are allegations of ‘fraud’
with respect to the assignment deed shall be maintainable
and the bar under Section 34 of SARFAESI Act shall not be
applicable.
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7.2 However, it is required to be noted that except the words
used ‘fraud’/’fraudulent’ there are no specific particulars
pleaded with respect to the ‘fraud’. It appears that by a clever
drafting and using the words ‘fraud’/’fraudulent’ without any
specific particulars with respect to the ‘fraud’, the plaintiff –
appellant herein intends to get out of the bar under Section
34 of the SARFAESI Act and wants the suit to be
maintainable. As per the settled preposition of law mere
mentioning and using the word ‘fraud’/’fraudulent’ is not
sufficient to satisfy the test of ‘fraud’. As per the settled
preposition of law such a pleading/using the word ‘fraud’/
‘fraudulent’ without any material particulars would not
tantamount to pleading of ‘fraud’. In case of Bishundeo
Narain and Anr. (Supra) in para 28, it is observed and held
as under:
“.... Now if there is one rule which is better
established than any other, it is that in cases of
fraud, undue influence and coercion, the parties
pleading it must set forth full particulars and the
case can only be decided on the particulars as
laid. There can be no departure from them in
evidence. General allegations are insufficient even
to amount to an averment of fraud of which any
court ought to take notice however strong the
language in which they are couched may be, and
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the same applies to undue influence and coercion.
See Order 6, Rule 4, Civil Procedure Code.”
7.3 Similar view has been expressed in the case of
Ladli Parshad
Jaiswal (Supra) and after considering the decision of the
Privy Council in Bharat Dharma Syndicate vs. Harish
, it is held that a litigant who prefers
Chandra (64 IA 146)
allegation of fraud or other improper conduct must place on
record precise and specific details of these charges. Even as
per Order VI Rule 4 in all cases in which the party pleading
relies on any misrepresentation, fraud, breach of trust, wilful
default, or undue influence, particulars shall be stated in the
pleading. Similarly in the case of K.C Sharma & Company
(Supra) it is held that ‘fraud’ has to be pleaded with
necessary particulars. In the case of Ram Singh and Ors.
(Supra), it is observed and held by this Court that when the
suit is barred by any law, the plaintiff cannot be allowed to
circumvent that provision by means of clever drafting so as to
avoid mention of those circumstances by which the suit is
barred by law of limitation.
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7.4 In the case of T. Arivandandam vs. T.V. Satyapal & Anr.
(1977) 4 SCC 467, it is observed and held in para 5 as
under:
“5. We have not the slightest hesitation in
condemning the petitioner for the gross abuse of
the process of the court repeatedly and
unrepentently resorted to. From the statement of
the facts found in the judgment of the High Court,
it is perfectly plain that the suit now pending
before the First Munsif's Court, Bangalore, is a
flagrant misuse of the mercies of the law in
receiving plaints. The learned Munsif must
remember that if on a meaningful — not formal —
reading of the plaint it is manifestly vexatious,
and meritless, in the sense of not disclosing a
clear right to sue, he should exercise his power
under Order 7, Rule 11 CPC taking care to see
that the ground mentioned therein is fulfilled.
And, if clever drafting has created the illusion of a
cause of action, nip it in the bud at the first
hearing by examining the party searchingly under
Order 10, CPC. An activist Judge is the answer to
irresponsible law suits.”
7.5 A similar view has been expressed by this court in the recent
decision in the case of P. Selathal & Ors. (Supra).
8. Having considered the pleadings and averments in the suit
more particularly the use of word ‘fraud’ even considering the
case on behalf of the plaintiff, we find that the allegations of
‘fraud’ are made without any particulars and only with a view
to get out of the bar under Section 34 of the SARFAESI Act
and by such a clever drafting the plaintiff intends to bring
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the suit maintainable despite the bar under Section 34 of the
SARFAESI Act, which is not permissible at all and which
cannot be approved. Even otherwise it is required to be noted
that it is the case on behalf of the plaintiff – appellant herein
that in view of the approved resolution plan under IBC and
thereafter the original corporate debtor being discharged
there shall not be any debt so far as the plaintiff – appellant
herein is concerned and therefore the assignment deed can
be said to be ‘fraudulent’. The aforesaid cannot be accepted.
By that itself the assignment deed cannot be said to be
‘fraudulent’. In any case, whether there shall be legally
enforceable debt so far as the plaintiff – appellant herein is
concerned even after the approved resolution plan against
the corporate debtor still there shall be the liability of the
plaintiff and/or the assignee can be said to be secured
creditor and/or whether any amount is due and payable by
the plaintiff, are all questions which are required to be dealt
with and considered by the DRT in the proceedings initiated
under the SARFAESI Act. It is required to be noted that as
such in the present case the assignee has already initiated
the proceedings under Section 13 which can be challenged
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by the plaintiff – appellant herein by way of application under
Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act before the DRT on whatever
the legally available defences which may be available to it. We
are of the firm opinion that the suit filed by the plaintiff –
appellant herein was absolutely not maintainable in view of
the bar contained under Section 34 of the SARFAESI Act.
Therefore, as such the courts below have not committed any
error in rejecting the plaint/dismissing the suit in view of the
bar under Section 34 of the SARFAESI Act.
9. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, the
present appeal fails and the same deserves to be dismissed
and is accordingly dismissed. However, it will be open for the
appellant herein to initiate appropriate proceedings before
the DRT under Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act against the
initiation of the proceedings by the assignee – respondent
No.1 herein under Section 13 of the SARFAESI Act inter alia
on the ground: (1) that the assignee cannot be said to be
secured creditor so far as the appellant is concerned; (2) that
there is no amount due and payable by the plaintiff –
appellant herein on the ground that in view of the
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proceedings under IBC against the corporate debtor and the
corporate debtor being discharged after the approved
resolution plan, there shall not be any enforceable debt
against the appellant. If such an application is filed within a
period of two weeks from today the same be considered in
accordance with law and on merits after complying with all
other requirements which may be required while filing the
application under Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act. However,
it is made clear that we have not expressed anything on
merits in favour of either of the parties on the aforesaid two
issues. Present appeal is accordingly dismissed, however, in
the facts and circumstances of the case there shall be no
order as to costs
…………………………………J.
(M. R. SHAH)
…………………………………J.
(SANJIV KHANNA)
New Delhi,
November 26, 2021
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