When we study the origins and functioning of the Indian credit recovery infrastructure, it can be seen that originally the only remedy was suits under the provisions of CPC[1] which was long and cumbersome. Here, the process had two parts i.e. debt adjudication which end in a judgment/decree followed by execution proceedings under Order 21 CPC for recovery of decreed amount. Later, with the enactment of the RDBFI Act, 1993[2], DRTs[3] were established as exclusive forums for speedy adjudication and recovery of debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions (FIs). As per the RDBFI Act, DRTs had the power to issue a Recovery Certificate certifying the amount payable by the debtor after debt adjudication in a summary procedure. This amount was thereafter recovered by the Recovery Officer attached to DRT as per the procedure of recovery of tax under Schedule II of the Income Tax Act, 1961. So, the design was to speed up the recovery once the debt adjudication by DRTs. Although, the RDDBFI Act gave 180 days for disposal of recovery applications, cases have been pending for many years due to prolonged hearings. Almost 70,000 cases involving more than Rupees 5 lakh crore were pending in DRTs as of April 2016[4]. Majority of the delay is at the debt adjudication stage with long drawn processes and adjournments in DRTs. It was for overcoming this hurdle and to further speed up recovery that the SARFAESI Act[5] was enacted. This Act give the Banks and FIs the power to recover their debts classified as non-performing assets by various modes including taking possession and sale of the security, without approaching any Court or Tribunal. Interestingly, the SARFEASI Act dispenses the requirement of debt adjudication and the debt amount stated by the creditor in their demand notice issued under Section 13(2) is conferred sanctity to trigger recovery actions under the Act. When we read through the provisions of the aforesaid Acts and the procedure laid down by them for recovery, it is clear that one of the major causes for delay in securing recovery was the time taken for ascertaining the debt amount payable[6].
Most of the litigation in money recovery laws are in the nature of disputes on the amount claimed for recovery by the creditors. This kind of litigation and resultant delay in recovery can be avoided if there is a mechanism for collection, collation, authentication and dissemination of information regarding debts/defaults by independent third parties that are reliable as evidence of debt/default.
The law-makers of the country seem to have appreciated this point while enacting the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) which in its Chapter V under Part IV talks about ‘Information Utilities’ (IUs) which is a first of its kind in the world. In this regard, it is significant to note the following statements in the Report of the Bankruptcy Law Reforms Committee[7]:
“Under the present arrangements, considerable time can be lost before all parties obtain this information. Disputes about these facts can take up years to resolve in court. Hence, the Committee envisions a competitive industry of information utilities who hold an array of information about all firms at all times. When the IRP commences, within less than a day, undisputed and complete information would become available to all persons involved in the IRP and thus address this source of delay.”
This article attempts to understand the concept and working of IUs as contemplated under the IBC regime and its utilities in securing the objectives of IBC.
What is ‘Information Utility’?
IUs are entities that would act as data repositories of financial information which would receive, authenticate, maintain and deliver financial information pertaining to a debtor with a view to facilitate the insolvency resolution process in a time-bound manner. IU maintains an information network which would store financial data like borrowings, default and security interests among others of debtors for providing such information to businesses, financial institutions, adjudicating authorities, insolvency professionals and other stakeholders.
As per Section 3(21) of IBC, ‘Information Utility’ is defined as a person registered with the IBBI[8] under Section 210. Furthermore, as per Section 209 of IBC, a person shall be eligible to carry on business as IU only if a certificate of registration is obtained from the IBBI. As per Section 210 of IBC, a certificate of registration shall be issued to an entity to function as IU if all the technical formalities are completed as prescribed by the IBBI.
Historical perspective of ‘Information Utilities’
The setting up of IUs was preceded by a regime of Credit Information Companies (CICs) and Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest (CERSAI) that provided credit-related information services including details of security interests.
In his Budget speech made in Parliament on 28th February 1994, the then Finance Minister of India announced that Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would put in place arrangements for circulating names of defaulting borrowers among the Banks and FIs. The purpose of the same was to alert them and to put them on guard against the borrowers who have defaulted in their dues to other lending institutions. Pursuant to the above announcement, a Working Group was set up under the Chairmanship of Mr N.H. Siddiqui (Chief General Manager, RBI) which submitted its Report in 1999 recommending the establishment of CICs[9]. Accordingly, Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd. (CIBIL) was incorporated in August 2000. Later, pursuant to the enactment of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005[10], three other CICs have also been set up in India[11]. Further, in 2013, RBI constituted another Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr Aditya Puri (Managing Director, HDFC Bank) to examine the reporting formats used by CICs and other related issues. This Committees’ report led to the standardisation of data formats for reporting corporate, consumer and MFI[12] data by all credit institutions and streamlining the process of data submission by credit institutions to CICs[13]. In 2015, all credit institutions were directed by RBI to become members of all the CICs and submit current and historical data about specified borrower to them and to update it regularly.
Later, in the year 2011 the then Finance Minister declared in his budget speech about creation of a central registry of equitable mortgages. Pursuant to the same, the Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest (CERSAI) was established to maintain and operate a registration system for the purpose of registration of transactions of securitisation, asset reconstruction of financial assets and creation of security interest over property, as contemplated under the SARFAESI Act. CERSAI is providing a platform for filing registrations by the Banks and FIs with an option for other lenders and the public to search its database.
The idea to establish IUs appears to be an outcome of the research and efforts to set up a hybrid model unique to India by incorporating the best features of CICs, CERSAI and other similar agencies across the world that are engaged in financial information services.
How an ‘Information Utility’ can be created under IBC?
As per Section 196 of IBC, IBBI is entrusted with the power to grant, renew, withdraw, suspend or cancel registration to IUs. This provision further empowers IBBI to make regulations for registration and matters connected therewith. In exercise of the said power, IBBI has notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017[14] (“the IU Regulations”) which provide detailed regulations for registration and working of IUs.
As per Regulation 3 of the IU Regulations, registration can be applied by any public company having a minimum net worth of fifty crore rupees and; (a) whose sole object is to provide core services and other services under the IU Regulations, and discharge such functions as may be necessary for providing these services; (b) its shareholding and governance is in accordance with Chapter III of the IU Regulations; (c) its bye-laws are in accordance with Chapter IV of the IU Regulations; (d) its promoters, directors, key managerial personnel, and persons holding more than 5%, directly or indirectly, of its paid-up equity share capital or its total voting power, are fit and proper persons[15].
A person eligible for registration as aforesaid may make an application to IBBI in Form A of the Schedule to the IU Regulations, along with a non-refundable application fee of five lakh rupees. After due enquiry as contemplated under the IU Regulations, IBBI shall issue a Certificate of Registration in Form B of the Schedule within sixty days of receipt of the application excluding the time taken for removal of difficulties and for obtaining additional documents, if any. Such certificate of registration is valid for a period of five years from the date of issue and it may be renewed by filing an application for renewal at least six months before the expiry of its registration along with the renewal fees of five lakh rupees. IUs are also required to pay annual fee of fifty lakh rupees to IBBI, within fifteen days from commencement of the financial year. However, no annual fee shall be payable in the financial year in which an IU is granted registration or renewal[16].
The shareholding pattern and governance of IUs should be in compliance to the requirements under Chapter III of the IU Regulations. Furthermore, all changes in the shareholding and voting power of IUs are to be reported to the IBBI. As per Regulation 8 of the IU Regulations, no person shall at any time, directly or indirectly, either by itself or together with persons acting in concert, acquire or hold more than 10% of the paid-up equity share capital or total voting power of an IU. However, there are certain exemptions to the said restriction as follows:
- None of the restrictions on shareholding are applicable to the holding of shares or voting power by the Central Government or a State Government[17].
- A government company, stock exchange, depository, bank, insurance company and public financial institution either by themselves or together in concert, acquire or hold up to 25% of the paid-up equity share capital or total voting power of an IU[18].
- Holding up to 51% of paid-up equity share capital or total voting power of an IU by a person directly or indirectly, either by itself or together with persons acting in concert, is allowed up to 3 years from the date of its registration[19], if the IU is registered before 30th September, 2018.
- Indian companies (i) which are listed on a recognised stock exchange in India, or (ii) where no individual, directly or indirectly, either by himself or together with persons acting in concert, holds more than 10% of the paid-up equity share capital, may hold up to 100% of the paid-up equity share capital or total voting power of an information utility up to three years from the date of its registration[20], if such IU is registered before 30th September, 2018.
Importance and Utility of Information Utilities
The Bankruptcy Law Reforms Committee (BLRC) led by Mr T. K. Viswanathan which designed the IBC, visualised four pillars of supporting institutional infrastructure to make the processes under IBC to work efficiently. They are: (1) a private industry of IUs, (2) a private industry of Insolvency Professionals (IPs) with oversight by private insolvency professional agencies (IPAs), (3) adjudication infrastructure at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and DRT, and (4) a regulator i.e. IBBI[21]. As noted rightly by the BLRC, IU is a very significant institution for the successful operation of the processes under IBC.
IBC was enacted with a view to consolidate and amend the laws relating to reorganisation and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time-bound manner for maximisation of the value of assets of such persons[22]. Section 12 of IBC thus mandates that the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) of a corporate debtor (CD) must conclude within 330 days[23] from the insolvency commencement date which includes (a) normal CIRP period of 180 days, (b) one-time extension, if any, up to 90 days of such CIRP period granted by the adjudicating authority, and (c) the time taken in legal proceedings in relation to the CIRP of the corporate debtor. This ambitious time-limit prescribed for concluding CIRP appears to be based on an assumption that information relevant for the process will be easily accessible to the parties involved viz. creditors, adjudicating authorities, insolvency resolution professionals, etc. This assumption appears to be based on the confidence of the framers of the law in the idea of IUs envisaged under IBC. As the timelines specified by IBC are strict, they can be met only if the IUs stand ready to provide all relevant information quickly.
The relevant financial information in this stage includes the details of the default, disputes on the same, other financial information of debtors such as records of its debt, liabilities at the time of solvency, assets over which the security interest is created by debtor, timely records of its default and its financial statements of preceding years. Furthermore, it is quintessential for the adjudicating authority to ascertain the existence of default as claimed by the applicant and such existence would decide the fate of the application for CIRP.
As per the scheme of IBC, once CIRP gets initiated against any corporate debtor, the management of its affairs vest in the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) and thereupon all the powers of its Board of Directors stands suspended and the same is exercised by the IRP. During such phase, there is every possibility for the Resolution Professionals to face non-cooperation from the management and the suspended Board of the corporate debtor in disseminating relevant financial information. In these circumstances, an independent and reliable third party which is a repository of validated information regarding debt/default that is capable of providing the same quickly can add significant value to the process.
IBBI has now strengthened the role of IUs by allowing it to access the data of MCA-21[24] database and CERSAI portals to speed up the process of debtor default authentication[25]. By ensuring access of MCA-21 and CERSAI portal data to an IU, IBBI is also providing the mechanism for quick and reliable data for all the stake-holders in the processes under IBC. It may also be noted that RBI has directed all the Scheduled Commercial Banks (Including RRBs), small finance banks, local area banks, non-banking financial companies and all the co-operative banks of the country to put in place appropriate systems and procedures for submission of financial information to IUs[26].
Functions of ‘Information Utility’ as contemplated under the IBC
As per Section 213 of IBC, IUs shall provide services which include core services to any person, if such person complies with the terms and conditions of the IU Regulations. Furthermore, as per Section 3(9) of IBC, “core services” means – (a) accepting electronic submission of financial information; (b) safe and accurate recording of financial information; (c) authenticating and verifying financial information submitted by person; and (d) providing access to information stored with IUs to persons as may be specified.
As per Section 3(13) of IBC, “financial information”, in relation to a person, means one or more of the following categories of information, namely: (a) records of the debt of the person; (b) records of liabilities when the person is solvent; (c) records of assets of person over which security interest has been created; (d) records, if any, of instances of default by the person against any debt; (e) records of the balance sheet and cash-flow statements of the person; and (f) such other information as may be specified.
Section 214 of the IBC elaborate the functions to be performed by IUs for the purpose of providing core services. The major obligations of IUs as per Section 214 can be summarised as follows:
- Acceptance of financial information in electronic form from persons who are under obligation to submit the same under IBC and also from other persons who intend to submit the same. This acceptance is to be in such form and manner as specified under the IU Regulations.
- Authentication of the financial information so received by all the parties concerned.
- Storage of the financial information received as aforesaid in a universally accessible format after the same is duly authentication by all the parties concerned.
- Providing the financial information stored by it as aforesaid to any person who intend to access such information in such manner as may be specified by the IU Regulations.
- Publication of such statistical information as may be specified by the IU Regulations.
While performing aforesaid obligations, IUs are required to meet such minimum service quality standards as may be specified by IBBI and they are also required to ensure systems to facilitate inter-operatability with other IUs[27]. As per Section 215 of IBC, while it is mandatory for the financial creditors[28] to submit financial information and information relating to assets in relation to which any security interest has been created; submission of information is optional for the operational creditors[29]. Insolvency professionals also may submit reports, registers and minutes in respect of any insolvency resolution, liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings to an IU for storage[30].
Significance of Information Utility in the operation of processes under IBC
As per the scheme of IBC, a CIRP can be triggered by the corporate debtor itself or by the financial or operational creditors of such corporate debtor[31]. Application for CIRP by a financial creditor is governed by Section 7 of the IBC read with Rule 4 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2016[32]. The application is to be filed as per Form 1 of the said Rules along with the record of the default recorded with the IU or such other record or evidence of default as may be specified. As per Part V of the said Form 1, record of default with IU is listed among the documents acceptable as evidence of default. Upon submission of application, NCLT is required to ascertain the existence of default from the records of an IU or on the basis of other evidence furnished by the financial creditor. It is significant to note that this activity is to be completed by NCLT within fourteen days of the receipt of application. This timeline can be met only if such ascertainment can be done from the records of an IU. Furthermore, upon initiation of CIRP when public announcement is made by the IRP calling for claims, financial creditors may submit their claims along with sufficient proof of such claims. In this regard, it may be noted that the records available with an IU is accepted as a proof of existence of debt due[33].
Whereas, application for CIRP by operational creditors is governed by Section 9 of the IBC read with Rules 5 & 6 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2016. On the occurrence of a default, operational creditors are required to deliver either a demand notice of the unpaid debt to the debtor as per Form 3 of the said Rules or a copy of an invoice attached with a notice in Form 4. On receipt of notice, the debtor may, within 10 days, bring to the notice of the creditor about any pre-existing dispute on such debt and get out of the clutches of IBC. On expiry of 10 days from the said notice, if the payment is not done by the defaulter, the operational creditor can file application for CIRP in Form 5 of the aforesaid Rules. As per the aforesaid Forms 3 and 5, record of default with IU is listed as one of the documents to prove the debt. Furthermore, upon initiation of CIRP when the public announcement is made by the IRP calling for claims, operational creditors may submit their claims along with records available with IU which are acceptable as proof for the debt.
Similarly, in an application for CIRP by corporate applicants and in the claims submitted by the other categories of claimants/creditors including workmen, records with IU is accepted as proof of such debt/default. Furthermore, as per IBC and the Rules, the records with IUs can be accessed and relied by the adjudicating authority as evidence for the default/debt in their proceedings. Hence, IUs play a very significant role in enabling timely completion of the processes under IBC.
Operating Procedure of ‘Information Utility’ under IBC
IBC provides little guidance on how IUs are to function, leaving the details to subordinate regulation. Section 240 of IBC empowers the IBBI to make regulations by notification with regard to the registration of IUs, their functioning and on matters connected thereto. The IU Regulations were notified in exercise of this power in order to prescribe the details on how IUs shall operate to meet their objectives as contemplated under IBC.
As per the IU Regulations, a person shall register itself with an IU for submitting information to; or for accessing information stored with any of the IUs. Upon such registration, IU shall verify the identity of the applicant and assign him with a unique identifier and intimate the same to him. A person registered once with an IU shall not register itself with any IU again. A registered user may submit information to any IU and not only to the IU with which he is registered. Different parties to the same transaction may use different IUs to submit, or access information in respect of the same transaction and a user may access information stored with an IU through any IU[34].
A user can submit information of debts or defaults to the IU[35] and on receipt of the same, IU is to assign a unique identifier to the information and intimate the same to the user along with an acknowledgement. In the case of information of default, IU is to expeditiously undertake the process of authentication and verification of the information of default. For this purpose, IU is to deliver the information of default to the debtor seeking confirmation of the same within the specified time. If the debtor fails to respond, IU is to send three reminders giving 3 days’ time in each case for the debtor to respond. If the debtor do not respond even after three reminders as aforesaid, the information is deemed to be authenticated[36]. In case if the debtor confirms the information of default, the information is treated as authenticated and green colour is assigned to the status. If the debtor disputes the information of default the information is treated as disputed and red colour is assigned to the status. Whereas, in cases where the debtor does not respond even after three reminders, the information is‘Deemed to be authenticated’ and yellow colour is assigned to the status. After recording the status of information of default, IU is to communicate the status of authentication in physical or electronic form of the relevant colour, as aforesaid, to the registered users who are- (a) creditors of the debtor who has defaulted; (b) parties and sureties, if any, to the debt in respect of which the information of default has been received[37].
IUs are required to store the information received by it in their facilities located in India and they shall allow the following persons to access the information stored with it- (a) the user which has submitted the information; (b) all the parties to the debt and the host bank[38], if any, if the information is regarding record of debts or assets or instances of default by a person against any debt; (c) the corporate person and its auditor, if the information is of liabilities of a person during solvency or balance sheet and cash-flow statements of the person; (d) the insolvency professional; (e) the adjudicating authority; (f) the IBBI; (g) any person authorised to access the information under any other law; and (h) any other person who the persons referred to in (a), (b) or (c) have consented to share the information.
Provisions to ensure protection of the data with Information Utilities
As per the provisions of IBC, data entrusted with the IUs by the users are to be held as a custodian and hence they shall not have ownership over the data available with them. As such, it is one of the most important duties of the IUs to ensure safety of the data and its protection from unauthorised interferences and data theft. To ensure safety of the data, the IU Regulations prescribe the following to be complied by the IUs:
- Establish adequate procedures and facilities to ensure that its records are protected against loss or destruction and adopt secure systems for information flows.
- Storage of all information in a facility located in India shall be governed by the laws of India.
- Not to outsource the provision of core services to a third-party service provider.
- Not to use the information stored with it for any purpose other than providing services under these Regulations, without the prior approval of the Board.
- Not to seek data/details of users except as required for the provision of services under IBC[39].
- Adequate arrangements, including insurance is to be made for indemnifying the users for losses that may be caused to them by any wrongful act, negligence or default of the IU, its employees or any other person whose services are used for the services[40].
- Appoint external auditor having relevant qualifications to audit its information technology framework, interface and data processing systems every year. The auditor’s report along with the comments of the Governing Board of IU is to be submitted to the IBBI within one month from the receipt of the same[41].
- Establish an appropriate risk management framework in line with the Technical Standards[42].
- Declare a Preservation Policy providing for the form, manner and duration of preservation of information stored with it; and details of the transactions of the IU with each user in respect of the information stored with it[43].
- Inspection by the IBBI with such periodicity as may be considered necessary[44]. Disciplinary actions can be taken by IBBI including imposition of penalty under Section 220(3) of IBC.
Evidentiary Value of Information with Information Utilities
Authenticated information stored by IUs with regard to a debt or its default amounts to admission of such debt and default thereto by and between the parties to such debt or default. In the light of this fact, evidentiary value of information with IUs can be appreciated by referring to certain provisions of the Evidence Act, 1872. As per Section 65-B of the Evidence Act, information contained in any electronic record shall be deemed to be a document and shall be admissible in the court of law. Furthermore, Section 31 of the Evidence Act state that admissions are not conclusive proof of the matters admitted, but they may operate as estoppels under the provisions hereinafter contained. In the context of information with IUs, Section 115 of the Evidence Act is significant, which state as follows: “When one person has, by his declaration, act or omission, intentionally caused or permitted another person to believe a thing to be true and to act upon such belief, neither he nor his representative shall be allowed, in any suit or proceeding between himself and such person or his representative, to deny the truth of that thing.”
When we examine the provisions of IBC with regard to IUs as explained in the preceding paragraphs of this article, it can be noted that the adjudicating authorities are given the option to accept records with IUs as proof/evidence of debts and defaults. This is on the basis of estoppel which would operate against the parties as per the aforesaid provisions of the Evidence Act. In Swiss Ribbons Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India[45], constitutional validity of the various provisions of IBC was considered by the Supreme Court of India. One of the arguments in the matter was that IBC provides for private information utilities not only to collect financial data, but also to check whether a default has occurred or not. It was also argued that certification of debt/default by IUs is in the nature of a preliminary decree issued without any hearing and without any process of adjudication. On this ground along with others, the constitutional validity of IBC was challenged in this matter. However, the Supreme Court of India upheld the constitutional validity of IBC and on the basis of statements made by the then Attorney General of India, declared at para 57 of the judgment that the record of default with IU is only a prima facie evidence of default, which is rebuttable by the corporate debtor. So, the records with IUs are not conclusive proof and they are only a prima facie evidence of default, which is rebuttable by the corporate debtor.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that creation of IU is definitely a step towards ensuring an information-rich environment for the working of IBC. IUs certainly provide an infrastructure which ensure relevant financial information of debtors easily accessible at anytime from anywhere. This infrastructure undoubtedly empower the creditors and lenders to make informed choices and also provide essential financial information enabling time-bound insolvency resolution process. While, the purpose of setting up the above regime of IUs was to reduce information asymmetry; IUs not only reduce information asymmetry, but it is also enable the processes of IBC to meet the strict timelines prescribed. It can also be seen that the IUs are significant as they provide for improved credit risk assessment and improve the recovery processes. Though there is no doubt about the significance of the IUs; it may take a while before they become relevant as expected. As the first step, IBBI has registered National E-Governance Services Limited (a Union Government company) as the first IU of the country on September 25, 2017. Being sanguine about the developments thus far, we can expect that the data available with the IUs will grow in terms of quantity and quality over a period of time making them an important pillar in the overall resolution process.
* BA LLB (Hons.), LLM, currently working as Manager-Legal with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited at Zonal Administrative Office, Chennai.
[1] Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (Act 5 of 1908).
[2] Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (Act 51 of 1993).
[3] Debts Recovery Tribunal.
[4]Indu Bhan, “Long Due – Banks can now confiscate security in case of a loan default”, Financial Express, August 19, 2016, available at https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/long-due/351486/, last visited on 15.05.2020.
[5]Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (Act 54 of 2002).
[6] Prasanth V. Regy and Shubho Roy, “Understanding Judicial Delays in Debt Tribunals”, Paper No. 195 in the Working Paper Series of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy at New Delhi, May 2, 2017, available at https://www.nipfp.org.in/media/medialibrary/2017/05/WP_2017_195.pdf, last visited on 15.05.2020.
[7] Government of India, “Report of the Bankruptcy Law Reforms Committee” (Ministry of Finance, November 2015).
[8] Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India established under Section 188 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Act 31 of 2016).
[9]Reserve Bank of India, “Report of the Working Group to explore the possibilities of setting up a Credit Information Bureau in India” (Department of Banking Operations and Development, October 1999)
[10] Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005
[11] Equifax Credit Information Services Private Limited, Experian Credit Information Company of India Private Limited and CRIF High Mark Credit Information Services Private Limited have been granted Certificate of Registration by RBI.
[12]Monetary Financial Institutions.
[13]Reserve Bank of India, “Report of the Committee to Recommend Data Format for Furnishing of Credit Information to Credit Information Companies”, (Department of Banking Operations and Development, January 2014)
[14] Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017
[15]As per Explanation to Regn. 3 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017, a person is considered as fit and proper, if he (a) is having integrity, reputation, character and financial solvency (b) has never been convicted by a Court for an offence or sentenced to imprisonment for a period less than 6 months, and (c) has not suffered any restraint order issued by financial sector regulator or adjudicating authority.
[16] IBBI (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017, Regns. 5 and 6.
[17]Id, Regn. 8(3).
[18]Id, proviso to Regn. 8(1)
[19]Id, Regn. 8(2)(a).
[20]Id, Regn. 8(2)(b).
[21]Supra Note 7.
[22]Government of India, “Report of the Working Group on Information Utilities” (Ministry of Corporate Affairs, January 2017).
[23] This cap of 330 days was brought by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2019 (w.e.f. 16-8-2019).
[24]MCA-21 is an e-Governance initiative of Ministry of Company Affairs (MCA), Government of India that enables an easy and secure access of the MCA services to the corporate entities, professionals and citizens of India. It is designed to fully automate all processes related to the enforcement and compliance of the legal requirements under the Companies Act, 1956, the New Companies Act, 2013 and the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. Its database will contain the master data and the charges registered on companies and LLP.
[25]Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, Circular No. IBBI/IU/025/2019 dated 07-09-2019.
[26] Notification No: DBR.No.Leg.BC.98/09.08.019/2017-18 dated December 19, 2017 issued by Reserve Bank of India, available at https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11189&Mode=0, last accessed on 16.05.2020.
[27] Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016), Ss. 214(d) and (h).
[28] As per Section 5(7) of IBC, “financial creditor” means any person to whom a financial debt is owed and includes a person to whom such debt has been legally assigned or transferred. Eg. – Banks and financial lenders.
[29] As per Section 5(20) of IBC, “operational creditor” means a person to whom an operational debt is owed and includes any person to whom such debt has been legally assigned or transferred. Eg. – Suppliers and vendors.
[30]Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017, Regn. 38.
[31] Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016), S.6.
[32] Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2016
[33]Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016, Regn. 8(2)(a)
[34]Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017, Chapter V (Regns.17 to 27).
[35]Id, Form C of the Schedule.
[36]Deemed authentication was inserted by Notification No. IBBI/2019-20/GN/REG046 dated 25/07/ 2019. Prior to this, there was no option for deemed authentication when debtor do not respond to notice for authentication.
[37] Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017, Regn. 21.
[38] Host bank means the financial institution hosting the repayment account.
[39] Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017, Regn. 30.
[40]Id, Regn. 31.
[41]Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017, Regn 34.
[42]Id, Regn. 33.
[43]Id, Regn. 35.
[44]Id, Regn.37.