{"id":276424,"date":"2022-08-28T15:00:43","date_gmt":"2022-08-28T09:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=271523"},"modified":"2022-08-28T15:00:43","modified_gmt":"2022-08-28T09:30:43","slug":"no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/","title":{"rendered":"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<h4 style=\"background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #FFFFFF, #79a4d2);\">INTRODUCTION<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002802178\">Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016<\/a> (\u201cthe Code\u201d) was inter alia enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the reorganisation and insolvency of corporate persons. It marked a sea change (nautical references will be a recurring theme in this piece) in the manner in which corporate insolvencies were treated. Replacing multiple legislation and mechanisms in this field, the legislature saw the need for a complete \u201cCode\u201d, rather than an \u201cAct\u201d, to \u201cbring the insolvency law in India under a single umbrella with the object of speeding up of the insolvency process\u201d.<sup><a title=\"1 Innoventive Industries v. ICICI Bank, (2018) 1 SCC 407, para 13 (Nariman, J.).\" href=\"#FN0002\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Although the Code did address many problems relating to restructuring and insolvency law, one issue that has cropped up is its general application to all corporate entities, whereas certain types of corporate entities would require differential treatment. For instance, real estate companies were a class of corporate entities where the extant provisions in the Code were found to be problematic. Accordingly, by an amendment<sup><a title=\"2 Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2020, with effect from 28-12-2019.\" href=\"#FN0003\">2<\/a><\/sup>, the Code now specifies a minimum number of allottees in a real estate project who must join an action to trigger a corporate insolvency resolution process (\u201cCIRP\u201d). Similarly, financial service providers, despite being corporate entities, are treated differently inasmuch as they are not \u201ccorporate persons\u201d<sup><a title=\"3 See Section 3(7) of the Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016.\" href=\"#FN0004\">3<\/a><\/sup> and an application against them for initiation of a CIRP would not lie as it would for other corporate entities. Pursuant to Section 227 of the Code and to an extensive report which proceeds on the basis that \u201cfinancial firms are different from other firms\u201d<sup><a title=\"4 Report of the Sub-Committee of the Insolvency Law Committee for Notification of Financial Service Providers under Section 227 of the Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016, 1 (dated 4-10-2019).\" href=\"#FN0005\">4<\/a><\/sup>, the Central Government notified separate rules<sup><a title=\"5 Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Insolvency and Liquidation Proceedings of Financial Service Providers and Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2019.\" href=\"#FN0006\">5<\/a><\/sup> for them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Therefore, there appears to be a recognition that the Code cannot apply to all corporate entities uniformly. While, perhaps understandably, shipping companies did not loom large on the lawmakers&#8217; horizon, they too are an entirely distinct subset of corporate entities and present unique challenges for the purpose of the Code.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">The primary assets of shipping companies tend to be the vessels themselves. The difficulty arises on account of the fact that a vessel is to be treated as an independent juristic person. This has followed the long and storied development of admiralty law internationally, leading to the excellent judgment of Thommen, J. in <i>MV Elisabeth<\/i> v. <i>Harwan Investment and Trading (P) Ltd.<\/i><sup><a title=\"6 1993 Supp (2) SCC 433\" href=\"#FN0007\">6<\/a><\/sup> reading those internationally-accepted positions into Indian law. A person having a maritime claim (which includes the higher subset of maritime lien) could proceed against the vessel independent of the owner. Unless the owner entered appearance and deposited security, the vessel could be sold and the proceeds appropriated as per a predetermined waterfall amongst different categories of claimants. India codified admiralty law for the first time through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002935453\">Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017<\/a> (\u201cthe Admiralty Act\u201d),<sup><a title=\"7 The Act came into effect on 1-4-2018.\" href=\"#FN0008\">7<\/a><\/sup> largely following extant international conventions and the position in common law. Pertinently for us, it continued treating vessels as independent juristic persons; allowed those vessels to be proceeded against independently; and prescribed a waterfall for treatment of claimants vis-\u00e0-vis the sale proceeds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">It was thus inevitable that the provisions of the Code and the subsequent Admiralty Act would have to be reconciled in the case of a shipping company undergoing a CIRP. In an admirable attempt to resolve this impasse, the Bombay High Court pronounced an exhaustive judgment in <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\" href=\"#FN0009\">8<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #FFFFFF, #79a4d2);\">DECISION IN <i>BARGE MADHWA<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\" href=\"#FN0009\">8<\/a><\/sup><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court first examined whether or not there was a conflict between the two statutes. It observed that in the event of a conflict between two special statutes\u2014one with a non obstante clause and the other without\u2014the one with a non obstante clause would prevail.<sup><a title=\"9 Id, para 72.\" href=\"#FN0010\">9<\/a><\/sup> This presumably proceeds on the basis that both the Code and the Admiralty Act were deemed to be special statutes. However, the Court did not find itself to be in a position where this principle of statutory interpretation would have to be applied because it concluded that there was no conflict and it was possible to harmoniously interpret the two statutes.<sup><a title=\"10 Id, paras 78 to 131.\" href=\"#FN0011\">10<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court found that since admiralty proceedings were in rem against the vessel, a distinct juridical entity, they were capable of being initiated both during moratorium<sup><a title=\"11 Id, para 112.\" href=\"#FN0012\">11<\/a><\/sup> and in liquidation<sup><a title=\"12 Id, para 123.\" href=\"#FN0013\">12<\/a><\/sup>. However, if the owner of the vessel entered appearance and furnished security, the admiralty suit would no longer be in rem, but would be in personam against the owner of the vessel. Consequently, the moratorium prescribed under the Code<sup><a title=\"13 Section 14, Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016.\" href=\"#FN0014\">13<\/a><\/sup> would apply and the suit would not proceed.<sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\" href=\"#FN0009\">8<\/a><\/sup> Where no security was furnished by the owner, the admiralty suit would continue to be a proceeding in rem and thus not barred by the moratorium. However, while the vessel could be arrested\/remain under arrest, the suit would not to proceed during the CIRP since that would undermine the objectives of the Code.<sup><a title=\"14 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651, para 100.\" href=\"#FN0015\">14<\/a><\/sup> No such limitation would exist once liquidation commenced and the vessel could be sold and the proceeds distributed in accordance with the Admiralty Act. In fact, the Court correctly observed that a sale under the Admiralty Act would likely fetch a better price since it would be free of all encumbrances (including liens).<sup><a title=\"15 Id, para 125.\" href=\"#FN0016\">15<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Further, it held that an arresting plaintiff would be considered as a secured creditor (qua the vessel) for the purposes of a Resolution Plan under the Code, and would be entitled to satisfaction of its claim as if sale proceeds had been distributed on the basis of the priorities enlisted in Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002670732\">10<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002935453\">Admiralty Act<\/a>.<sup><a title=\"16 Id, para 104.\" href=\"#FN0017\">16<\/a><\/sup> If, on an application of this formula, the entirety of its claim were not satisfied, it would rank as an operational creditor for the remainder of its claim.<sup><a title=\"17 Id, para 106.\" href=\"#FN0018\">17<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #FFFFFF, #79a4d2);\">BATTENING DOWN THE HATCHES<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Despite the attempt by the Bombay High Court to harmonise the Code and the Admiralty Act, there are a few issues that require consideration, inasmuch as these form the basis of the harmonisation exercise in <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651.\" href=\"#FN0019\">8<\/a><\/sup> and necessitate a particularly delicate balancing act. For the purpose of this article, the following four broad categories have been dealt with:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;\">(<i>a<\/i>) Vessels as independent juristic persons.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;\">(<i>b<\/i>) The treatment of a plaintiff as a secured creditor for the purpose of a resolution plan under the Code.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;\">(<i>c<\/i>) Distribution of proceeds\/determination of priorities in liquidation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;\">(<i>d<\/i>) The Code \u2014 a general law or special law?<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #FFFFFF, #ecc6c6);\">Vessels as Independent Juristic Persons<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">To aid the process of reorganisation, the Code mandates a moratorium<sup><a title=\"13 Section 14, Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016.\" href=\"#FN0020\">13<\/a><\/sup> during which the institution or continuation of suits or proceedings against the company is prohibited. But what of vessels that are independent juristic persons? If suits against them are allowed to proceed, a shipping company is likely to be left with no assets to offer a prospective resolution applicant. Imagine the steel producing factories of Essar Steel being treated as independent juristic persons against whom the moratorium would not operate \u2014 would there be any chance of a successful resolution process?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Bombay High Court, relying upon the decision in <i>MV Elisabeth<\/i><sup><a title=\"6 MV Elisabeth v. Harwan Investment and Trading (P) Ltd., 1993 Supp (2) SCC 433\" href=\"#FN0021\">6<\/a><\/sup>, has reiterated that a vessel is a \u201c<i>separate juridical personality<\/i>\u201d and, more importantly for this study, that a person having a maritime claim against the vessel: (<i>Barge Madhwa case<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651, para 40.\" href=\"#FN0022\">8<\/a><\/sup>, SCC OnLine Bom para 40)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: 18pt;\"><i>40<\/i>. \u2026 has a right in rem conferred by the Admiralty Act, to arrest the vessel to perfect his claim \u2026 a very valuable right which cannot be taken away or destroyed by implication or inference unless there is an express provision in any law to this effect.<sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651, para 40.\" href=\"#FN0022\">8<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Given that there was no express bar against proceeding against vessels in rem under the Code, it was held that \u201cthere is little conflict \u2026 the two Acts can be read and construed harmoniously so as to give effect to both\u201d.<sup><a title=\"18 Id, para 90.\" href=\"#FN0023\">18<\/a><\/sup> This harmonious construction leads to the mechanism which <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651, para 40.\" href=\"#FN0022\">8<\/a><\/sup> prescribes\u2014the existence of a moratorium would not preclude the initiation or continuation of admiralty proceedings, however, they would not proceed beyond the arrest of the vessel since that \u201cwould defeat the very purpose of insolvency resolution under the IBC\u201d<sup><a title=\"19 Id, para 92.\" href=\"#FN0024\">19<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">This tightrope walk i.e. finding that a vessel is a distinct juridical entity and thus a moratorium would not protect it, but then restricting any such action to the arrest of the vessel alone and prohibiting further steps, being the sale of the vessel and distribution of the proceeds, is the price one must pay in terms of conceptual purity at the altar of practicality and harmonious construction. If the vessel was distinct from the corporate entity, which indeed it is, there is no reason in theory that would justify prohibiting a sale and the distribution of proceeds. This would, however, render the insolvency resolution attempt of any shipping company entirely untenable. Any harmonious construction of the two statutes would have to be anchored by the accord struck in <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651, para 40.\" href=\"#FN0022\">8<\/a><\/sup> which prohibits these further steps from taking place. However, as will be seen below, this tightrope walk leads to problems of its own.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #FFFFFF, #ecc6c6);\">Treatment of Admiralty Act plaintiffs in an Insolvency Resolution<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">One of the other pillars of the harmonious construction exercise is the treatment of a plaintiff who has secured an arrest order from an admiralty court. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651, para 40.\" href=\"#FN0022\">8<\/a><\/sup>, following the decision of the Court of Appeal in <i>ARO Company Ltd., In re<\/i><sup><a title=\"20 [1980] Ch. 196 : [1980] 2 WLR 453 (CA)\" href=\"#FN0025\">20<\/a><\/sup> holds that once a person has obtained an arrest, the vessel stands charged with his claim and he thus becomes a secured creditor. Accordingly, any resolution plan must treat that plaintiff as a secured creditor for the value of his charge on the vessel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">This proposition is difficult to reconcile with the definition of a secured creditor under the Code. Under the Code<sup><a title=\"21 Section 3(30), Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016.\" href=\"#FN0026\">21<\/a><\/sup>, a secured creditor is defined as one in whose favour a security interest has been created, which in turn is defined<sup><a title=\"22 Section 3(31), Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016.\" href=\"#FN0027\">22<\/a><\/sup> as any right, title, interest or claim to property created to secure the payment or performance of an obligation. It is submitted that, it is difficult to see how the mere factum of an arrest or the deposit of money into court to secure the release of an arrested vessel, creates a security interest as defined under the Code. This is particularly so because there would be no adjudication of the plaintiff&#8217;s claim given that further proceedings are stayed. Even if there is a deposit, it would be in favour of the plaintiff only once the suit is decreed. Such a mechanism would also tantamount to an artificial distinction between similarly placed creditors, say bunker suppliers, in their treatment in the resolution process\u2014some of who may be \u201csecured\u201d by obtaining the arrest and others who have not.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">There is a further difficulty. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651.\" href=\"#FN0028\">8<\/a><\/sup> says that, \u201cIn such a situation plaintiff should ordinarily be entitled to realise his claim to the full extent of the security provided.\u201d<sup><a title=\"23 Id, para 98.\" href=\"#FN0029\">23<\/a><\/sup> In practice, this would mean that various claimants who qualify as operational creditors under the Code will have to be paid out in full prior to any financial creditors, who effectively control the CIRP. Whether this is something that would appeal to the \u201ccommercial wisdom\u201d of the committee of creditors is anyone&#8217;s guess; it is entirely likely that such treatment would lead to the exact situation which the Court wished to avoid in the first place, i.e. undermining the resolution process under the Code.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #FFFFFF, #ecc6c6);\">Determination of priorities in liquidation under the Code and the Admiralty Act<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Difficulties though, are not confined only to the designation of an arresting plaintiff as a secured creditor in the CIRP. In the event that the CIRP fails, the shipping company would immediately proceed to liquidation. This gives rise to a difference in treatments under the Code and the Admiralty Act which is impossible to overcome without one prevailing over the other.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Under the Code, Section 53, which begins with a non obstante clause, sets out the distribution waterfall with respect to sale proceeds of the liquidation assets. In the Admiralty Act, Sections 9 and 10 deal with the determination of priorities. For several categories of claims these provisions are at odds with one another. For instance, the wages of seamen working on the vessel would constitute the highest category of maritime lien under Section 9 of the Admiralty Act, which consequently is the highest category of maritime claim during the determination of priorities. In other words, seamen wages would be paid out in full and have the first right over the sale proceeds of the vessel. Under the Code, seamen would be considerably worse off. Firstly, a secured creditor of the vessel could choose to remain outside liquidation altogether, in which case the seamen would have no specific right with respect to the sale proceeds of that vessel. Even otherwise, assuming that there is either no mortgagee of the vessel or the mortgagee has relinquished his rights in favour of the liquidation estate, seamen&#8217;s claims would rank pari passu with such secured creditors, and that too only for wages which precede the date of liquidation by 24 months. A similar situation would also arise with respect to port dues and statutory dues, which albeit ranking lower than crewmen&#8217;s wages, still constitute maritime liens and hence, rank above a secured creditor under the Admiralty Act while falling further down the waterfall under the Code.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">In <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651.\" href=\"#FN0030\">8<\/a><\/sup>, the Bombay High Court has addressed this conundrum by finding that, on liquidation, the: (SCC OnLine Bom para 102)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: 18pt;\"><i>102<\/i>. \u2026 determination of priorities will also be done in accordance with Section 10 of the Admiralty Act and inter se priorities of maritime liens will be decided in accordance with Section 9 of the said Act. Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001549788\">53<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002802178\">IBC<\/a> which refers to distribution of assets will not apply.<sup><a title=\"24 Id, para 102.\" href=\"#FN0031\">24<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Although the pronouncement of law is categorical, there are a few issues that merit consideration. <i>Firstly<\/i>, is it fair that wages for seamen are accorded such a high priority in the case of a liquidation under the Code when wages of workmen in other industries fall far lower in the pecking order? Was this the legislative intent i.e. distinguishing between workers on a ship and, for instance, workers in a coal mine, both of whom are subject to considerable personal peril? <i>Secondly<\/i>, elsewhere in the decision, the Court arrived at a finding that: (<i>Barge Madhwa case<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651.\" href=\"#FN0030\">8<\/a><\/sup>, SCC OnLine Bom para 72)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: 18pt;\"><i>72<\/i>. \u2026 where there are two special enactments, one of which contains a non obstante provision and bars the jurisdiction of the civil court and the other which does not contain a non obstante provision, the clear legal position is that in the event of conflict, the former Act will prevail. The principle of interpretation that the later Act overrides the earlier Act is not applicable in such a situation.<sup><a title=\"9 Id, para 72.\" href=\"#FN0032\">9<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Therefore, in the event of a conflict, this would suggest that the Code would prevail over the Admiralty Act. It is then difficult to see the legal justification for why the determination of priorities would proceed in accordance with the Admiralty Act rather than the Code.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">This leads straight to the next part of this article where it is considered whether the Code is in fact a general law and the Admiralty Act, being a special law, ought to prevail.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #FFFFFF, #ecc6c6);\">The Code: A General Law or Special Law?<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">The decision in <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651.\" href=\"#FN0033\">8<\/a><\/sup> tries to harmonise the Code and Admiralty Act\u2014as any judgment must attempt to\u2014and finds that there is no conflict. The difficulties with such an approach have been considered above and the apparent conflicts that arise. While it may be possible to harmonise the statutes in the context of proceedings in rem against a vessel, which <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651.\" href=\"#FN0033\">8<\/a><\/sup> has done excellently, it is submitted that in the treatment of the plaintiffs as secured creditors and the determination of priorities in liquidation, the two statutes are completely divergent, and harmonisation may not have been the appropriate answer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">It is submitted that it would have been apposite for the Court to consider whether one statute would prevail over the other in these circumstances. Although having found that the two statutes are capable of harmonisation, the Court has observed that, in the case of two special statutes, one of which contains a non obstante clause, that statute would prevail in the case of a conflict. This would suggest that the Code would prevail. However, there is another way to consider this situation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">A statute may be general in one context, but special in another; what has to be seen to determine whether or not a statute is general is (<i>i<\/i>) its principal subject-matter, and (<i>ii<\/i>) the perspective in consideration.<sup><a title=\"25 See: LIC v. D.J. Bahadur, (1981) 1 SCC 315; Yakub Abdul Razak Memon v. State of Maharashtra, (2013) 13 SCC 1.\" href=\"#FN0034\">25<\/a><\/sup> As we have seen above, the Code was enacted to consolidate and amend insolvency laws.<sup><a title=\"26 Preamble, Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016.\" href=\"#FN0035\">26<\/a><\/sup> In doing so, it does not distinguish amongst different types of corporations and applies uniformly to all of them. The Admiralty Act, on the other hand, applies only in the context of shipping corporations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Moreover, claims such as \u201c<i>rewards for salvage services<\/i>\u201d, and in respect of \u201c<i>loss of life and personal injury<\/i>\u201d do not even find a mention under the Code. These are claims which are unique to the Admiralty Act and would, at best, fall under the residual category of \u201c<i>any remaining debts and dues<\/i>\u201d under Section 53 of the Code. They would thus rank sixth in the order of priorities under the Code, but rank highest under the Admiralty Act. Mortgage debts, on the other hand, would be satisfied on a priority basis under the Code whereas, under the Admiralty Act, they would be satisfied only after all maritime liens have been discharged.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Therefore, it is apparent that, while the Code deals generically with classes of creditors that would ordinarily be found in any corporation, the Admiralty Act recognises certain stakeholders that are unique to maritime operations and provides for a distinct manner in which their interests are to be satisfied. This again suggests that the Admiralty Act is a special law vis-\u00e0-vis the Code.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Maritime liens are another marker for why the Admiralty Act should be treated as a special law qua the general Code. As Nigel Meeson puts it poignantly, a maritime lien, although a <i>sui generis<\/i> concept,<sup><a title=\"27 Nigel Meeson &amp; John Kimpbell, Admiralty Jurisdiction and Practice (4th Edn., Lloyd's Shipping Law, 2011) p. 260.\" href=\"#FN0036\">27<\/a><\/sup> is essentially a charge which adheres to the vessel from the time the fact giving rise to the lien occurs and which continues to bind the ship until it is discharged.<sup><a title=\"28 Id, p. 266.\" href=\"#FN0037\">28<\/a><\/sup> The fact that a vessel may change hands, whether in terms of possession or ownership, is immaterial.<sup><a title=\"29 Id, pp. 260-61.\" href=\"#FN0038\">29<\/a><\/sup> A maritime lien continues to attach itself to the vessel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">Under Section 31(1) of the Code, a resolution plan, once approved by the adjudicating authority, is binding on the corporate debtor and <i>its<\/i> creditors. However, insofar as maritime lien holders are concerned, they are not just creditors of the corporate debtor, but their claim also attaches to the vessel regardless of ownership, until it is discharged. Therefore, conceptually, this charge would continue to attach itself to the vessel even if the ownership of the corporate debtor changed hands under a resolution plan. The Code neither contemplates, nor deals with such a scenario. On the contrary, Section 8 of the Admiralty Act does. It says that, on the sale of a vessel by an admiralty court, it would vest free of all liens, attachments, charges, encumbrances and registered mortgages.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 18pt; margin-bottom: 3%;\">In light of these reasons, we believe that considering the subject-matters of the two statutes as well as from the perspective of the stakeholders involved, the Admiralty Act is a special statute vis-\u00e0-vis the Code. Although <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i><sup><a title=\"8 Raj Shipping Agencies v. Barge Madhwa, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651.\" href=\"#FN0039\">8<\/a><\/sup> has made a creditable attempt to harmonise the two statutes, given the difficulties that are likely to arise, it is submitted that the Court ought to have held that the Admiralty Act prevails over the Code. This would no doubt lead to a CIRP for shipping companies being rendered difficult\u2014given that their assets would be the subject-matter of admiralty proceedings\u2014but we see that as something that is likely to arise even under the harmonisation method. It would, however, lead to a quicker resolution through sale of the vessel in case the shipowner is defunct, and the distribution of proceeds as per the maritime industry&#8217;s time-honoured priorities (now encapsulated in the Admiralty Act), without undergoing a CIRP and dealing with competing creditors. It would also serve the overarching principle of the Code i.e. maximisation of value given that a prompt admiralty sale is likely to achieve a far higher price, in light of Section 8 and without the delays of the CIRP.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"FN0001\">\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><sup>\u2020<\/sup> Advocates, Bombay High Court.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;\">*The article has been published with kind permission of SCC Online cited as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/jxd33y80\">(2021) 5 SCC J-31<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"FN0002\">\n<p><sup>1<\/sup> <i>Innoventive Industries<\/i> v. <i>ICICI Bank<\/i>, <a href=\"(2018) 1 SCC 407\">(2018) 1 SCC 407<\/a>, para 13 (Nariman, J.).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0003\">\n<p><sup>2<\/sup> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-9000439073\">Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2020<\/a>, with effect from 28-12-2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0004\">\n<p><sup>3<\/sup> See Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001549762\">3(7)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002802178\">Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0005\">\n<p><sup>4<\/sup> Report of the Sub-Committee of the Insolvency Law Committee for Notification of Financial Service Providers under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001549726\">227<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002802178\">Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016<\/a>, 1 (dated 4-10-2019).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0006\">\n<p><sup>5<\/sup> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-9000339152\">Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Insolvency and Liquidation Proceedings of Financial Service Providers and Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0007\">\n<p><sup>6<\/sup> <a href=\"1993 Supp (2) SCC 433\">1993 Supp (2) SCC 433<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0008\">\n<p><sup>7<\/sup> The Act came into effect on 1-4-2018.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0009\">\n<p><sup>8<\/sup> <i>Raj Shipping Agencies<\/i> v. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i>, <a href=\"2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\">2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0010\">\n<p><sup>9<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 72.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0011\">\n<p><sup>10<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, paras 78 to 131.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0012\">\n<p><sup>11<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 112.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0013\">\n<p><sup>12<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 123.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0014\">\n<p><sup>13<\/sup> Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001549629\">14<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002802178\">Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0015\">\n<p><sup>14<\/sup> <i>Raj Shipping Agencies<\/i> v. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i>, <a href=\"2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\">2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651<\/a>, para 100.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0016\">\n<p><sup>15<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 125.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0017\">\n<p><sup>16<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 104.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0018\">\n<p><sup>17<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 106.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0019\">\n<p><sup>8<\/sup> <i>Raj Shipping Agencies<\/i> v. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i>, <a href=\"2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\">2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0020\">\n<p><sup>13<\/sup> Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001549629\">14<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002802178\">Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0021\">\n<p><sup>6<\/sup> <i>MV Elisabeth<\/i> v. <i>Harwan Investment and Trading (P) Ltd.<\/i>, <a href=\"1993 Supp (2) SCC 433\">1993 Supp (2) SCC 433<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0022\">\n<p><sup>8<\/sup> <i>Raj Shipping Agencies<\/i> v. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i>, <a href=\"2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\">2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651<\/a>, para 40.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0023\">\n<p><sup>18<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 90.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0024\">\n<p><sup>19<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 92.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0025\">\n<p><sup>20<\/sup> <a href=\"[1980] Ch. 196\">[1980] Ch. 196<\/a> : <a href=\"[1980] 2 WLR 453\">[1980] 2 WLR 453<\/a> (CA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0026\">\n<p><sup>21<\/sup> Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001549762\">3(30)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002802178\">Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0027\">\n<p><sup>22<\/sup> Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001549762\">3(31)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002802178\">Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0028\">\n<p><sup>8<\/sup> <i>Raj Shipping Agencies<\/i> v. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i>, <a href=\"2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\">2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0029\">\n<p><sup>23<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 98.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0030\">\n<p><sup>8<\/sup> <i>Raj Shipping Agencies<\/i> v. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i>, <a href=\"2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\">2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0031\">\n<p><sup>24<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 102.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0032\">\n<p><sup>9<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, para 72.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0033\">\n<p><sup>8<\/sup> <i>Raj Shipping Agencies<\/i> v. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i>, <a href=\"2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\">2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0034\">\n<p><sup>25<\/sup> See: <i>LIC<\/i> v. <i>D.J. Bahadur<\/i>, <a href=\"(1981) 1 SCC 315\">(1981) 1 SCC 315<\/a>; <i>Yakub Abdul Razak Memon<\/i> v. <i>State of Maharashtra<\/i>, <a href=\"(2013) 13 SCC 1\">(2013) 13 SCC 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0035\">\n<p><sup>26<\/sup> Preamble, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002802178\">Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code, 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0036\">\n<p><sup>27<\/sup> Nigel Meeson &amp; John Kimpbell, Admiralty Jurisdiction and Practice (4th Edn., Lloyd&#8217;s Shipping Law, 2011) p. 260.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0037\">\n<p><sup>28<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, p. 266.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0038\">\n<p><sup>29<\/sup> <i>Id<\/i>, pp. 260-61.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"FN0039\">\n<p><sup>8<\/sup> <i>Raj Shipping Agencies<\/i> v. <i>Barge Madhwa<\/i>, <a href=\"2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651\">2020 SCC OnLine Bom 651<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Shyam Kapadia\u2020 and Dhruva Gandhi\u2020<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8808,"featured_media":271770,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1191,42504],"tags":[30361,6121,22064,31387,50837,50836],"class_list":["post-276424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-op-ed","category-scc-journal-section","tag-ibc","tag-insolvency","tag-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code","tag-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-2016","tag-insolvency-law","tag-smooth-sailing"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law | SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (\u201cthe Code\u201d) was inter alia enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the reorganisation\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (\u201cthe Code\u201d) was inter alia enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the reorganisation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SCC Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-08-28T09:30:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1330\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"887\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Bhumika Indulia\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Bhumika Indulia\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/\",\"name\":\"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law | SCC Times\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-08-28T09:30:43+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/919ec47cc1b871b362af05740398033a\"},\"description\":\"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (\u201cthe Code\u201d) was inter alia enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the reorganisation\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-2.jpg\",\"width\":1330,\"height\":887,\"caption\":\"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"SCC Times\",\"description\":\"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/919ec47cc1b871b362af05740398033a\",\"name\":\"Bhumika Indulia\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Me-150x150.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Me-150x150.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Bhumika Indulia\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/editor_1\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law | SCC Times","description":"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (\u201cthe Code\u201d) was inter alia enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the reorganisation","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law","og_description":"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (\u201cthe Code\u201d) was inter alia enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the reorganisation","og_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/","og_site_name":"SCC Times","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/","article_published_time":"2022-08-28T09:30:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1330,"height":887,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Bhumika Indulia","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Bhumika Indulia","Est. reading time":"17 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/","name":"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law | SCC Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-2.jpg","datePublished":"2022-08-28T09:30:43+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/919ec47cc1b871b362af05740398033a"},"description":"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (\u201cthe Code\u201d) was inter alia enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the reorganisation","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-2.jpg","width":1330,"height":887,"caption":"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/08\/28\/no-smooth-sailing-for-insolvency-law\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"No Smooth Sailing For Insolvency Law"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/","name":"SCC Times","description":"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/919ec47cc1b871b362af05740398033a","name":"Bhumika Indulia","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Me-150x150.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Me-150x150.jpg","caption":"Bhumika Indulia"},"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/editor_1\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-2.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49661,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2016\/05\/30\/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-2016-receives-presidents-assent\/","url_meta":{"origin":276424,"position":0},"title":"Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 receives President\u2019s assent","author":"Sucheta","date":"May 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (\"Code\") received President\u2019s assent on May 28th, 2016. The Code, seeks to consolidate \u00a0and amend the laws relating to reorganisation and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time bound manner for maximisation of value of assets of such persons,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Legislation Updates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Legislation Updates","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/legislationupdates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/DSC_4762-e1474523869607.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/DSC_4762-e1474523869607.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/DSC_4762-e1474523869607.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/DSC_4762-e1474523869607.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/DSC_4762-e1474523869607.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":222682,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2019\/11\/29\/ibbi-amends-the-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-board-of-india-insolvency-resolution-process-for-corporate-persons-regulations-2016\/","url_meta":{"origin":276424,"position":1},"title":"IBBI amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"November 29, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2019 on 28th\u00a0November 2019. Some of the amendments made by these Regulations are consequential to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2019, which came\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Legislation Updates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Legislation Updates","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/legislationupdates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/MCA.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/MCA.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/MCA.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/MCA.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/MCA.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":223671,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2019\/12\/30\/president-promulgates-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-amendment-ordinance-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":276424,"position":2},"title":"President promulgates Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"December 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"President on 28-12-2019 promulgated the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in the House of People on 12-12-2019 though it could not be taken up for consideration. At present, though the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Legislation Updates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Legislation Updates","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/legislationupdates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":226557,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/03\/05\/standing-committee-on-finance-submits-its-6th-report-on-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-second-amendment-bill-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":276424,"position":3},"title":"Standing Committee on Finance submits its 6th Report on &#8212; Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"March 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Standing Committee on Finance (2019-2020) prsented the Sixth Report on Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Lok Sabha on 04-03-2020. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code was enacted on May 28, 2016, to consolidate and amend the laws relating to reorganization and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Legislation Updates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Legislation Updates","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/legislationupdates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Parliament_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Parliament_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Parliament_Colour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Parliament_Colour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Parliament_Colour.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":239310,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/11\/18\/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-board-of-india-amends-regulations-relating-to-corporate-insolvency-proceedings\/","url_meta":{"origin":276424,"position":4},"title":"Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India amends Regulations relating to corporate insolvency proceedings","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"November 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) notified the following Amendment Regulations, 2020: (a) the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) (Fifth Amendment) Regulations, 2016 (b) the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Liquidation Process) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (c) the Insolvency and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Legislation Updates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Legislation Updates","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/legislationupdates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IBBI.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IBBI.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IBBI.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IBBI.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IBBI.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":238203,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/10\/30\/all-petitions-challenging-the-ibc-provisions-relating-to-personal-guarantors-transferred-to-supreme-court\/","url_meta":{"origin":276424,"position":5},"title":"All petitions challenging the IBC provisions relating to personal guarantors transferred to Supreme Court","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"October 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is at a nascent stage and it is better that the interpretation of the provisions of the Code is taken up by the Supreme Court to avoid any confusion.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8808"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=276424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276424\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=276424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=276424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=276424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}