Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax vs. Ravinder Kumar Goel - (NATIONAL COMPANY LAW APPELLATE TRIBUNAL) (16 Oct 2023)

After invocation of Section 33 (5) of the IBC, the authority does not have the power to initiate recovery of dues by means of sale/ confiscation

MANU/NL/0843/2023

Insolvency

Present appeal is directed against the order passed by the National Company Law Tribunal, by which two applications, filed under Section 60 (5) of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) by the Liquidator of Supreme Tex Mart Limited (Company under liquidation) against the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Punjab have been allowed.

The issue involved in this case is as to whether after the initiation of the liquidation proceedings, the Appellant being Department of Income Tax, by virtue of an assessment having been made during the pendency of the liquidation proceedings, can ask the company under liquidation for the Income Tax dues and also issue notice for recovery etc.

Section 33(5) of the IBC specifically bars any kind of legal proceedings by or against the Corporate Debtor after the liquidation order is passed but the Supreme Court in the case of Sudaresh Bhatt has made it clear that even after the imposition of the moratorium or invocation of Section 33 (5) of the IBC, as the case may be, the only jurisdiction with the authority is to assess and determine the quantum but it does not have the power to initiate recovery of dues by means of sale/ confiscation as provided.

In view of the aforesaid decision to which no contrary judgment has been cited, present Tribunal is of the considered opinion that, the learned Tribunal has committed an error in holding that the Department had the jurisdiction even to assess the company in liquidation after the liquidation order has been passed. However, there is no error on the part of the Learned Tribunal where it has held that the Department cannot on the basis of the subsequent order make recovery. Appeal disposed off.

Tags : INITIATION LIQUIDATION PROCEEDINGS RECOVERY