(SC ), [2000 ]38 CLA315 (SC ), [2000 ]102 CompCas1 (SC ), (2000 )4 CompLJ4 (SC ), 2000 INSC 389 , JT2000 (8 )SC 587 , 2001 -1 -LW772 , 2000 (5 )SCALE486 , (2000 )7 SCC291 , [2000 ]Supp2 SCR288 , (2000 )3 UPLBEC2229 , ,MANU/SC/0491/2000S. Rajendra Babu#S.N. Phukan#265SC2050Judgment/OrderAIR#CCC#CLA#CompCas#CompLJ#INSC#JT#LW#MANU#SCALE#SCC#SCR(Supp)#UPLBECS.N. Phukan,SUPREME COURT OF INDIA2012-9-24Non Obstante Clause,Subsidiary Rules,Overriding preferential payments,Company in liquidation,Discontinuance of business, or dissolution,Liability in Special Cases,Direct Taxation,Interpretation of Statutes54184,19109,54451,19206,19205 -->

MANU/SC/0491/2000

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Civil Appeal Nos. 3439-3440 of 1997

Decided On: 09.08.2000

Appellants: A.P. State Financial Corporation Vs. Respondent: Official Liquidator

Hon'ble Judges/Coram:
S. Rajendra Babu and S.N. Phukan

JUDGMENT

S.N. Phukan, J.

1. The appellant is a Corporation established under The State Financial Corporations Act, 1951 (for short 'Act of 1951'). Two companies viz. M/S Nagarjuna Paper Mills and M/S Chandra Pharmaceuticals Limited were in liquidation and the liquidation proceedings were pending before the learned Company Judge of the High Court. The above two companies obtained loans from the appellant and for realisation of dues, the appellant invoked the provisions of Section 29 of Act of 1951. As both the companies were under liquidation, the appellant filed two separate applications under Section 446(1) of the Companies Act read with Sections 29 and 46 of Act of 1951 before learned Company Judge of the High Court for staying outside the liquidation proceeding. The learned Judge passed two similar orders in respect of both the companies and granted permission to the appellant to stay outside the liquidation proceedings subject to the following conditions:

1. The petitioner will undertake to discharge its liability due to the workers, if any, under Section 529(A) of the Companies Act.

2. The petitioner shall inform at least 10 days in advance before a date fixed for receipt of tenders, to the Official Liquidator about the proposed sale of the properties of the company; and

3. The petitioner shall also obtain the permission of the Court before finalising the tenders.

2. The appeals filed were dismissed by the Division Bench of the High Court by the impugned judgment and hence these appeals.

3. We have heard Mr. Y. Prabhakara Rao, learned Counsel for the appellant and Mr. A.D.N. Rao, learned Counsel for the respondent.

4. The short question to be decided in these appeals is whether the order of the High Court imposing the above three conditions is lawful.

5. To appreciate the above point we may quote below Sub-section (1) of Section 29 of Act of 1951 and Sub-section (1) of Section