NEW DELHI: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has directed 11 public sector banks not to take coercive action against IL&FS and its group companies till its next hearing on May 14.
A two-member NCLAT bench headed by Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan issued notices to the banks, along with the RBI, directing them to file a reply. “In view of the order dated October 15, 2018, the Respondents (banks) shall not proceed to take any coercive action against the Applicant (IL&FS and group companies) till the next date,” said the NCLAT.
On October 15, 2018, the NCLAT stayed all proceedings against IL&FS and other group companies till its further order. It had also restrained creditors of IL&FS from filing suits, in the case of non-repayment of loans. The NCLAT direction came on Tuesday over an urgent plea moved by the newly appointed board of debt-ridden IL&FS, seeking direction to the banks restraining them from initiating or pursuing any proceedings for declaration as willful defaulter against its group companies and their officials. The appellate tribunal has directed to list the IL&FS application on May 14, 2024, for the next hearing.
On October 1, 2018, the NCLAT superseded the existing board of IL&FS on the recommendation of the centre after the mega-crisis in IL&FS, which shook the finance industry.