Mr.Rajeev Vidyadharan@ Rajeev Anchal vs The National Company Law Tribunal
2025 Latest Caselaw 1332 Ker

Kerala High Court

Mr.Rajeev Vidyadharan@ Rajeev Anchal vs The National Company Law Tribunal on 9 June, 2025

‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬           ‭1‬             2025:KER:39384‬
                                                  ‭


                IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM‬
                ‭

                                PRESENT‬
                                ‭

     THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI‬
     ‭

                                   &‬
                                   ‭

              THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SYAM KUMAR V.M.‬
              ‭

                  TH‬
                  ‭
     MONDAY, THE 9‬
     ‭                DAY OF JUNE 2025 / 19TH JYAISHTA,‬‭
                      ‭                                 1947‬

                          WA NO. 1224 OF 2025‬
                          ‭

         AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 24.03.2025 IN WP(C) NO.36441‬
         ‭
                  OF 2024 OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA‬
                  ‭

APPELLANTS:‬
‭

       1‬
       ‭        ‭R.RAJEEV VIDYADHARAN@ RAJEEV ANCHAL,‬
                M
                AGED 63 YEARS‬
                ‭
                GURUCHANDRIKA, SNEHAPURAM, SANTHIGIRI.P.O.,‬
                ‭
                KOLIYAKODE VILLAGE, KEEZTHONNAKKAL,‬
                ‭
                THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, PIN - 695589‬
                ‭

       2‬
       ‭        ‭ADMAJAN RAJEEV‬
                P
                AGED 63 YEARS‬
                ‭
                12/600 (18/799), GURUCHANDRIKA,SANTHIGIRI.P.O.,‬
                ‭
                POTHENCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, REPRESENTED‬
                ‭
                BY HIS POWER OF ATTORNEY HOLDER PADMAM RAJEEV,‬
                ‭
                PIN - 695589‬
                ‭

       3‬
       ‭        ‭ARGI RAJEEV‬
                G
                AGED 40 YEARS‬
                ‭
                GARGI RAJEEV 12/600 (18/799), GURUCHANDRIKA,‬
                ‭
                SANTHIGIRI.P.O., POTHENCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,‬
                ‭
                KERALA., PIN - 695589‬
                ‭

       4‬
       ‭        ‭ADMAM MAVILAVEEDU SAHADEVAN @ SHAJI RAJEEV‬
                P
                AGED 55 YEARS‬
                ‭
                12/600 (18/799), GURUCHANDRIKA, SANTHIGIRI.P.O.,‬
                ‭
 ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬            ‭2‬            2025:KER:39384‬
                                                  ‭




                ‭OTHENCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, PIN -‬
                P
                695589,‬
                ‭

       5‬
       ‭        ‭/S.GURUCHANDRIKA BUILDERS & PROPERTY (P) LTD.,‬
                M
                CIN:U70101KL2010PTC02683, REPRESENTED BY ITS‬
                ‭
                MANAGING DIRECTOR, MR.RAJEEV VIDYADHARAN ALIAS‬
                ‭
                RAJEEV ANCHAL, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT‬
                ‭
                JATAYU EARTH'S CENTER, CHADAYAMANGALAM, KOLLAM‬
                ‭
                DISTRICT, KERALA, PIN - 691534‬
                ‭

       6‬
       ‭        ‭ATAYUPARA ADVENTURE TOURISM (P) LTD.,‬
                J
                U63040KL2014PTC035795, REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR,‬
                ‭
                GARGI RAJEEV, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT‬
                ‭
                JATAYU EARTH'S CENTER, CHADAYAMANGALAM, KOLLAM‬
                ‭
                DISTRICT, KERALA, PIN - 691534‬
                ‭

       7‬
       ‭        ‭URUCHANDRIKA STUDIOS PRIVATE LIMITED,‬
                G
                CIN:U74999KL2017PTC051110, ANUGRAHAM, T.C.15/601,‬
                ‭
                PLOT NO.51, UDARASIROMANI ROAD, VELLAYAMBALAM,‬
                ‭
                THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS‬
                ‭
                MANAGING DIRECTOR, RAJEEV VIDYADHARAN @ RAJEEV‬
                ‭
                ANCHAL, PIN - 695010‬
                ‭

       8‬
       ‭        ‭NIQUE CAVES (P) LTD.,‬
                U
                CIN:U63040KL2012PTC030706, JATAYU EARTH'S CENTER,‬
                ‭
                CHADAYAMANGALAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT, KERALA‬
                ‭
                REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, RAJEEV‬
                ‭
                VIDYADHARAN @ RAJEEV ANCHAL, PIN - 691534‬
                ‭


                ‭Y ADVS.‬
                B
                SRI.SIDHARTH A.MENON‬
                ‭
                SHRI.V.AJAKUMAR‬
                ‭
                SMT.VINITHA S.T.‬
                ‭
                SHRI.M.R.HARIKRISHNAN‬
                ‭
                SMT.SANDRA ANN T. JOSEPH‬
                ‭
 ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬            ‭3‬            2025:KER:39384‬
                                                  ‭



RESPONDENTS:‬

‭

1‬ ‭ ‭HE NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNAL,‬ T KOCHI BENCH, THROUGH ITS REGISTRAR, COMPANY LAW‬ ‭ BHAVAN, BMC ROAD, THRIKKAKARA P.O., KAKKANAD, KOCHI,‬ ‭ PIN - 682021‬ ‭

2‬ ‭ ‭.J. MATHEWS,‬ P P.J. MATHEWS, NEDUMCHIRA THOTTATHIL,‬ ‭ ADICHANALLOOR.P.O., KOLLAM, PIN - 691573‬ ‭

3‬ ‭ ‭AVIDSON VATTUPPARAMPIL GEORGE‬ D VATTUPPARAMPIL HOUSE, MAMMOODU.P.O., CHANGANASSERY,‬ ‭ KOTTAYAM, KERALA, PIN - 686553‬ ‭

4‬ ‭ ‭ANICKER PRAVEEN RAJ GOPI‬ P PANICKER PRAVEEN RAJ GOPI 7A, ROYAL HEIGHTS,‬ ‭ OPPOSITE N.S.S COLLEGE, NF GATE ROAD, TRIPUNITHRA,‬ ‭ ERNAKULAM, KERALA, PIN - 682301‬ ‭

5‬ ‭ ‭AYALAL BALARAJAN‬ J KURATHATHUSSERIL HOUSE, PATHIYOOR.P.O‬ ‭ BHAGAVATHIPADI, ALAPPUZHA, KERALA, PIN - 690552‬ ‭

6‬ ‭ ‭ENNIS LAVIN NORONHA‬ D B-5, MARVE QUEEN-1, 1ST FLOOR, KHARODI, NEAR‬ ‭ JURASSIC PARK RESTAURANT, MARVE ROAD, MALAD WEST,‬ ‭ MUMBAI, PIN - 40009‬ ‭

7‬ ‭ ‭ONES MATHEWS‬ J NEDUMCHIRA THOTTATHIL, ADICHANALLOOR.P.O., KOLLAM,‬ ‭ PIN - 691573‬ ‭

8‬ ‭ ‭UANITA JOSEPH THODUPARAMBIL‬ J 7/11, ASSISI NAGAR, P.L.LOKHANDE MARG, CHEMBUR,‬ ‭ MUMBAI, PIN - 400043‬ ‭

9‬ ‭ ‭ALKUMAR SOMARAJAN‬ L APD NO.5A, CORDIAL CASILDA, KOCHULLOOR, MEDICAL‬ ‭ ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬ ‭4‬ 2025:KER:39384‬ ‭

COLLEGE.P.O., ULLOOR, KERALA, PIN - 695011‬ ‭

10‬ ‭ ‭ATAYUPARA TOURISM (P) LTD.‬ J CIN:U63040KL2014PTC037707, JATAYU EARTH'S CENTER JATAYU‬ ‭ JUNCTION, CHADAYAMANGALAM, KOLLAM, KERALA, REPRESENTED‬ ‭ BY ITS DIRECTOR, MR. VASU JAYAPRAKASH, PIN - 691534‬ ‭

11‬ ‭ ‭ATAYU SCULPTURE & MUSEUM PRIVATE LIMITED,‬ J U63040KL2014PTC035795, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT‬ ‭ JATAYU EARTH'S CENTER, CHADAYAMANGALAM, KOLLAM‬ ‭ DISTRICT, KERALA . REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR,‬ ‭ MS USHA B PILLAI, PIN - 691534‬ ‭

12‬ ‭ ‭.R.NARAYANAN NAIR‬ P GOKULAM A-18, TENNIS CLUB ENCLAVE, KOWDIAR,‬ ‭ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003‬ ‭

13‬ ‭ ‭HE STATE OF KERALA‬ T REPRESENTED BY THE, CHIEF SECRETARY ,GOVERNMENT‬ ‭ SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001‬ ‭

14‬ ‭ ‭4. DIRECTOR, ECO-TOURISM DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM,‬

GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, PARK VIEW, THIRUVANNATHAPURAM,‬ ‭ KERALA, PIN - 695033‬ ‭

15‬ ‭ ‭RINCE RAVI‬ P CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, GSPU & ASSOCIATES, T.C12/1443(2),‬ ‭ FIRST FLOOR, SYAM SCION, PMG-LAW COLLEGE ROAD, VIKAS‬ ‭ BHAVAN.P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695033‬ ‭

16‬ ‭ ‭AJEE P.NAIR‬ S SREESANKARAM, FIRST FLOOR, KRA 74 OPP.‬ ‭ KAITHAMUKKU.P.O., ATHANILANE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,‬ ‭ KERALA, PIN - 695024‬ ‭

17‬ ‭ ‭AJEEV BHASKARAN‬ R THULASI BHAVAN, CHADAYAMANGALAM, KOLLAM, KERALA,‬ ‭ PIN - 691534‬ ‭ ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬ ‭5‬ 2025:KER:39384‬ ‭

18‬ ‭ ‭RISHNAN KOODACHERI‬ K SREE KRISHNA HOUSE, CHERUSSERI NAGAR, PALLIKULAM,‬ ‭ CHIRAKKAL.P.O., KANNUR ,, PIN - 670001‬ ‭

19‬ ‭ ‭ASU JAYAPRAKASH‬ V ARIYANNOOR HOUSE, KAITHA SOUTH, KANNAMANGALAM,‬ ‭ CHETTIKULANGARA, MAVELIKKARA, ALAPPUZHA KERALA,‬ ‭ PIN - 690106‬ ‭

20‬ ‭ ‭JIT KUMAR BALARAMAN‬ A 4B 29 UNITY APARTMENT, BAF HIRA NAGAR, KHARODI‬ ‭ MARVE ROAD, NEAR FIRE STATION, MALAD(WEST),‬ ‭ MUMBAI M.H, PIN - 400095‬ ‭

21‬ ‭ ‭JAY BALARAMAN‬ A 4B 29 UNITY APARTMENT, BAF HIRA NAGAR, KHARODI‬ ‭ MARVE ROAD, NEAR FIRE STATION, MALAD(WEST),‬ ‭ MUMBAI M.H, PIN - 400095‬ ‭

22‬ ‭ ‭ARIDAS KRISHNANKUTTY‬ H RARATH HOUSE PERUVEMBA.P.O., PALAKKAD, KERALA,‬ ‭ INDIA, PIN - 678531‬ ‭

23‬ ‭ ‭ATHEW PANDAKASALAIL‬ M PANDAKASALA,KAMPAMKODU VAYAKKAL.P.O., VALAKAM,‬ ‭ KOLLAM - , KERALA, INDIA,, PIN - 691532‬ ‭

24‬ ‭ ‭. MOHANAN PILLAI‬ C S/O K. CHANDRASEKHARAN PILLAI, KRISHNA PRIYA,‬ ‭ PODIYATTUVILA.P.O., VALAKOM, KOLLAM, PIN - 691532‬ ‭

25‬ ‭ ‭HRI M.R BHAT ICLS‬ S HOUSE NO. 1-4, 65/3 STREET NO. 8 LANE, ADJACENT TO MORE‬ ‭ SUPERMARKET, HABSIGUDA, TELANGANA, PIN - 500007‬ ‭

26‬ ‭ ‭HRI. SHAWN JEFF CHRISTOPHER‬ S JVR & ASSOCIATES, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS WARRIOM ROAD‬ ‭ OPPOSITE ST.GEORGE CHURCH, PALLIMUKKU, KOCHI,‬ ‭ KERALA, PIN - 682016‬ ‭ ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬ ‭6‬ 2025:KER:39384‬ ‭

‭RI.BIJOY P.PULIPRA - R2 TO R9‬ S SRI.SANKAR P.PANICKER - R10‬ ‭ SRI.VINODE V.LUKA - R19‬ ‭

‭HIS‬ ‭ T WRIT‬ ‭ APPEAL‬ ‭HAVING‬ ‭ BEEN‬ ‭FINALLY‬ ‭HEARD‬ ‭ ON‬ 02.06.2025, THE COURT ON 09.06.2025 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:‬ ‭ ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬ ‭7‬ 2025:KER:39384‬ ‭

‭JUDGMENT‬

‭Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, J.‬

‭Heard on the question of admission.‬

‭2.‬‭The‬‭present‬‭writ‬‭appeal‬‭has‬‭been‬‭filed‬‭under‬‭Section‬‭5‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Kerala‬

‭High‬ ‭Court‬ ‭Act,‬ ‭1958,‬ ‭assailing‬ ‭the‬ ‭judgment‬ ‭dated‬ ‭24.03.2025‬ ‭passed‬ ‭in‬

‭W.P(C)No.36441‬ ‭of‬ ‭2024,‬‭whereby‬‭the‬‭learned‬‭Single‬‭Judge‬‭has‬‭dismissed‬

‭the writ petition on the ground of maintainability.‬

‭3.‬‭The‬‭learned‬‭counsel‬‭for‬‭the‬‭appellants‬‭had‬‭challenged‬‭the‬‭orders‬‭of‬

‭the‬ ‭National‬ ‭Company‬ ‭Law‬ ‭Tribunal‬ ‭(NCLT),‬ ‭Kochi‬ ‭Bench‬ ‭(Exts.P17,‬ ‭P18,‬

‭P20‬ ‭and‬ ‭P23)‬ ‭which‬ ‭virtually‬ ‭modified‬ ‭or‬ ‭reviewed‬ ‭prior‬ ‭NCLT‬ ‭orders‬

‭(Exts.P10‬ ‭and‬ ‭P11)‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭order‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Hon'ble‬ ‭Apex‬ ‭Court‬ ‭(Ext.P9),‬ ‭by‬

‭directing‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭independent‬‭Chartered‬ ‭Accountant‬‭appointed‬‭pursuant‬‭to‬

‭the‬ ‭Apex‬ ‭Court's‬ ‭directions,‬ ‭report‬ ‭to‬ ‭and‬ ‭act‬ ‭under‬ ‭the‬ ‭supervision‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬

‭Administrator‬ ‭whose‬ ‭own‬ ‭appointment‬ ‭was‬ ‭under‬ ‭challenge‬ ‭before‬ ‭the‬

‭National‬ ‭Company‬ ‭Law‬ ‭Appellate‬ ‭Tribunal‬ ‭(‭N ‬ CLAT).‬ ‭He‬ ‭further‬ ‭submitted‬

‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭impugned‬ ‭orders‬ ‭were‬ ‭passed‬ ‭without‬ ‭hearing‬ ‭the‬ ‭appellants‬ ‭and‬

‭allowed‬ ‭respondent‬ ‭No.25‬ ‭-‬ ‭Administrator‬ ‭to‬ ‭make‬ ‭recommendations‬ ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬ ‭8‬ 2025:KER:39384‬ ‭

‭regarding‬ ‭his‬‭own‬‭salary‬‭and‬‭take‬‭over‬‭operational‬‭control‬‭of‬‭a‬‭Government‬

‭Project vested contractually in the 5th appellant.‬

‭4.‬‭The‬‭learned‬‭counsel‬‭further‬‭submitted‬‭that‬‭the‬‭learned‬‭Single‬‭Judge‬

‭primarily‬‭failed‬‭to‬‭consider‬‭that‬‭the‬‭appellants‬‭had‬‭raised‬‭valid‬‭contentions‬‭of‬

‭procedural‬ ‭impropriety,‬ ‭bias‬ ‭and‬ ‭breach‬ ‭of‬ ‭natural‬ ‭justice.‬ ‭Secondly‬ ‭the‬

‭NCLT‬ ‭has‬ ‭no‬ ‭power‬ ‭of‬ ‭review‬ ‭under‬ ‭the‬ ‭Companies‬ ‭Act,‬ ‭2013‬ ‭and‬ ‭cannot‬

‭pass‬‭orders‬‭that‬‭in‬‭substance‬‭modify‬‭earlier‬‭orders‬‭under‬‭appeal.‬‭He‬‭added‬

‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭learned‬ ‭Single‬ ‭Judge‬ ‭also‬ ‭failed‬ ‭in‬ ‭considering‬ ‭the‬ ‭fact‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬

‭alternative‬‭remedy‬‭under‬‭Section‬‭421‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Companies‬‭Act‬‭does‬‭not‬‭bar‬‭the‬

‭writ‬‭jurisdiction‬‭where‬‭the‬‭impugned‬‭orders‬‭are‬‭without‬‭jurisdiction‬‭or‬‭passed‬

‭in violation of natural justice.‬

‭5.‬‭The‬‭learned‬‭counsel‬‭for‬‭the‬‭appellants‬‭relied‬‭on‬‭the‬‭judgment‬‭of‬‭the‬

‭Apex‬‭Court‬‭in‬‭the‬‭case‬‭of‬‭Radha‬‭Krishnan‬‭Industries‬‭v.‬‭State‬‭of‬‭Himachal‬

‭Pradesh‬ ‭and‬ ‭Others‬‭[(2021)‬‭6‬‭SCC‬‭771]‬‭,‬‭in‬‭paragraph‬‭27,‬‭the‬‭Apex‬‭Court‬

‭has‬‭laid‬‭down‬‭the‬‭principles‬‭of‬‭law‬‭pointing‬‭out‬‭certain‬‭exceptions‬‭where‬‭the‬

‭Court‬ ‭can‬ ‭entertain‬ ‭a‬ ‭writ‬ ‭petition.‬ ‭The‬ ‭exceptions‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭Rule‬ ‭of‬ ‭alternate‬

‭remedy‬ ‭arises‬ ‭where‬ ‭(a)‬‭the‬‭writ‬‭petition‬‭has‬‭been‬‭filed‬‭for‬‭the‬‭enforcement‬

‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭fundamental‬‭right‬‭protected‬‭by‬‭Part‬‭III‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Constitution;‬‭(b)‬‭there‬‭has‬

‭been‬ ‭a‬ ‭violation‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭principles‬ ‭of‬ ‭natural‬ ‭justice;‬ ‭(c)‬ ‭the‬ ‭order‬ ‭or‬ ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬ ‭9‬ 2025:KER:39384‬ ‭

‭proceedings‬ ‭are‬‭wholly‬‭without‬‭jurisdiction;‬‭or‬‭(d)‬‭the‬‭vires‬‭of‬‭a‬‭legislation‬‭is‬

‭challenged.‬ ‭The‬ ‭learned‬ ‭counsel,‬ ‭therefore,‬ ‭prayed‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬‭learned‬‭Single‬

‭Judge‬ ‭ought‬ ‭to‬ ‭have‬ ‭entertained‬ ‭the‬ ‭writ‬ ‭petition‬ ‭on‬ ‭merits‬ ‭instead‬ ‭of‬

‭relegating the appellants to avail the alternative remedy.‬

‭6.‬ ‭Per‬ ‭contra,‬ ‭the‬ ‭learned‬ ‭counsel‬ ‭appearing‬ ‭for‬‭the‬‭10th‬‭respondent‬

‭vehemently‬ ‭opposed‬ ‭the‬ ‭prayer‬ ‭and‬ ‭submitted‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭orders‬ ‭have‬ ‭been‬

‭passed‬‭by‬‭the‬‭NCLT‬‭in‬‭the‬‭interest‬‭of‬‭all‬‭concerned;‬‭whereas‬‭the‬‭writ‬‭petition‬

‭has‬ ‭been‬ ‭filed‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭malafide‬ ‭intention‬ ‭of‬ ‭covering‬ ‭up‬ ‭all‬ ‭the‬ ‭illegalities‬

‭committed‬‭by‬‭the‬‭appellants‬‭and‬‭in‬‭an‬‭attempt‬‭to‬‭continue‬‭their‬‭actions.‬‭The‬

‭appellants‬ ‭had‬ ‭earlier‬ ‭approached‬ ‭this‬ ‭Court‬ ‭in‬ ‭W.P(C)No.13448‬ ‭of‬ ‭2024‬

‭which‬ ‭was‬ ‭disposed‬ ‭of‬ ‭recording‬ ‭the‬ ‭submission‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭application‬ ‭for‬

‭modification‬ ‭has‬ ‭been‬ ‭withdrawn‬ ‭and‬ ‭directed‬ ‭the‬ ‭NCLT‬ ‭to‬ ‭reconsider‬ ‭the‬

‭order‬ ‭dated‬ ‭20.03.2024‬ ‭after‬ ‭hearing‬ ‭the‬ ‭parties.‬ ‭The‬ ‭appellants‬ ‭thereafter‬

‭moved‬ ‭a‬ ‭contempt‬ ‭case‬ ‭against‬ ‭the‬ ‭Administrator‬ ‭and‬ ‭independent‬

‭Chartered‬‭Accountant‬‭alleging‬‭that‬‭by‬‭releasing‬‭salary‬‭and‬‭withdrawing‬‭other‬

‭amounts,‬ ‭they‬ ‭have‬ ‭violated‬ ‭this‬ ‭Court's‬ ‭direction.‬ ‭The‬ ‭contempt‬ ‭case‬ ‭was‬

‭disposed‬ ‭of‬ ‭holding‬ ‭that‬ ‭there‬ ‭is‬ ‭nothing‬ ‭contemptuous‬ ‭and‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬

‭appellants‬ ‭should‬ ‭take‬ ‭up‬ ‭the‬ ‭matter‬ ‭before‬ ‭the‬‭NCLT.‬‭This‬‭aspect‬‭was‬‭not‬

‭revealed by the appellants, which amounts to suppression of material facts.‬ ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬ ‭10‬ 2025:KER:39384‬ ‭

‭7. Heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the records.‬

‭8.‬ ‭Admittedly‬ ‭the‬ ‭appellants‬ ‭had‬ ‭challenged‬ ‭the‬ ‭interim‬‭order‬‭passed‬

‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭NCLT,‬ ‭wherein‬ ‭certain‬ ‭disputed‬ ‭questions‬ ‭of‬ ‭fact‬ ‭have‬ ‭been‬ ‭raised.‬

‭The‬‭learned‬‭Single‬‭Judge‬‭was‬‭right‬‭in‬‭holding‬‭that‬‭the‬‭appellants‬‭have‬‭made‬

‭an‬ ‭attempt‬ ‭to‬ ‭suppress‬ ‭material‬ ‭facts.‬ ‭Moreover‬ ‭contention‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬

‭impugned‬ ‭orders‬ ‭amount‬ ‭to‬ ‭review‬ ‭of‬ ‭Exts.P10‬ ‭and‬ ‭P11‬ ‭cannot‬ ‭be‬ ‭found‬

‭fault‬ ‭with‬ ‭since‬ ‭the‬ ‭Tribunal‬ ‭is‬ ‭vested‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭discretion‬‭to‬‭pass‬‭necessary‬

‭orders‬‭to‬‭ensure‬‭proper‬‭functioning‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Project‬‭till‬‭the‬‭company‬‭petition‬‭is‬

‭decided.‬

‭9.‬‭The‬‭learned‬‭Single‬‭Judge‬‭was‬‭right‬‭in‬‭coming‬‭to‬‭the‬‭conclusion‬‭that‬

‭the‬ ‭alternative‬ ‭remedy‬ ‭of‬ ‭appeal‬ ‭under‬ ‭Section‬ ‭420‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Companies‬ ‭Act‬

‭provides‬ ‭for‬ ‭an‬ ‭appeal‬ ‭to‬ ‭NCLAT‬ ‭against‬ ‭the‬ ‭order‬ ‭of‬ ‭NCLT‬ ‭which‬ ‭the‬

‭appellants‬ ‭have‬ ‭not‬ ‭availed.‬ ‭However,‬ ‭since‬ ‭we‬ ‭are‬ ‭not‬ ‭entertaining‬ ‭the‬

‭present‬ ‭appeal‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬‭ground‬‭of‬‭alternative‬‭remedy,‬‭it‬‭would‬‭be‬‭appropriate‬

‭to‬‭relegate‬‭the‬‭appellants‬‭to‬‭avail‬‭the‬‭remedy‬‭of‬‭appeal‬‭under‬‭Section‬‭421‬‭of‬

‭the Companies Act before the NCLAT within a period of 15 days from today.‬

‭10.‬ ‭In‬ ‭the‬ ‭circumstances,‬ ‭without‬‭entering‬‭into‬‭the‬‭merits‬‭of‬‭the‬‭case,‬

‭the‬ ‭appellants‬ ‭are‬‭granted‬‭liberty‬‭to‬‭approach‬‭the‬‭NCLAT‬‭in‬‭appeal‬‭within‬‭a‬

‭period‬ ‭of‬ ‭15‬ ‭days‬ ‭from‬ ‭today.‬ ‭If‬ ‭the‬ ‭appellants‬ ‭approach‬ ‭the‬ ‭Appellate‬ ‭W.A.No‬‭.1224 of 2025‬ ‭11‬ 2025:KER:39384‬ ‭

‭Tribunal‬ ‭within‬ ‭the‬ ‭aforesaid‬ ‭period,‬ ‭the‬ ‭period‬ ‭of‬ ‭limitation‬ ‭prescribed‬ ‭to‬

‭prefer‬‭an‬‭appeal‬‭to‬‭the‬‭Appellate‬‭Tribunal‬‭shall‬‭not‬‭come‬‭in‬‭the‬‭way‬‭of‬‭filing‬

‭the‬ ‭appeal.‬ ‭The‬ ‭learned‬ ‭Appellate‬ ‭Tribunal‬ ‭shall‬ ‭not‬ ‭dismiss‬ ‭the‬ ‭appeal‬ ‭on‬

‭the‬ ‭ground‬ ‭of‬ ‭delay‬ ‭and‬ ‭proceed‬ ‭to‬ ‭hear‬ ‭the‬ ‭appeal‬ ‭on‬ ‭merits.‬ ‭It‬ ‭is‬ ‭made‬

‭clear‬ ‭that‬ ‭if‬ ‭the‬ ‭appeal‬ ‭is‬ ‭not‬ ‭filed‬ ‭within‬ ‭the‬ ‭afore‬ ‭said‬ ‭period,‬ ‭then‬ ‭the‬

‭NCLAT‬ ‭may‬ ‭entertain‬ ‭the‬ ‭appeal‬ ‭subject‬‭to‬‭law‬‭of‬‭limitation‬‭and‬‭proceed‬‭to‬

‭decide the appeal as expeditiously as possible.‬

‭With the afore said direction, the writ appeal stands finally disposed of.‬

‭Sd/-‬

SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI‬ ‭ JUDGE‬ ‭

Sd/-‬ ‭ SYAM KUMAR V.M.‬ ‭ JUDGE‬ ‭

MC/3.6‬ ‭