L And T Finance Limited v. Mr. Sagar B. Gajera And Nar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION ARBITRATION PETITION NO. 30 OF 2015 L & T Finance Ltd.
...
Petitioner
Versus
Sagar B. Gajera & Anr.
...
Respondents Mr. Nilesh Gala i/b. Law Square for the Petitioner. None for Respondents.
CORAM
: S.J. KATHAWALLA, J.
DATED : 11 TH MARCH, 2015 P.C.:
1.
The above Petition is filed by the Petitioner under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking reliefs as prayed against the Respondents. The Petition is served on the Respondents and an Affidavit proving service is on record. The Petition is taken up for final hearing. However, none appear for the Respondents. 2.
By a Loan Cum Hypothecation Agreement ("said Agreement") dated 28.12.2012, the Petitioner provided a loan of Rs.21,85,000/- (Rupees Twenty One Lakhs Eighty Five Thousand Only) to the 1st Respondent for purchase of an asset being No. MN31 having Chassis No. MESPFAHBCC6E92470 and Engine No. BA12ZD0294 ("said Asset") more particularly described in Exhibit-F to the Petition and on the terms described in the Loan-cum-Hypothecation Agreement dated 28.12.2012.
Under the said agreement, the said asset was hypothecated with the Petitioner by the Respondent No. 1, as security for repayment of the Loan amount.
3.
The Loan amount of Rs.21,85,000/- (Rupees Twenty One Lakhs Eighty Five Thousand Only) was repayable by the Respondents to the Petitioner with interest @ 7.10% p.a. totaling to Rs.26,37,250/- (Rupees Twenty Six Lakhs Thirty Seven Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Only) in 35 monthly installments of Rs.75,350/- (Rupees Seventy Five Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Only) each, commencing from 05/12/2013 and ending on 05/12/2015 4.
Respondent No.2 guaranteed the due repayment of the loan. Clause 12 of the Loan-cum-Hypothecation Agreement provides for the events of default ; Clause 13 provides for the consequences of event of default; Clause 14 provides for Repossession of Asset. Clause 17 provides for Arbitration. There has been a default on the part of the Respondents and the Respondents failed to pay to the Petitioner a sum of Rs.21,58,462/- (Rupees Twenty One Lacs Fifty Eight Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Two Only) due as on 24.02.2014. The events of default having taken place in terms of the Loan-cum-Hypothecation Agreement, the Petitioner became entitled to recall and have recalled the entire loan. There was no reply to the Loan Recall Notice dated 08.04.2014. The
Petitioner therefore invoked the arbitration clause in the Loan-cumHypothecation Agreement dated 28.12.2012. 5.
In the present Petition, the Petitioner has sought appointment of the Court Receiver, High Court Bombay as the Receiver of the hypothecated asset, more particularly described in Exhibit "F" to the Petition. The Respondents have not filed their Affidavit in Reply and are also not present before the Court. In absence of any defense or contest by the Respondents, the averments contained in the Petition have remained uncontroverted. I see no reason why the statements / submissions made by the Petitioner in the Petition should not be accepted. As the Respondents have defaulted in the repayment of the outstanding dues, it is just and necessary to safeguard the interest of the Petitioner by appointing the Court Receiver, Bombay High Court as Receiver of the Hypothecated Asset.
The appointment of the Receiver is necessary in order to ensure that the said asset is not wasted or alienated, thereby defeating the rights of the Petitioner. Further interim injunction in terms of prayer clause (e) also needs to be granted to protect the rights of the Petitioner. The claim is over Rs.21.58 lakhs and unless adequately protected, the Petitioner may suffer irreparable harm and injury. Balance of convenience also warrants the grant of relief. Section 9 empowers the Court to pass an interim measure of protection.
(i) Pending the hearing and final disposal of the arbitration proceedings, the Court Receiver, High Court Bombay is appointed as Receiver in respect of the said asset, more particularly described in Exhibit "F" to the Petition, with direction to take forcible physical possession of the said asset with police assistance if required, and without any prior notice to the Respondents;
(ii) The Court Receiver shall within a period of two weeks after taking possession, give an option to the Respondents, in writing to act as agents of the Receiver in respect of the said asset. The Respondents shall be given two weeks time by the Court Receiver from the date of receipt of the Court Receivers communication/ letter to exercise such option. In the event of the Respondent/s being desirous of acting as agents of the Receiver, they shall be appointed as agents of the Receiver, subject to deposit of security and payment of royalty. The Receiver shall determine the quantum of security and royalty having regard to the terms and conditions contained in the Loan-cum-Hypothecation Agreement (Exhibit A to the Petition) (iii) In the event that the Respondents do not communicate their willingness to the Receiver to act as agents within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of the communication from the Court Receiver, it would be open to the Petitioner to apply to the court for further orders
including sale of the said Asset by private treaty; (iv) There shall also be an interim injunction restraining the Respondents from disposing of, alienating, encumbering, and parting with possession or creating any third party rights in respect of the said Asset described in Exhibit "F" to the Petition.
(v) The Arbitration Petition is accordingly disposed of. (S.J. KATHAWALLA, J.)