S. Ravindra Bhat, J. - (1.) The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (hereafter "MCGM") appeals under Section 62 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (hereafter "IBC" or "the Code") against the order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (hereafter variously "NCLAT" and "the Appellate Tribunal"), rejecting its plea with respect to a resolution plan approved by the National Company Law Tribunal ("NCLT") under the provisions of that Code.
(2.) Mcgm owns inter alia, Plot Nos. 155-156, 162 and 168 (all plots hereafter called "the lands") in village Marol, Andheri (East) Mumbai. By a contract (dated 20th December, 2005) SevenHills Healthcare (P.) Ltd. (the company facing insolvency proceedings, hereafter "SevenHills") agreed to develop these lands (which were to be leased to it for 30 years) and construct a 1500 bed hospital. MCGM stipulated several conditions, including that 20% of the beds had to be reserved for use by the economically deprived, and that SevenHills had to complete the construction in 60 months (excluding monsoons). The sixty-month period ended on 24th April, 2013; the project however, was not completed. In terms of Clause 15(g), the lease deed had to be executed within a month after completion. However, the deed was not executed as the project was not completed. Further, SevenHills had to pay lease rent at the annual rate of Rs. 10,41,04,000. MGCM alleges that there were defaults in these payments. In these circumstances, MCGM issued a show cause notice on 23rd January, 2018, proposing termination of the contract/agreement. It is submitted that SevenHills owed MCGM an amount of Rs. 76,05,07,780.
(3.) On the strength of the contract, SevenHills had borrowed from banks and financial institutions. It had created security by way of mortgage of the said lands, citing Clause 5, which enabled the creation of such encumbrances. SevenHills' inability to repay its debts led to the initiation of insolvency proceedings by Axis Bank. On 13th March, 2018, before the period given by MCGM's showcause notice ended, the Petition (CP (IB) No. 282/7/HBD/2017) was admitted by the Hyderabad Bench of the NCLT. The first respondent was appointed as the Resolution Professional (hereafter "RP"); this was approved by the Committee of Creditors ("CoC") as required by the Code, on 12 April, 2018. A publication for expression of interest ("EOP") was issued on 14 May, 2018; later, on 25th June, 2018 and 16th July, 2018, the terms of the Request for Proposal (RFP) and criteria for evaluation (of RFPs received) were approved. As a result of the RFP published, a resolution plan was submitted by Dr. Shetty's New Medical Centre ("SNMC"). After discussion with the CoC, a revised RFP was submitted by the RP. The revised resolution plan was approved by the CoC on 4th September, 2018.;