The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2015

The Code seeks to create a unified framework for resolving insolvency and bankruptcy in India. 

Insolvency is a situation where individuals or organisations are unable to meet their financial obligations. 

The Code will apply to companies, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, individuals and any other body specified by the central government.

Resolution process for companies and limited liability partnerships: 

The resolution process will have to be completed within a maximum period of 180 days from the date of registration of the case. This period may be extended by 90 days if 75% of the financial creditors agree. The process will involve negotiations between the debtor and creditors to draft a resolution plan. 

The process will end under two circumstances, (i) when a resolution plan is agreed upon by a majority of the creditors and submitted to the adjudicating authority, or (ii) the time period for negotiation has come to an end. In case a plan cannot be negotiated upon, the company will go into liquidation. 

There will be provision for a fast track insolvency resolution process for companies with smaller operations. The process will have to be completed within 90 days, which may be extended if 75% of financial creditors agree. 

Resolution process for individuals and partnerships: 

Before going in for insolvency resolution, the debtor may apply for forgiveness of a specified amount of debt, provided that his assets are below a limit set by the central government. This process will have to be completed within six months. 

In case of insolvency resolution, negotiations between the debtor and creditors will be supervised by an insolvency professional. If negotiations succeed, a repayment plan, agreed upon by a majority of the creditors, will be submitted to the adjudicator. If they fail, the matter will proceed to bankruptcy resolution. 

Insolvency professionals and agencies: 

The IRP will be managed by a licensed professional. The professional will also control the assets of the debtor during the process. The Code also proposes to set up insolvency professional agencies. These agencies will admit insolvency professionals as members and develop a code of conduct and evolve performance standards for them. 

Insolvency regulator: The Code seeks to establish the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, to oversee insolvency resolution in the country. 

The Board will have 10 members, including representatives from the central government and Reserve Bank of India. It will register information utilities, insolvency professionals and insolvency professional agencies under it, and regulate their functioning. 

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Fund: The Code creates an Insolvency and Bankruptcy Fund. 

Deposits to the Fund will include: 

• (i) grants made by the central government, 
• (ii) amount deposited by persons, and
•  (iii) interest earned on investments made from the Fund. 

Any person who has contributed to the Fund may apply for withdrawal, in case of proceedings against him.

Bankruptcy and Insolvency Adjudicators: 

The Code proposes two separate tribunals to adjudicate grievances related to insolvency, bankruptcy and liquidation of different entities under the law: 

• (i) the National Company Law Tribunal will have jurisdiction over companies and limited liability partnerships, and
• (ii) the Debt Recovery Tribunal will have jurisdiction over individuals and partnership firms. Appeals against orders of these tribunals may be challenged before their respective Appellate Tribunals, and further before the Supreme Court.

Source: PRS Legislative Research