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Ajai Shukla (N/a)     14 September 2012

Msme development act 2006

 

Dear Sir/Ma'am,

We were earlier a small scale industry and had a dispute with company "A".

Since that time, we grew into a medium sector company. To recover our dues from company "A", we approached the MSME Facilitation Council for arbitration because at the time of dispute, we were a small scale industry.

We got an award in our favor.

In this connection, I am looking for any previous Supreme Court/High Courts' verdicts on the validity of an award(under MSME Development Act, 2006/Interest on Delayed Payments to Small Scale and Ancillary Industrial Undertakings Act, 1993) awarded to a medium sector unit on a dispute which occurred when that unit was small scale.

Any help for citations would be greatly appreciated.

I thank you for your time. 



Learning

 35 Replies

sagar (ADVOCATE)     27 September 2012

Hello Sir, Kindly contact Adv Shri Suresh Dhole and Associates for the MSMED Issues. He is the ELITE pioneer of these matters who is fighting for justice for Micro,Small, medium enterprise appreciated by hon'ble members of High courts and Supreme court of india. contact no. Adv Pushpaji Shinde :9422104751

rajasekaran (director)     01 December 2012

what is important is that at the time of supplies the unit should have been an ssi/micro /small unit.

 

 

Supplier at the time of supply and small scale Industry status 

  The registration certificate cannot be and should not be read in isolation and should be read in conjunction with the circulars issued by Government of India. Pl see the relevant period of supplies.

 Government of India, under provisions of Section 11B and sub-section (1) of Section 29B of the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951 issued notification S.O. 232 (E) dated 2nd April, 1991, increasing the investment limits in fixed assets in plant and machinery for small scale and ancillary industrial undertakings from Rs 35 lakhs to 60 lakhs. This was followed by Board circular 4/91-SSI Bd. Dated 7.5.91 Secretary & Development Commissioner (Small Scale Industries), New Delhi, wherein industrial undertakings  which have crossed the limit of Rs. 35 lakhs but fall within the revised investment limit and are holding industrial licence or have got themselves registered with DGTD or other technical authorities on or before the date of the notification raising the investment limits, will be treated as small scale undertakings. Such undertakings will have an option to be transferred to the State Directorate of Industries or to continue with DGTD and the 3rd Respondent company has been registered under Secretariat for Industries Approval  vide reference SIA/EIR/617(89) dated 15,September 1989. The option to be exercised within six months from the date of the notification and was further amendment vide circular No. 4/91 - SSI Bd. & Policy, dated 10.9.1993 and clarified that any unit in the small scale in possession of a COB licence or formerly registered with the DGTD can, at any time, apply for registration as a small scale industrial undertaking. Such unit should be registered as such, provided they satisfy the definition criteria, irrespective of the fact that they may have applied after the period of six months from the date of notification No. S.O. 232 (E) dated 2.4.1991.

For clarity purpose the said relevant portions  of Circular 4/91-SSI Bd. Dated 7.5.91 & **1** Amendment issued vide circular No. 4/91 - SSI Bd. & Policy, dated 10.9.1993 are reproduced hereunder.

 

Circular 4/91-SSI Bd. Dated 7.5.91

[Enclosure to D.O. letter No. 4/91-SSI Bd. Dated 7.5.91 from addl. Secretary & Development Commissioner (Small Scale Industries) to Secretary (Industries) of States/Uts regarding enhancement of investment limits in the small scale/ancillary industrial undertakings]

 

Subject : - Enhancement of investment limits in the Small Scale and Ancillary Industrial Undertakings.

The Government has issued a Press Note on 19th March, 1985, raising the investment limits in small scale industrial undertakings from Rs. 20 lakhs to Rs. 35 lakhs and for ancillary industrial undertakings from Rs. 25 lakhs to Rs. 45 lakhs in plant and machinery. Keeping in view the escalation in the cost of plant and machinery since then, Government has been considering the question of upward revision of these investment limits.

Accordingly, Gazette Notification No. S.O. 232 (E) dated 2nd April, 1991 has been issued (copy enclosed) under sub-section (1) od Section 11B and sub-section (1) of Section 29B of the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951 enhancing investment limits in fixed assets in plant and machinery, whether held on ownership term or by lease or by hire purchase, for small scale and ancillary industrial undertakings as per details below: -

                                                   

No. Category Of Undertakings

Limit in fixed assets in plant and machinery increased investment

 

From

To

a. Small Scale Industrial Undertaking

Rs. 3.5 million
($79 thousand)

Rs. 6 million
($134 thousand)

b. An Industrial Undertaking referred to in (a) above which undertakes to export atleast 30 percent of its annual production by the end of 3rd year from the date of its commencing production

Rs 3.5 million
($79 thousand)

Rs. 7.5 million
($167 thousand)

 

3. Consequent upon upward revision of investment ceiling in fixed assets in plant and machinery of small scale/ ancillary industrial undertaking, procedural formalities in certain specific situations envisaged are also clarified as under.

  1.Industrial undertakings which have crossed the limit of Rs. 35 lakhs in the case of small scale industrial undertakings and Rs. 45 lakhs in the case of ancillary industrial undertakings, but fall within the revised investment limit and are holding industrial licence or have got themselves registered with DGTD or other technical authorities on or before the date of the notification raising the investment limits, will be treated as small scale undertakings and ancillary undertakings, as the case may be.

 Such undertakings will have an option to be transferred to the State Directorate of Industries or to continue with DGTD. This option will have to be exercised within six months from the date of the notification **1**.

**1** Amendment issued vide circular No. 4/91 - SSI Bd. & Policy, dated 10.9.1993

It is clarified that any unit in the small scale in possession of a COB licence or formerly registered with the DGTD can, at ant time, apply for registration as a small scale industrial undertaking.

 

Such unit should be registered as such, provided they satisfy the definition criteria, irrespective of the fact that they may have applied after the period of six months from the date of notification No. S.O. 232 (E) dated 2.4.1991.

 

The fulfillment of the  definition criteria of notification No. S.O. 232 (E) dated 2.4.1991 and  amendment  circular No. 4/91 - SSI Bd. & Policy, dated 10.9.1993 is sufficient to state you were a supplier as defined in section 2”n” under the MSMED Act 2006 at the time of the supply period in question.

 

rajasekaran (director)     01 December 2012

My Ajay shukla,

MSMED Act 2006 as well as Interest on Delayed Payment Act, enpowers units less tahn 5 cr investment to be qualified as supplier and toapproach the Facilitation Council. If you got an award in your favour, there is no issues, section 19 will apply , wherein the buyer has to contest with 75% predeposit within 90 days.

pl call if you have doubts. 09884317257

rajasekaran (director)     14 December 2012

 

This order will help to the extent that once an award is passed 75% of award amount is to deposited and a portion of the amount deposited is entitled to be released. Hence whatever may be contentions post award, the same can be disputed only after predeposit of 75% of award amount.                                    

 

 

 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

 

DATED  :   20-11-2012

 

CORAM

 

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ELIPE DHARMA RAO

AND

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. VENUGOPAL

 

W.A. Nos. 2461, 2475, 2042, 2199  of 2010, 368, 456, 462 to 464,

              694, 695, 1113, 1281, 1282 of 2011

and

W.P. Nos. 27319, 27888, 28168 of 2010, 4397 of 2009, 39, 7805,

              11234, 15065, 24506, 15733 of 2011

 

 

W.A.No.2461 of 2010

-------------------

 

M/s. Eden Exports Company

Rep. by its Partner

Mrs. Faiqua Shameel                                                                          .. Appellant

 

                                           Vs.

 

1.         Union of India,

            Rep. by its Secretary,

            Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,

            Udyog Bhavan,

            New Delhi 110 011.

 

2.         State of Tamil Nadu,

            Rep. by its Secretary,

            Department of Industries and Commerce,

            Chepauk,

            Chennai 600 005.

 

3.         Director,

            Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,

            Room 254, Udyog Bhawan,

            Rafi Marg, New Delhi 110 011.

 

 

4.         Regional Joint Director of

            Industries and Commercial (i/c) / Zonal Officer,

            MSE Facilitation Council,

            Thiru. Vi. Ka Industrial Estate,

            Guindy, Chennai 600 032.

 

5.         M/s. Falcon Prints Pvt. Ltd.,

            No.68 (Old No.268),

            Royapettah High Road,

            Chennai 600 014.                                                                    .. Respondents

 

 

 

            Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent against the order of the learned single Judge in W.P.No.25406 of 2009, dated 20.08.2010.

 

 

                        For Appellant              :  Mr. Zaffarullah Khan

                        in WA.2461/2010,

                        WP.No.11234/2011

                                   

                        For Appellant              :  Mr.K.S.V. Prasad

                        in WA.Nos.368 &

                        456 of 2011

 

                        For Appellant

                        in WA.NOs.1281 &

                        1282 of 2011 and

                        WP.Nos.27319 &

                        27888/2010                 :  Mr. Perumbalavil Radhakrishnan

 

                        For Appellant in

                        WA.Nos.2042/2010

                        1113/2011 & WP.       :  Mr. Jayesh Dolia

                        No.24506/2010                          for M/s. Aiyar & Dolia

 

                        For Petitioner in          :  Mr.M. Raghunandham

                        WP.No.4397/2009          for M/s. T.S. Gopalan & Co.

 

 

                        For Petitioner in          :  Mr.T. Saikrishnan for

                        WP.No.7805/2011          M/s. K.S. Natarajan                

 

 

                        For Appellant in WA.   :  Mr.P.S. Raman

                        Nos.694 & 695/2011      for M/s. Puspha Menon

 

                        For Petitioner in          :  Mr. Muthukumarasamy

                        WP.No.15733/2011        Senior Counsel for

                                                               M/s. A. Jenasenan

 

                        For Petitioner in

                        WP.No.28168/2010 & :  Mr.T. Mohan

                        Appellant in WA.

                        No.2199/2010

 

                        For Petitioner in

                        WP.No.39/2011           :  Mr.S. Viswanathan

 

                        For Petitioner in          :  Mr.A. Narayanan

                        WP.15065/2011

 

                        For Appellant in

                        WAs.462 to 464/11     :  Mr.G. Vasudevan

 

                        For Appellant in

                        WA.2475/2011            :  Mr.J. Sivanandaraaj

 

                        For Union of India       :  Mr.M. Ravindran

                                                               Addl. Solicitor General of India 

                                                               for Mr.K. Mohanamurali

 

                        For the State               :  Mr.A. Navaneethakrishnan

                                                               Advocate General

                                                               Assisted by

                                                               Mr.S.T.S. Moorthy

                                                               Mrs.M.E. Raniselvam

                                                               Mr.R. Bala Ramesh

                        For R2 in WP.No.

                        11234/2011                 :  Mr.A.S. Rajkumar Vadivel

 

 

                        For R2 in WA.456/2011:  Mr.D. Krishnakumar

 

                        For R3 in WPs.

                        27319 & 27888/10

                        R5 in WA.Nos.1281

                        & 1282/2011 and

                        R2 in WPs.4397/09 &

                        39/2011                                   :  Mr.N. Viswanathan

 

                        For R2 in WPs.

                        2042 & 24506/10                    :  Mr.G. Rajasekaran

                        R5 in WA.No.1113/11                  (Party in Person)

 

                        For R2 in WP.15733/11           :  Mr. Venkatachalapathy

                                                                             Senior Counsel for

                                                                            Mr.M. Sriram

 

                        For R2 in WA.2199/10

                        & WP.28168/2010 &

                        15065/2011                 :  Mr.C. Saravanan

 

                        For R1 in W.A.Nos.      :  Mr.N. Ramakrishnan

                        462 to 464/2011            for M/s.Waraon & Sairams

 

                        For R3 in WP.2475/10 :  Mr.G.S. Rajasekaran

                                                               Party-in-person

 

 

                                                                            - - -

                                               

COMMON JUDGMENT

 

ELIPE DHARMA RAO, J

 

            All the writ appeals arise out of the common order passed by the learned single Judge in WP.No.16908 of 2009 & etc. batch, dated 20.08.2010.  Most of the writ petitions were filed challenging various provisions of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (Central Act 27 of 2006) as unconstitutional.  Some writ petitions were filed challenging the orders passed by the Facilitation Council and the notices issued by the said Council.  Since the issues involved in all these matters are intrinsically interconnected, they were heard together and disposed of by this common judgment.

            2. In most of all these writ appeals and the writ petitions, some of the provisions of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (Central Act 27 of 2006) (in short "MSMED Act") are challenged as unconstitutional and ultra vires of the Constitution of India.  The learned single Judge under the impugned order dated 20.08.2010, held that the provisions under challenge cannot be said to be unconstitutional and ultra vires and dismissed the writ petitions, giving rise to the present writ appeals.

            3. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for all the parties  at length and have gone through various records furnished at the time of hearing of these appeals and the decisions rendered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, this Court and various other High Courts.

            3. Learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants and the counsel appearing in the connected writ appeals and the writ petitions have more or less reiterated the contentions raised before the learned single Judge.   Their challenge encircles Chapter V of the  MSMED Act. 

            4. In order to appreciate their contentions, it would be profitable to note down, first, the Statements and Objects for enacting  the MSMED Act.  This Act has been enacted for facilitating the promotion and development and enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises.  From the Statement of Objects and Reasons for enacting the Act, it is seen that many Expert  Groups or Committees appointed by the Government from time to time as well as the small scale industry sector itself have emphasised the need for a comprehensive Central enactment to provide an appropriate legal framework for the sector to facilitate its growth and development.  And also considering the growing need and to extend policy support for the small enterprises so that they can grow into medium ones, adopt better and higher levels of technology and achieve higher productivity to remain competitive in a fast globalisation area, the Union Government thought it fit to enact the  MSMED Act.  Through the above Bill they also sought to make further improvements in the Interest on Delayed Payments to Small Scale and Ancillary Industrial Undertaking Act, 1993 and to repeal that enactment. 

            5. Section 2(e) defines "enterprise" an industrial undertaking or a business concern or any other establishment, by whatever name called, engaged in the manufacture or production of goods, in any manner, pertaining to any industry specified in the First Schedule to the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (65 of 1951) or engaged in providing or rendering of any service or services.

            6. According to Section 2(g) "medium enterprise" means an enterprise classified as such under sub-clause (iii) of clause (a) or sub-clause(iii) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 7.  "micro enterprise" is defined under Section 2(h).  As per Section 7, if the enterprise engaged in the manufacture or production of goods pertaining to any industry and where the investment in plant and machinery is more than five crores but does not exceed ten crore rupees, it is called as medium enterprise.  If the enterprise is service oriented and the investment is more than two crores but does not exceed five crore rupees, it is known as medium enterprise.  In the case of micro enterprise, if it is engaged in production, the investment should not exceed twenty-five lakh rupees.  In the case of service oriented, the investment in equipment should not exceed ten lakhs.

            7. Section 3 deals with the formation and constitution of National Board for Micro, Small and Medium enterprises.  The officials at various levels from all fields have been appointed as Members and in other capacities.  Section 7(2) empowers the Central Government to constitute an Advisory Committee consisting of officials from the Central and State Governments and a representative each from the associations of micro, small and medium enterprises.  Such Committee would examine the matters referred to by the National Board  and shall advise the Central and the  State Governments for promotion of the enterprises.  Section 8 deals with the registration of the micro, small and medium enterprises.

            8. The controversy in all these cases relate to Chapter V of the MSMED Act, viz., Sections 15 to 24.   Though the learned counsel appearing for the appellants have attacked Sections 15 to 24, after the impugned order, they are very much particular in respect of Sections 18 to 21.  However, with light intensity, in order to formally strike the impugned order, they have made their contentions with respect to Sections 15 to 17 also.

            9. Sections 15 to 24 being relevant to decide the issue involved, are extracted hereunder :-

            "15. Liability of buyer to make payment- Where any supplier supplies any goods or renders any services to any buyer, the buyer shall make payment therefor on or before the date agreed upon between him and the supplier in writing or, where there is no agreement in this behalf, before the appointed day:

            Provided that in no case the period agreed upon between the supplier and the buyer in writing shall exceed forty-five days from the day of acceptance or the day of deemed acceptance.

            16. Date from which and rate at which interest is payable- Where any buyer fails to make payment of the amount to the supplier, as required under Section 15, the buyer shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any agreement between the buyer and the supplier or in any law for the time being in force, be liable to pay compound interest with monthly rests to the supplier on that amount from time the appointed day or, as the case may be, from the date immediately following the date agreed upon, at three times of the bank rate notified by the Reserve Bank.

            17. Recovery of amount due.- For any goods supplied or services rendered by the supplier, the buyer shall be liable to pay the amount with interest thereon as provided under Section 16.

            18. Reference to Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council- 1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, any party to a dispute may, with regard to any amount due under Section 17, make a reference to the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council.

            (2) On receipt of a reference under sub-section (1), the Council shall either itself conduct conciliation in the matter or seek the assistance of any institution or centre providing alternate dispute resolution services by making a reference to such an institution or centre, for conducting conciliation and the provisions of Sections 65 to 81 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996) shall apply to such a dispute as if the conciliation was initiated under Part III of that Act.

            (3) Where the conciliation initiated under sub-section (2) is not successful and stands terminated without any settlement between the parties, the Council shall either itself take up the dispute for arbitration or refer it to any institution or centre providing alternate dispute resolution services for such arbitration and the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996) shall then apply to the disputes as if the arbitration was in pursuance of an arbitration agreement referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 7 of that Act.

            (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council or the centre providing alternate dispute resolution services shall have jurisdiction to act as an Arbitrator or Conciliator under this section in a dispute between the supplier located within its jurisdiction and a buyer located anywhere in India.

            (5) Every reference made under this section shall be decided within a period of ninety days from the date of making such a reference.

            19. Application for setting aside decree, award or order.- No application for setting aside any decree, award or other order made either by the Council itself or by any institution or centre providing alternate dispute resolution services to which a reference is made by the Council, shall be entertained by any court unless the appellant (not being a supplier) has deposited with it seventy-five per cent of the amount in terms of the decree, award or, as the case may be, the other order in the manner directed by such court :

            Provided that pending disposal of the application to set aside the decree, award or order, the court shall order that such percentage of the amount deposited shall be paid to the supplier, as it considers reasonable under the circumstances of the case, subject to such conditions as it deems necessary to impose.

 

            20. Establishment of Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council.- The State Government shall, by notification, establish one or more Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Councils, at such places, exercising such jurisdiction and for such areas, as may be specified in the notification.

 

            21. Composition of Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council.- (1) The Micro and Small Enterprise Facilitation Council shall consist of not less than three but not more than five members to be appointed from amongst the following categories, namely:-

            (i)Director of Industries, by whatever name called, or any other officer not below the rank of such Director, in the Department of the State Government having administrative control of the small scale industries or, as the case may be, micro, small and medium enterprises; and

 

            (ii)one or more office-bearers or representatives of associations of micro or small industry or enterprises in the State; and

            (iii)one or more representatives of banks and financial institutions lending to micro or small enterprises; or

            (iv)one or more persons having special knowledge in the field of industry, finance, law, trade or commerce.

            (2) The person appointed under clause (i) of sub-section (1) shall be the Chairperson of the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council.

            (3) The composition of the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council, the manner of filling vacancies of its members and the procedure to be followed in the discharge of their functions by the members shall be such as may be prescribed by the State Government.

 

            22. Requirement to specify unpaid amount with interest in the annual statement of accounts.- Where any buyer is required to get his annual accounts audited under any law for the time being in force, such buyer shall furnish the following additional information in his annual statement of accounts, namely:

            (i)the principal amount and the interest due thereon (to be shown separately) remaining unpaid to any supplier as at the end of each accounting year;

            (ii)the amount of interest paid by the buyer in terms of Section 16, along with the amount of the payment made to the supplier beyond the appointed day during each accounting year;

            (iii)the amount of interest due and payable for the period of delay in making payment (which have been paid but beyond the appointed day during the year) but without adding the interest specified under this Act;

            (iv)the amount of interest accrued and remaining unpaid at the end of each accounting year; and

            (v)the amount of further interest remaining due and payable even in the succeeding years, until such date when the interest dues as above are actually paid to the small enterprise, for the purpose of disallowance as a deductible expenditure under Section 23.

 

            23. Interest not to be allowed as deduction from income.- Notwithstanding anything contained in the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the amount of interest payable or paid by any buyer, under or in accordance with the provisions of this Act, shall not, for the purposes of computation of income under the Income-tax Act, 1961, be allowed as deduction.

 

24. Overriding effect.- The provisions of Sections 15 to 23 shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force."

 

            10. Section 15 is attacked by contending that this clause interferes with the right of the buyers, who utilise the goods or services rendered by the suppliers, by compelling them to enter into agreement with the suppliers, which is in violation of Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.  In other words, according to the appellants/petitioners, this clause curtails the freedom to enter into contract and against the commercial parlance prevailing in the country.  Sections 16 and 17 seek to specify the date from which and the rate at which interests will be payable by the buyer to the supplier in case of the former failing to make payments of the amount to the supplier.  According to the appellants and the writ petitioners, these clauses are in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and against the provisions contained in the Civil Procedure Code and the related Acts.   Section 19, according to the appellants, which stipulates pre-deposit of 75% before challenging a decree, award or other orders made by the Facilitation Council, is unwarranted and against the decisions of the Supreme Court.  In support of their contentions, learned counsel have placed reliance upon various decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, this Court and other High Courts and we have given our anxious consideration to the arguments advanced and the judgments relied on on either side

 

            11. Admittedly, MSMED Act had repealed the earlier Interest on Delayed Payment Act, 1993 as the provisions of the old Act have been suitably incorporated in the new Act.  Section 15 of the MSMED Act is similar to Section 3 of the old Act viz., the Interest on Delayed Payment Act, 1993.  However, the difference in the period agreed upon between the supplier and the buyer was reduced from 120 days to 45 days.  So far as Section 16 is concerned, the rate of interest on delayed payment has been increased from one and half time of prime lending rate charged by the State Bank of India to three times of the Bank rate notified by the Reserve Bank.  Section 17 of the MSMED Act, which substitutes Section 6 of the old Act, mandates the buyer to pay the amount with interest as provided under Section 16 to the supplier for the goods supplied or services rendered by them; whereas Section 6 of the old Act made the amount recoverable by the supplier by way of a suit or other proceeding.

 

            12. From the above comparison, it is apparent that there is only change in respect of time limit in making payment by the buyer and increase in the rate of interest payable on the principal amount, in case it fell due after the time limit prescribed in the agreement entered between them.  The appellants and the writ petitioners, though strenuously contended that rate of interest and the time limit of 45 days fixed is arbitrary, they are not very much concerned with these contentions in view of the decisions of the Apex Court referred to by the learned single Judge in the impugned order.

 

            13. The learned single Judge, for rejecting the aforesaid contention, has sought help from the decision of the Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No.5597 of 2002 in A.P. Transco v. Bala Conductors (P) Ltd., and another, dated 23.9.2003.  The matter came up before the Supreme Court by way of appeal from the common order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in C.A.Nos.5599, 5606 of 2002, etc., batch at the instigation of the A.P. Transco challenging the MSMED Act.  The MSMED Act was challenged on two grounds, namely, (i) that the Act was outside the legislative competence of Parliament and (ii) that the Act was otherwise violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India since it operated in discriminatory manner.   The contention relating to legislative competence was fairly conceded by the appellant therein by stating that the legislative competence of the Parliament cannot be questioned not only in view of Entry 33 of List-III but also because of the residuary Entry 97 in List-I of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution.  The second contention was also rejected by the Hon'ble Supreme Court by observing the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act has already created the class by specifying the particular industries in the First Schedule to that Act, the control of which is expedient in the public interest  to be under/ by the Union of India.  The Hon'ble Supreme Court was of the further view that the discrimination if any, would operate against other industries and not against the buyer as all of them are similarly situated. 

            14. In view of the aforesaid decision of the Supreme Court on the point, we do not find any reason to entertain the contention of the learned Counsel for the appellants on this score.  Moreover, the reasons stated by the learned single Judge for upholding Section 17 of the MSMED Act to the effect that a person who commits default and suffers an order or award or decree from the Facilitation Council alone is bound to pay such interest and such order, if found erroneous, can be corrected by judicial review, cannot be brushed aside. 

 

            15. Coming to the challenge in respect of 75% pre-deposit contemplated under Section 19 of the MSMED Act, we have no hesitation in confirming the conclusion arrived at by the learned single Judge in this regard, in view of the decisions of the Supreme Court and this Court.  The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Snehadeep Structures Private Limited v. Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (2010) 3 SCC 34  has categorically held that the introduction of pre-deposit clause is a disincentive to prevent dilatory tactics employed by the buyers against whom the small-scale industry might have procured an award.  The aforesaid decision has been followed by the Kerala High Court in (2010) 1 KLT 65 (K.S.R.T.C.  v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS) and this Court in 2011-3-L.W.626 (M/s. Goodyear India Limited, Rep. by its Zonal Manager v. M/s Nortan Intech Rubbers (P) Ltd., and another).  Therefore, the appellants / writ petitioners no more cannot contend that the condition of pre-deposit imposed in Section 19 of the MSMED Act is arbitrary.

 

            16. Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellants, though not much concerned with regard to the aforesaid provisions, are very much concerned about Sections 18 and 21.  In one voice they have contended that Section 18 invokes Section 7(1) of the Arbitration Act and it is contrary to Section 80 of the said Act.  Mr.P.S. Raman, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellants in W.A.Nos.694 and 695 of 2011 has specifically contended that the Arbitration and Conciliation Act could be invoked only when there is an agreement in writing between the parties.  According to him, as per  the MSMED Act, the suppliers could invoke the provisions of the Arbitration Act in the absence of a written agreement and therefore it has to be struck down. 

            17. For the sake of easy reference, we extract hereunder Section 7 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996:

 

"7.Arbitration agreement.

 

            (1) In this Part,' arbitration agreement' means an agreement by the parties to submit to arbitration all or certain disputes which have arisen or which may arise between them in respect of a defined legal relationship, whether contractual or not.

            (2) An arbitration agreement may be in the form of an arbitration clause in a contract or in the form of a separate agreement.

            (3) An arbitration agreement shall be in writing.

            (4) An arbitration agreement is in writing if it is contained in-

            (a) a document signed by the parties;

            (b) an exchange of letters, telex, telegrams or other means of telecommunication which provide a record of the agreement; or

            (c) an exchange of statements of claim and defence in which the existence of the agreement is alleged by one party and not denied by the other.

            (5) The reference in a contract to a document containing an arbitration clause constitutes an arbitration agreement if the contract is in writing and the reference is such as to make that arbitration clause part of the contract."

 

            18. From the reading of the above Section, it is no doubt true that this Section stipulates that an Arbitration agreement should be in writing.  But, we should not forget the wordings of Section 18 of the MSMED Act which provides a party to the dispute with regard to the amount due under Section 17, to make a reference to the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council.  Sub-section (2) enables such Council to conduct conciliation by itself or seeking assistance of any institution or centre providing alternate dispute resolution services by making a reference to such institution or centre.  It has also been made mandatory that Sections 65 to 81 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 are applicable to such a dispute as if the conciliation was initiated under Part  III of that Act.  In case such conciliation is not successful, sub-section (3) provides for further arbitration by the council itself or to any other institution providing alternate dispute resolution services for such arbitration.  The contention of the appellants in this context is three folded; (1) without any written agreement, the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act could not be invoked; (2) the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council, which was empowered to conciliate between the parties, should not be allowed to further arbitrate in the matter; and (3) the Members of the Council who conciliate as per sub-section (2) of Section 17 would also be the Members in the arbitration proceedings provided under sub-section (3) and, therefore, such arbitration would be of no use and such provision being contrary to Section 80 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, it is required to be struck down as illegal and unconstitutional. 

 

            19. But, the Legislature in its wisdom, was very careful in drafting Section 18 MSMED Act, providing solace to the parties, even where there is no Arbitration clause in writing, and requiring the Council to take up the dispute for itself for arbitration or refer to any other institution for that purpose.  Taking into consideration the object for which the said Act has been introduced by the Legislature, it cannot be said that there is any Legal conflict between the provisions of Arbitration and Conciliation Act and that of the MSMED Act as the intention of the Legislature is very clear from the wordings of the said Section to bring the disputes into the fold of arbitration, even where there is no written agreement to that effect.

 

            20. Section 80 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, being relevant, is extracted hereunder :-

 

            "80. Role of conciliator in other proceedings. - Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, -

            (a) the conciliator shall not act as an arbitrator or as a representative or counsel of a party in any arbitral or judicial proceeding in respect of a dispute that is the subject of the conciliation proceedings."

 

            21. A cursory reading of the aforesaid provision makes it clear that a conciliator could not  act as an arbitrator.   It is no doubt true that Sections 18(2), 18(3) and 18(4) have given dual role for the Facilitation Council to act both as Conciliators and Arbitrators.  According to the learned counsel for the appellants, the Facilitation Council should not be allowed to act both as Conciliators and Arbitrators.  This contention, though prima facie appears to be attractive, it is liable to be rejected on a closer scrutiny.  Though the learned counsel would vehemently contend that the Conciliators could not act as Arbitrators, they could not place their hands on any of the decisions of upper forums of law in support of their contentions.  As rightly pointed out by the learned single Judge, Section 18(2) of MSMED Act has borrowed the provisions of Sections 65 to 81 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act for the purpose of conducting conciliation and, therefore, Section 80 could not be a bar for the Facilitation Council to conciliate and thereafter arbitrate on the matter.  Further the decision of the Supreme Court in (1986) 4 SCC 537 (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India v. L.K. Ratna), on this line has to be borne in mind.  One should not forget that the decision of the Facilitation Council is not final and it is always subject to review under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and, therefore, the appellants are not left helpless.

 

            22. An allied contention was raised with respect to bias in passing the award by the arbitrator, if he happened to be the conciliator also.  In order to ascertain the factual position, we have gone through the minutes of the various meetings held by the Council with respect to Conciliation as well as the Arbitration.  From the materials produced by the Facilitation Council, it is seen that the conciliators who had conciliated on the matter had not  sat as the Members/Arbitrators during arbitration.  However, at this stage, a duty has been cast upon this Court to take judicial notice that the Members who participate in the Conciliation shall not sit in the Arbitration proceedings and the Facilitation Council  has to amend/formulate its own rules in this regard at the earliest in order to avoid these complications.

 

            23. Coming to the question of formation of Facilitation Council, we are in full agreement with the conclusion arrived at by the learned single Judge.    The contention of the learned counsel for the appellants / petitioners that the members preside over the Facilitation Council should have legal background and a Judicial Member has to preside over the Facilitation Council cannot be accepted.  When the Facilitation Council is not a Tribunal constituted in exercise of power granted under Articles 323-A and 323-B of the Constitution, the appellants cannot be heard to contend that a Judicial Member has to preside over the Council or the members should have legal background.  However, we cannot fully brush aside the aforesaid contention of the learned counsel for the appellant.  Considering the issues involved in all these matters, in order to avoid the Companies /Corporation in approaching the Court in large numbers, in future, we observe that while appointing the Members for the Council, the Government may bear in mind this aspect and appoint the Members having judicial background.

 

            24. Coming to the writ petitions, in W.P.Nos.27319, 27888 of 2010, 39, 7805, 11234, 15065, 15733, of 2011, the concerned writ petitioner has challenged the award passed by the Facilitation Council, dated 20.9.2010, 20.9.2010, 29.7.2010, 31.7.2010, 7.1.2011, 29.4.2011, 29.03.2011 respectively.     The appellant in WA.No.2199 of 2010, who had challenged the vires of  the Act, has also filed a separate writ petition W.P.No.28168 of 2010, challenging the award dated 29.7.2010, passed by the Council, by reiterating the contentions raised in the writ appeal.   W.P.No.4397 of 2009, though filed in 2009 challenging the award passed by the Council, dated 22.10.2008, has  not got admitted so far.  However, for one reason or the other it was not tied along with the batch of the writ petitions heard by the learned single Judge.

 

            25. In all these writ petitions filed by various companies challenging the award / order passed by the Arbitrators / Facilitation Council, the question to be gone into is whether such writ petitions could be maintained before this Court.  If one carefully goes through the provisions of the MSMED Act under Chapter V, in particular Section 18, it could be seen that the said Act is in consonance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.  Moreover, the award / order passed by the Arbitrators / Facilitation Council is similar and identical to that of the award passed under Section 31 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.  Section 5, which is contained in Part I of the Arbitration Act, defines the extent of judicial intervention in arbitration proceedings. It says that notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, in matters governed by Part I, no judicial authority shall intervene except where so provided in that Part.   The Hon'ble Supreme Court in (2000) 4 SCC 539 (P. Anand Gajapathi Raju v. P.V.G. Raju), has held that the judicial intervention in arbitration proceedings should be minimal. Keeping in view the object of the MSMED Act, we have no hesitation in adopting Section 5 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, which prohibits interference of the judicial authority, to the  awards passed under the MSMED Act. 

 

            26. Apart from the reason stated above, these writ petitions were filed without complying with the provisions contained in Section 19 of the MSMED Act, which contemplates pre-deposit of 75% of the decree amount.   The petitioners cannot overtake Section 19 and invoke Article 226 of the Constitution before this Court.  As we have held that pre-deposit of 75% is mandatory, we see no reason to entertain the present writ petitions.  Moreover, once the petitioners have submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the Council and when the decision of the Council went against them, they cannot turn round and state that the Council has no jurisdiction or the conciliators cannot sit as arbitrators or the pre-deposit of 75% is against the provisions of law.  As rightly pointed out by the learned single Judge it is always open to the petitioners to move the appropriate civil court for relief or to invoke arbitration clause, if provided in the agreement.  Hence, we are not inclined to entertain the present writ petitions  filed challenging various awards / orders passed by the Facilitation Council and they are liable to be dismissed.

 

            For the reasons stated above, subject to the observations made, all the writ appeals and the writ petitions stand dismissed.  There shall be no order as to costs.  Interim order, if any, shall stand vacated.  Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

 

 

 

dpk

 

To

 

1.         Union of India,

            Rep. by its Secretary,

            Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,

            Udyog Bhavan,

            New Delhi 110 011.

 

2.         State of Tamil Nadu,

            Rep. by its Secretary,

            Department of Industries and Commerce,

            Chepauk,

            Chennai 600 005.

 

 

3.         Director,

            Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,

            Room 254, Udyog Bhawan,

            Rafi Marg, New Delhi 110 011.

 

4.         Regional Joint Director of Industries and Commercial (i/c) / Zonal Officer,

            MSE Facilitation Council,

            Thiru. Vi. Ka Industrial Estate,

            Guindy,

            Chennai 600 032

 

Chaudhry D (Director Legal)     28 February 2013

Dear Sir,

Your article was educative. I am the Managing Director of HMR , a small scale unit holding an award passed by an arbitrator against Union of India rep by Project Pushpak , c/o DGBR in 2006. The award was challenged by Pushpak before district Court  held that 75% is to be deposited before they can hear the Appeal. The Court had given 1.5 months in 1st instance , and District Judge again  gave them 2 months before dismissing their Appeal. by order dated 30.1.2003  EIGHT YEARS GONE . Unfortunately , all Goverment Departments do not deposit the money and challenge it before the High Court , in which case again it takes 2/3 years to get the Court dismiss their application and then file a review petetion . The matter goes on draining the small financial resources that a small scale unit has.

Can you please advise me , hoe the Goverment Departments , in this case Pushpak c/o DGBR can be forced to pay money as found payable by their own appointed Arbitrator ??

WE shall appreciate your comment  and a copy may be mailed to me by email dcchaudhry@gmail.com

Thank you in advance.

D Chaudhry

rajasekaran (director)     28 February 2013

By virtue of sec 36 of Arbitation Act 1996, award is enforcable as a decree of thecourt under order 21 of CPC 1908. Pl file execution petition in EP court.

 

rajasekaran

9884317257 

Saurendra Rautray (advocate)     25 April 2013

Mr Choudhary,

It is indeed unfortunate that matter get delayed for no reason. I would still suggest that even though the Respondent has gone on a review in respect to pre deposit payment of 75% deposit before  entertainibg of section 34  application before the District Court, you should still persue section 36 application and submit to the court that since there is no stay the court should proceed  under section 36. In case there is a stay then you should persue the matter in the higher court . For the delay i would suggest that one can take the matter to the supreme court and get a direction. It all depends on the circumstance of the case.

 

Saurendra Rautray

Rautray & Co

New Delhi

09437008255

rajasekaran (director)     26 April 2013

Mr Choudry , i concur with suggestions of Mr Saurendra.

Section 19 of MSMED Act would state; No application for setting aside any decree, award or other order .. shall be “entertained” by any court unless the appellant has deposited with it seventy-five per cent of the amount in terms of the decree, award ..

 

 What is important is the word "entertained”... Apex court has interpret the“entertained” as "to be adjudicated on merits".

In terms of principles laid down in Lalta Prasad Khinni Lal V/s. The Asstt. Comr. 1972 29, STC 201 (SC), 1972 4 SCC 505 wherein it has been held that an appeal becomes a valid appeal only when the proof of the payment is furnished and only on compliance of filing in time as well as predeposit in time, it can be "entertained".

 

Therefore in your case when the appeal is entertained (not mere hearing ) the following issues can be raised on maintainability of such appeal.  

  1.The quantum of pre-deposit mandated in statute inspite of opportunity provided by the Court oght to have been complied with.

 

 2.   The  deposit ought to have been made with the time stipulated time of 90 days.

 

 3.   Even if the pre-deposit is made at  belated stage, it would be barred by time and beyond the 3 months period stipulated in Section 34(3) of the Arbitration Act.

 

 4.   The Section 5 of the Arbitration Act calls for minimal judicial intervention in arbitration awards.

5.   Section 5 of the Limitation Act 1963, is excluded for continuation of delay in filing applications to set aside awards.

6.   The date of filing could be reckoned only on the date of the 75% of pre-deposit being made and mere filing without pre-deposit would not amount to filing of set-aside application.

7.   The mandated quantum of 75% pre-deposit in terms of the award cannot be reduced or waived.

8.   Interference by way of writ petition MAY NOT be entertained and when the  remedy available under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act could very well be availed.

9.   In Goodyear Vs Nortan Intec Rubbers (2012) 6 SCC 345 law as to 75% pre-deposit  is laid down and left the issue open for High Court to decide wheather  predeposit was made in time.

 

 

 

 regards 

rajasekaran

Saurendra Rautray (advocate)     11 May 2013

Dear All,

I would still reiterate that you should pursue Section 36, your execution petition since there is no stay in the matter.
Secondly dismissal of section 34, the only option for the party is to file section 37 and hence filing a review is not maintainable.
Kindly check the period of filing of section 34 and find out if the same has been filed by the opposite party within 3 months and in case it has been filed beyond 3 months then act gives a 30 days grace period but the party has to file a condonation application and if the filing has been done beyond that it has to be rejected in limine. The time has to be computed from the date the parties receives the original signed copy of the award from the Arbitral Tribunal.
Please note that filing of an application and the word entertained has different meaning. entertaining an application means to adjudicate over the matter by the court hence the opp party can file the application without depositing 75 % as prescribed under the act but the same shall not be entertained without such deposit.
 
Thats the reason why i have asked you to check the filing date and to see if the same has been filed within 3 months and 30 days. If the same has been filed beyond 3 months and 30 days the whole application of the opp-party should be dismissed on the ground of limitation.

But if the filing is done within the prescribed time limit then the court has the power to grant time to the opp-party for depositing the amount. In your case the court has given ample time to the opp-party and the opp-party has already failed to deposit and for that reason the court has rightly dismissed it.
In your case it has been dismissed for want of deposit of the said amount and hence you should press your execution application as there is no stay over it.  In case your execution petition is heard and you get the relief then the pending review application will become infructous automatically
The opp-party has filed a review petition which is not maintainable as the 1996 act has prescribed an appeal under section 37 from any orders pertaining to section 34. Hence kindly move ahead with your execution petition and press on it

rajasekaran (director)     10 June 2013

As understood from your query, the award was challenged by Buyer and District Court  had held that 75% is to be deposited before the Appeal could be entertained. The District court has furhter dismissed the Appeal (section 34 Arbitration Act Appeal) by order dated 30.1.2003.

 EIGHT YEARS is long time and now section 37 appeal is hopelessly barred by limitation and the Buyer has no other remedy in law.

Pl file Execution petition by calculating compound interest @ 3 times RBI rate (average 9%) from due date, till date of filing EP, with future interest and attach the Bank Account and moveable’s of Buyer namely Union of India rep by Project Pushpak , DGBR .

 

Pl confirm your mail id so that the draft EP if needed, may  be sent to you.

rajasekaran (director)     09 September 2013

HC upholds MSME Act provision; Facilitation Award to be contested on payment of 75% pre-deposit within 120 days.
07 Sep 13 16:09

 

New Delhi, Sept 7 (KNN)  The recent judgement of the Madras High Court upholding award of the Facilitation Council in favour of Nortan Intec Rubber on a petition filed by Goodyear India Ltd, has come as a big relief to the entire MSME sector.

This is because the High Court did not find the merit in the contention of Goodyear India to set aside the award of the Facilitation Council since the petitioner had failed to deposit 75 per cent of the admitted amount, i.e. Rs 80.11 lakh.

The Judgement has wider implications as anyone challenging the award of the Facilitation Council will have to mandatorily pre-deposit 75 per cent of the admitted amount within 120 days of receipt of the award.

Under the MSME Act of 2006 where a buyer delays payment beyond 45 days from the date of supply, the SME supplier can approach the Micro Small Enterprises Facilitation Council (MSEFC) and seek an award or a decree.

While the awards of the Council can be appealed against in Higher Courts with mandatory pre-deposit of 75 per cent of the award amount, the buyers under one or the other pretext prolong litigation locking the SMEs into legal knots.

Goodyear India Ltd and Nortan Intec Rubber (P) Ltd had entered into an agreement for supply of raw materials and consequent supply of finished products.

As dispute arose, Nortan invoked the relevant provisions of MSMED Act, 2006 and the matter reached the Facilitation Council.

The Council passed the Award directing Goodyear India to pay Rs 80.11 lakh as principal amount along with interests.

The Court held that even assuming that argument of the petition, Goodyear India is acceptable, it failed to comply with the statutory requirement as on the date of filing the petition.

The petition was admitted on March 29, 2010 without any pre-deposit of 75 per cent of the admitted amount. The amount was deposited much after the expiry of the limitation period- April 14, 2010.

The judgement has wider implications for the entire procurement policy for the MSME sector and the problems faced in implementation of the same. (KNN/PC)

Surrender K Singal   29 September 2014

Very well explained with various citations with proper guidance to the suffering MSE unit; Thanks, experienced Adv. Saurendra & Director, Rajasekaran for such educative / detailed guidance not only for the querists but also others-searching through google; Jai Shree Ram !

Are there any decisions covering defaults of Sections 22 & 23 of The MSMED Act, 2006, as most of Public Sector Buyer organisations remain illeterate / ignorant / callous about such mandatory provisions to be complied with by their statutory Auditors ?

MUKUL CHINCHALKAR   01 May 2016

Sir,

I am a businessman from Indore and running a Micro unit of manufacturing of machineries.

I have two orders, passed by MSME facilitation council Bhopal, and recoveries of 62 lacs and 26 lacs from Thane and Pune parties respecively are due. The orders were passed in the year 2013 and since then the recoveries are pending with both collectors. As per normal norms, collectors have forwarded recoveries under RRC to respective Tehsildars. 

MSME council had written three letters to both the collectors for recovery follow-ups, but neither of the letters were replied by Tehsildar or Collector. I personally shuffled to both Tehsildars offices several times; but I am not geting any positive response. The most important part of this recovery is, that both the parties have managed recovery systems and no action is being taken against them.

 

I want to know that, Can I file review petition in Mumbai High court and request to issue time bound guidelines to respective collectors for these recoveries ?. If anyone have any experiance in this matter, kindly guide me; so that I can proceed further.

With warm regards,

Mukul Chinchalkar.

United Engineering Services, Indore.

MUKUL CHINCHALKAR   01 May 2016

Sir,

I am a businessman from Indore and running a Micro unit of manufacturing of machineries.

I have two orders, passed by MSME facilitation council Bhopal, and recoveries of 62 lacs and 26 lacs from Thane and Pune parties respecively are due. The orders were passed in the year 2013 and since then the recoveries are pending with both collectors. As per normal norms, collectors have forwarded recoveries under RRC to respective Tehsildars. 

MSME council had written three letters to both the collectors for recovery follow-ups, but neither of the letters were replied by Tehsildar or Collector. I personally shuffled to both Tehsildars offices several times; but I am not geting any positive response. The most important part of this recovery is, that both the parties have managed recovery systems and no action is being taken against them.

 

I want to know that, Can I file review petition in Mumbai High court and request to issue time bound guidelines to respective collectors for these recoveries ?. If anyone have any experiance in this matter, kindly guide me; so that I can proceed further.

With warm regards,

Mukul Chinchalkar.

United Engineering Services, Indore.


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