The Supreme Court on May 18, 2022 in the case of Indian Overseas Bank v. RCM Infrastructure Ltd observed that the proceedings under the SARFAESI Act cannot be continued once the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (“CIRP”) is initiated and the moratorium is ordered.

In this case, the Indian Overseas Bank (“the Bank”) had extended certain credit facilities to the Corporate Debtor. Eventually, SARFAESI proceedings were initiated against the Corporate Debtor. The Bank took symbolic possession of two secured assets mortgaged exclusively with it in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act read with Rule 8 of the Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules, 2002. An E-¬auction notice came to be issued by the Bank to recover the public money availed by the Corporate Debtor. At this stage, the Corporate Debtor filed a petition under Section 10 of the IBC before NCLT. NCLT admitted the petition and a moratorium was also notified. But even thereafter, the Bank continued the auction proceedings and accepted the balance 75% of the bid amount and completed the sale. NCLT, allowing the application filed by Corporate Debtor, passed an order setting aside the sale. NCLAT dismissed the appeal filed by the Bank and therefore it approached the Apex Court.

The Court referred to Section 14 and 238 of the IBC and court observed-

“In view of the provisions of Section 14(1)(c) of the IBC, which have overriding effect over any other law, any action to foreclose, recover or enforce any security interest created by the Corporate Debtor in respect of its property including any action under the SARFAESI Act is prohibited. We are of the view that the appellant Bank could not have continued the proceedings under the SARFAESI Act once the CIRP was initiated and the moratorium was ordered.”