1. On the receipt of an application under section 254, the Tribunal shall, not later than seven days from such receipt,
a. fix a date for hearing not later than ninety days from date of its receipt;
b. appoint an interim administrator to convene a meeting of creditors of the company in accordance with the provisions of section 257 to be held not later than forty-five days from receipt of the order of the Tribunal appointing him to consider whether on the basis of the particulars and documents furnished with the application made under section 254, the draft scheme, if any, filed along with such application or otherwise and any other material available, it is possible to revive and rehabilitate the sick company and such other matters, which the interim administrator may consider necessary for the purpose and to submit his report to the Tribunal within sixty days from the date of the order:
Provided that: where no draft scheme is filed by the company and a declaration has been made to that effect by the Board of Directors, the Tribunal may direct the interim administrator to take over the management of the company; and
c. issue such other directions to the interim administrator as the Tribunal may consider necessary to protect and preserve the assets of the sick company and for its proper management.
2. Where an interim administrator has been directed to take over the management of the company, the directors and the management of the company shall extend all possible assistance and cooperation to the interim administrator to manage the affairs of the company.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 256
Section 256 historically governed the appointment and preliminary duties of the Interim Administrator to manage the affairs of sick companies; omitted by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, its operational functions formed the statutory precursor to the Interim Resolution Professional under the IBC.
In modern corporate insolvency practice, immediately upon admission under Section 7, 9, or 10 IBC, ensure the Interim Resolution Professional takes physical custody of all corporate assets, books, and statutory records under Section 18 IBC, petitioning the NCLT under Section 19 for police assistance if management resists handover.