Section 44: Orders in case of preferential transactions

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 2016

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 44

Section 44 specifies the extensive remedial and restorative orders that the Adjudicating Authority may pass upon finding that a transaction constituted an unlawful preferential transaction under Section 43.

  • Vesting of Transferred Property: Order that any property transferred in connection with the preference be vested in the corporate debtor.
  • Discharge of Mortgages & Securities: Release or discharge (in whole or in part) of any mortgage, charge, or security interest created by the corporate debtor to give unlawful preference.
  • Restitution of Money Paid: Direct any person to pay such sums in respect of benefits received from the corporate debtor to the liquidator or resolution professional.
  • Revival of Guarantor Liability (Section 44(1)(e)): Order that any guarantor whose obligations were released or discharged by the preference be subjected to new or revived liabilities.
  • Protection for Bona Fide Purchasers (Section 44(2)): Protects third-party purchasers who acquired property in good faith for value without notice.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Anuj Jain v. Axis Bank Ltd. (2020) 8 SCC 401: The Supreme Court passed landmark orders under Section 44 setting aside third-party mortgages created by Jaypee Infratech Ltd. to secure debts of holding company Jaiprakash Associates Ltd., ordering the re-vesting of encumbered lands in the corporate debtor.
  • ArcelorMittal India Pvt. Ltd. v. Satish Kumar Gupta (2019) 2 SCC 1: Affirmed that Section 44 orders restore the corporate debtor's asset base to what it would have been had the preferential transfer not taken place.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

In Section 43/44 applications, formulate precise restorative prayers under Section 44(1): pray for the cancellation of the registered mortgage/transfer deed, eviction of the transferee, and direction to the Sub-Registrar to restore the corporate debtor's title in land records.