Winding Up OF COMPANIES

Winding up by Court

Winding-up petition and its hearing

(i) Petition for winding-up.

95. A petition for winding-up a company shall be in Form No. 45, 46 or 47, as the case may be, with such variations as the circumstances may require, and shall be presented in duplicate. The Registrar shall note on the petition the date of its presentation.

(ii) Admission of petition and directions as to advertisement.

96. Upon the filing of the petition, it shall be posted before the Judge in Chambers for admission of the petition and fixing a date for the hearing thereof and for directions as to the advertisements to be published and the persons, if any, upon whom copies of the petition are to be served. The Judge may, if he thinks fit, direct notice to be given to the company before giving directions as to the advertisement of the petition.

(iii) Petition by a contingent or prospective creditor.

97. A petition for winding-up of a company presented by a contingent or prospective creditor shall be accompanied by an application under section 439(8) for the leave of the Court for the admission of the petition. No advertisement of the petition shall be made unless the leave has been granted, or, where the leave has been granted subject to any conditions precedent to the admission of the petition, unless such conditions have been satisfied.

(iv) Copy of petition to be furnished.

98. Every contributory or creditor of the company shall be entitled to be furnished by the petitioner or by his advocate with a copy of the petition within 24 hours of his requiring the same on payment of the prescribed charges.

(v) Advertisement of petition.

99. Subject to any directions of the Court, the petition shall be advertised within the time and in the manner provided by rule 24 of these Rules. The advertisement shall be in Form No. 48.

(vi) Application for leave to withdraw petition.

100. (1) A petition for winding-up shall not be withdrawn after presentation without the leave of the Court.

(2) An application for leave to withdraw a petition for winding-up which has been advertised in accordance with the provisions of rule 99 shall not be heard at any time before the date fixed in the advertisement for the hearing of the petition.

(vii) Substitution of creditor or contributory for original petitioner.

101. Where a petitioner,—

  (1)  is not entitled to present a petition, or

  (2)  fails to advertise his petition within the time prescribed by these Rules or by order of Court or such extended time as the Court may allow, or

  (3)  consents to withdraw the petition, or to allow it to be dismissed, or the hearing to be adjourned, or fails to appear in support of his petition when it is called on in Court on the day originally fixed for the hearing thereof, or any day to which the hearing has been adjourned, or

  (4)  if appearing, does not apply for an order in terms of the prayer of his petition,    or

where in the opinion of the Court there is other sufficient cause for an order being made under this rule,

the Court may, upon such terms as it may think just, substitute as petitioner any creditor or contributory who, in the opinion of the Court, would have a right to present a petition, and who is desirous of prosecuting the petition.

(viii) Procedure on substitution.

102. Where the Judge makes an order substituting a creditor or contributory as petitioner in a winding-up petition, he shall adjourned the hearing of the petition to a date to be fixed by him and direct such amendments of the petition as may be necessary. Such creditor or contributory shall, within 7 days from the making of the order, amend the petition accordingly, and file two clean copies thereof together with an affidavit in duplicate setting out the grounds, on which he supports the petition. The amended petition shall be treated as the petition for the winding-up of the company and shall be deemed to have been presented on the date on which the original petition was presented.

(ix) Affidavit in opposition.

103. Any affidavit intended to be used in opposition to the petition shall be filed not less than 5 days before the date fixed for the hearing of the petition, and a copy of the affidavit shall be served on the petitioner or his advocate forthwith.

Copies of the affidavit shall also be given to any creditor or contributory appearing in support of the petition who may require the same on payment of the prescribed charges.

(x) Affidavit in reply.

104. An affidavit intended to be used in reply to the affidavit filed in opposition to the petition, shall be filed not less than 2 days before the day fixed for the hearing of the petition, and a copy of the affidavit in reply shall be served on the day of the filing thereof on the person by whom the affidavit in opposition was filed or his advocate.

(xi) Stay of suit or proceeding pending petition.

105. An application under section 442 for stay of any suit or proceeding shall be made upon notice to all the parties to the suit or proceeding sought to be stayed.

Provisional Liquidator

 Appointment of Provisional Liquidator.

106. (1) After the admission of a petition for the winding-up of a company by the Court, upon the application of a creditor, or a contributory, or of the company, and upon proof by affidavit of sufficient ground for the appointment of a Provisional Liquidator, the Court, if it thinks fit and upon such terms as in the opinion of the Court shall be just and necessary, may appoint the Official Liquidator to be Provisional Liquidator of the company pending final orders on the winding-up petition. Where the company is not the applicant, notice of the application for appointment of Provisional Liquidator shall be given to the company unless the Court, for special reasons to be recorded in writing, dispenses with the notice.

(2) The order appointing the Provisional Liquidator shall set out the restrictions and limitations, if any, on his powers imposed by the Court. The order shall be in Form No. 49, with such variations as may be necessary.

Rules applicable to Provisional Liquidator.

107. The Rules relating to Official Liquidators shall apply to Provisional Liquidators, so far as applicable, subject to such directions as the Court may give in each case.

Costs, etc., of Provisional Liquidator.

108. Subject to any order of the Court, all the costs, charges and expenses properly incurred by the Official Liquidator as Provisional Liquidator, including such sum as is or would be payable to the Central Government under the scale of fees for the time being in force applicable where the Official Liquidator acts as Liquidator of the company, shall be paid out of the assets of the company;

Winding-up order

Notice to Official Liquidator of order.

109. Where an order for the winding-up of a company or for the appointment of a Provisional Liquidator has been made, the Registrar shall forthwith send to the Official Liquidator of the Court notice of the order under the seal of the Court in duplicate in Form No. 50 or 51 as the case may be, together with a copy of the petition and the affidavit if any filed in support thereof.

Contents of winding-up order and order appointing Provisional Liquidator.

110. An order to wind-up a company or for the appointment of a Provisional Liquidator shall contain at the foot thereof a note stating that it will be the duty of such of the persons as are liable to make out or concur in making out the company’s statement of affairs under section 454, to attend on the Official Liquidator at such time and place as he may appoint and to give him all information he may require.

Order to be sent to Official Liquidator and form of order.

111. (1) The order for winding-up shall be drawn up by the Registrar as soon as possible, and, after it is signed and sealed, two certified copies thereof duly sealed shall be sent to the Official Liquidator. The order shall be in Form No. 52 with such variations as may be necessary.

(2) Except where the company is the petitioner, the Official Liquidator shall cause a sealed copy of the order to be served upon the company by pre-paid registered post addressed at its registered office (if any), or, if there is no registered office, at its principal or last known principal place of business, or upon such other person or persons or in such manner as the Court may direct.

Directions on making the winding-up order.

112. At the time of making the winding-up order, or at any time thereafter, the Court shall give directions as to the advertisement of the order and the persons if any on whom the order shall be served and the persons if any to whom notice shall be given of the further proceedings in the liquidation, and such further directions as may be necessary.

Advertisement of the order.

113. Save as otherwise ordered by the Court, every order for the winding-up of a company by the Court, shall, within 14 days of the date of making the order, be advertised by the petitioner in one issue each of a newspaper in the English language and a newspaper in the regional language circulating in the State or the Union Territory concerned and shall be served by the petitioner upon such person, if any, and in such manner, as the Judge may direct. The advertisement shall be in Form No. 53.

Official Liquidator to take charge of assets and books and papers of company.

114. On a winding-up order being made, the Official Liquidator attached to the Court shall forthwith take into his custody or under his control all the property and effects and the books and papers of the company, and it shall be the duty of all persons having custody of any of the properties, books and papers of the company, to deliver possession thereof to the Official Liquidator.

Form of proceedings after winding-up order is made.

115. After a winding-up order is made, every subsequent proceeding in the winding-up shall bear the original number of the winding-up petition besides its own distinctive number, but against the name of the company in the cause title, the words ‘in liquidation’ shall appear in brackets.

Application for stay of winding-up proceedings.

116. An application under section 466 for stay of proceedings in the winding-up shall be made upon notice to the parties to the winding-up petition and to such other persons as the Court may direct, and where the application is made by any person other than the Official Liquidator, notice shall be given to the Official Liquidator. Where an order is made staying proceedings, the order shall direct that the applicant shall forthwith file a certified copy thereof with the Registrar of Companies.

Applications under section 446.

Application for leave to commence or continue suit or proceeding.

117. An application under section 446(1) for leave of the Court to commence or continue any suit or proceeding against the company shall be made upon notice to the Official Liquidator and the parties to the suit or proceeding sought to be commenced or continued.

Application for transfer of suit or proceeding.

118. (1) An application under section 446(3) for the transfer to the Court of any suit or proceeding by or against the company pending in any other Court shall be made on notice to the Official Liquidator where he is not the applicant and to the parties to the suit or proceeding sought to be transferred.

(2) Where an order is made for the transfer of a suit or proceeding pending in any other Court to the Court, the Registrar of the Court shall transmit without delay a certified copy of the order to the Court in which such suit or proceeding is pending, and that Court shall, on receipt of the order, transmit the records of the suit or proceeding to the Court.

(3) Upon the making of an order for winding-up, all suits and proceedings by or against the company then pending or thereafter instituted in the Court or transferred to the Court, shall be assigned to and placed in the list of the Judge for the time being exercising jurisdiction under the Act.

Transfer of winding-up proceedings

Application for transfer.

119. (1) Where a winding-up order has been made by High Court, an application for a direction that all subsequent proceedings in the winding-up be had in a District Court subordinate to the High Court or in any other High Court or in a District Court subordinate thereto, shall be made to the High Court that made the winding-up order by the Official Liquidator of that Court, or by the Official Liquidator of the Court to which the proceedings are sought to be transferred, or by a creditor or contributory of the company.

(2) An application for the transfer of winding-up proceedings from a District Court to the High Court or to another District Court shall be made to the High Court by the Official Liquidator attached to the first mentioned District Court, or by the Official Liquidator attached to the High Court, or by a creditor or contributory of the company.

(3) Notice of every application for transfer of winding-up proceedings shall be given to the Official Liquidators of both the Court from which and the Court to which, the proceedings are sought to be transferred, and to the parties to the winding-up petition, and if so ordered by the Court, by advertisement in such newspapers as the Court may direct.

(4) An order transferring winding-up proceedings from the High Court to a District Court or from one District Court to another shall be in Form No. 54.

Transmission of records upon transfer of proceedings.

120. (1) Where an order is made transferring the winding-up proceedings in a High Court to another Court, the Registrar of the High Court shall, without delay, transmit the records of the proceedings together with a certified copy of the order of transfer to the Court to which the proceedings are transferred.

(2) Where the High Court makes an order withdrawing to its own file the winding-up proceedings in a District Court, the Registrar of the High Court shall forthwith forward a certified copy of the order to the said District Court, and that Court shall, on receipt of the order, despatch without delay the records of the proceedings to the High Court.

(3) Where the High Court makes an order transferring the winding-up proceedings in a District Court to another District Court, the Registrar of the High Court shall forthwith forward a certified copy of the order to each of the said District Courts, and the Court whose proceedings are transferred shall, on receipt of the order, despatch without delay the records of the proceedings to the District Court to which they are transferred.

Proceedings to be re-numbered.

121. Where proceedings are transferred, they shall receive a new distinctive number in the Court to which they are transferred, but below the new number in the cause-title, the previous number shall be shown in brackets as follows:

(Transferred Petition No......of 19..... of the High Court/District Court of.....)

Notice to Official Liquidator.

122. The Registrar of the Court to which the proceedings are transferred shall, on receipt of the order of transfer, give notice thereof to the Official Liquidator attached to the Court, and the said Official Liquidator shall thereupon give notice of the transfer to the Registrar of Companies.

Official Liquidator of Transferee Court to be Liquidator.

123. (1) Upon an order being made by the High Court, either of its own motion or upon application made to it as aforesaid, transferring the winding-up proceedings, the Official Liquidator attached to the Court to which the proceedings are transferred shall become the Liquidator of the company in the place of the Official Liquidator of the Court which made the winding-up order, and the winding-up proceedings shall be continued in the Court to which the proceedings are transferred in the same manner as if the Court had passed the order for winding-up.

(2) Upon the order for transfer being made the Official Liquidator of the Court whose proceedings are transferred shall forthwith hand over and transfer to the Official Liquidator of the Court to which they are transferred, all the property and assets and the books and papers of the company in liquidation in his hands, subject to the retention out of the assets of the costs or expenses incurred by him prior to the transfer.

Statement of Affairs

Notice to submit statement.

124. A notice by the Official Liquidator requiring any of the persons mentioned in sub- section (2) of section 454 to submit and verify a statement of affairs of the company shall be in Form No. 55 and shall be served by the Official Liquidator as soon as may be after the order for winding-up or the order appointing the Official Liquidator as Provisional Liquidator is made.

Application by Official Liquidator under section 454(2).

125. The Official Liquidator may apply by summons to the Court for an order directing any person who, in his opinion, is liable to furnish a statement of affairs under section 454, to prepare and submit such a statement or concur in making the same. Notice of the application shall be served on the person against whom the order is sought. Where the Court makes the order, such order shall be in Form No. 56 with such variations as may be necessary.

                  Preparation of statement of affairs.

126. Any person who under section 454 is required to submit and verify a statement as to the affairs of the company shall be furnished by the Official Liquidator with the necessary forms and shall be given such instructions and afforded such reasonable facilities for preparing the statement as the Official Liquidator may in his discretion consider necessary.

Form of the statement.

127. The statement as to the affairs of the company to be submitted under section 454 shall be in Form No. 57 and shall be made out in duplicate, one copy of which shall be verified by affidavit. An affidavit of concurrence in the statement of affairs shall be in Form No. 58. The verified statement and the affidavit of concurrence, if any, shall be submitted to the Official Liquidator within the time prescribed by the section, or, within such extended time not exceeding three months from the ‘relevant date’ as defined in the section as the Official Liquidator or the Court may, for special reasons, appoint. The Official Liquidator shall cause the verified statement of affairs and the affidavit of concurrence if any to be filed in the Court and shall retain the duplicate thereof for his records.

Extension of time for submitting statement.

128. (1) Where any person required to submit a statement of affairs under section 454 requires an extension of time for submitting the same, he shall apply in the first instance to the Official Liquidator who may, if he thinks fit, give a written certificate extending the time, which certificate shall be filed with the proceedings. The certificate shall be in Form No. 59.

(2) Where the Official Liquidator refuses to grant an extension of time for submitting the statement of affairs, the person required to submit the statement may apply to the Judge in Chambers for extension of time on notice to the Official Liquidator.

Expenses of preparing the statement.

129. (1) Any person required to make or concur in making any statement of affairs of the company, shall submit to the Official Liquidator for his sanction, a statement of the estimated costs and expenses of the preparation and making of the statement, and shall, after the submission of the statement of affairs, submit his bill of actual expenses.

(2) Except by order of the Court, no person shall be paid out of the assets of the company any costs or expenses which have not been sanctioned by the Official Liquidator, nor shall such costs and expenses be paid until the statement of affairs verified by affidavit has been submitted to the Official Liquidator.

(3) Any person who has made or concurred in making the said statement and affidavit and whose bill of costs and expenses has not been allowed in full by the Official Liquidator, may, within 14 days of the notice of the order of the Official Liquidator disallowing any part of his bill, apply by summons to the Judge in Chambers upon notice to the Official Liquidator for sanction of the amount disallowed or any part thereof and the Judge may pass such orders thereon as may seem just.

Officers of company to attend and give information.

130. The Official Liquidator may from time to time hold personal interviews with any such person as is mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 454 for the purpose of investigatng the company’s affairs, and it shall be the duty of every such person to attend on the Official Liquidator at such time and place as the Official Liquidator may appoint and give the Official Liquidator all informations that he may require and answer all such questions as may be put to him by the Official Liquidator. The Official Liquidator shall maintain minutes of the interviews held by him or memoranda containing the substance of such interviews.

Duty of person making or concurring in statement.

131. After the statement of affairs of the company has been submitted to the Official Liquidator it shall be the duty of every person who has made or concurred in making it, if and when required, to attend on the Official Liquidator and answer all such questions as may be put to him, and give all such further informations as may be required of him by the Official Liquidator in relation to the statement of affairs.

Default in complying with section 454.

132. Any default on the part of any person in complying with the requirements of section 454 shall be reported to the Court by the Official Liquidator, and the Court may thereupon pass such orders or give such directions as it may think fit.

Dispensing with statement of affairs.

133. An application to dispense with the requirements of section 454 shall be supported by a report of the Official Liquidator showing the special circumstances which, in his opinion, render such a course desirable. Where an order is made dispensing with the requirements the Court may give such consequential or other directions as it may think fit.

Liquidator in voluntary winding-up or winding-up subject to supervision, to submit statement.

134. Where before the making of the winding-up order the company was being wound-up voluntarily or subject to the supervision of the Court, the Official Liquidator may require any liquidator or liquidators in such winding-up to furnish him, not later than 14 days of his making the requisition, or such other time as he may fix, with a statement as to the manner in which the winding-up was conducted, how the assets of the company were dealt with, and the position of the liquidation on the date of the order for winding-up by the Court; and on the requisition being made, it shall be the duty of the liquidator or liquidators so required to furnish the statement within the time limited. Where the liquidator or liquidators fail to furnish the statement as required, the Official Liquidator may apply to the Court for such directions as may be necessary.

Reports by official liquidator under section 455 and summons for directions

Preliminary report by Official Liquidator.

135. The preliminary report to be submitted by the Official Liquidator under sub-section (1) of section 455 shall be in Form No. 60 with such variations as may be necessary.

Inspection of statement and preliminary report.

136. Every creditor or contributory, by himself or by his agent, shall be entitled to inspect the statement of affairs submitted under section 454 or the statement submitted by a liquidator under rule 134 of these Rules, and the preliminary report of the Official Liquidator submitted under section 455(1), on payment of a fee of Re. 1 and to obtain copies thereof or extracts there from on payment of the prescribed charges.

Further Report by Official Liquidator.

137. (1) Where the Official Liquidator makes a further report under sub-section (2) of section 455, such report shall state whether in the opinion of the Liquidator, any fraud has been committed by any person in the promotion or formation of the company or by any officer in relation to the company since its formation, and shall set out the names of the persons by whom the fraud, in his opinion, was committed and the facts on which such opinion is based. The report shall set out in a narrative form the facts and matters which the Liquidator desires to bring to the notice of the Court.

(2) Where the Official Liquidator makes a further report under sub-section (2) of section 455, the Registrar shall fix a date for the consideration thereof by the Judge and notify the date on the notice board of the court and to the Official Liquidator.

Consideration of report by Court.

138. The consideration of the report (or reports) made by the Official Liquidator pursuant to sub-section (2) of section 455, shall be before the Judge in Chambers, and the Official Liquidator shall personally or by counsel attend the consideration thereof and give the court any further information or explanation with reference to the matters contained therein which the Court may require. On a consideration of the report (or reports), the Court may pass such orders and give such directions as it may think fit including directions under section 478.

Summons for directions to be taken out by Official Liquidator.

139. (1) As soon as practicable after the winding-up order is made and in any event not later than 7 days after the filing of his preliminary report under sub-section (1) of section 455, the Official Liquidator shall take out a summons for directions with regard to the settlement of the list of contributories and the list of creditors and the exercise by the Official Liquidator of all or any of the powers under section 457(1) and any other matters requiring directions of the Court. Notice of the summons shall be given to the petitioner on whose petition the order for winding-up was made. Upon the hearing of the summons, the Court, after hearing the Official Liquidator and any other person appearing on notice or otherwise, may give such directions as it shall think fit in regard to the said matters, including the fixing of dates for the settlement of the list of contributories and for the filing of proofs by the creditors of the company in respect of their debts and their claims for priority if any under section 530.

(2) Where the preliminary report of the Official Liquidator is not filed prior to the hearing of the summons and any of the matters in the summons cannot be properly or fully dealt with without a perusal of such report, the Court may adjourn the hearing of any such matter or matters on the summons until after the submission of the preliminary report.

Committee of Inspection

First meeting of creditors and contributories.

140. The meetings of the creditors and contributories under section 464 for the purpose of determining whether there shall be a Committee of Inspection, and if so, what shall be its composition, shall be convened, held and conducted in the manner hereinafter provided by these Rules for the holding and conducting of meetings of creditors and contributories.

Official Liquidator to report result of meeting and apply for directions.

141. (1) As soon as possible after the holding of the said meetings, the Official Liquidator shall report the result thereof to the Court. Such report shall be in Form No. 61.

(2) Where the meeting of the contributories has accepted in its entirety the decision of the creditors’ meeting as regards the constitution and composition of a Committee of Inspection and the persons who are to be members thereof, a Committee shall, subject to the provisions of section 465(1), be constituted in accordance with such decision, and the Official Liquidator shall set out in his report the names of the members of the Committee so constituted.

(3) Where the meeting of the contributories has not accepted the decision of the creditors’ meeting in its entirety, the Official Liquidator shall, at the time of making his report as aforesaid, apply to the Court for directions as to whether there shall be a Committee of Inspection, and if so, what shall be its composition, and who shall be the members thereof, and the Court shall thereupon fix a date for the consideration of the resolutions and determinations of the meetings of the creditors and contributories. Notice of the date so fixed shall be advertised by the Official Liquidator in such manner as the Court shall direct not less than 7 days before the date fixed. The advertisement shall be in Form No. 62.

(4) On the date fixed for hearing of the said application for directions, the Court may, after hearing the Official Liquidator and any creditor or contributory who may appear, appoint a Committee of Inspection, or dispense with the appointment of a Committee of Inspection, or pass such orders or give such directions in the matter, as the Court may think fit.

Application for order not to fill vacancy in Committee.

142. An application by the Official Liquidator under the proviso to sub-section (9) of section 465 for an order that a vacancy occurring in the Committee of Inspection shall no be filled, shall be made upon notice to the remaining members of the Committee of Inspection and such other persons as the Court may direct.

Liquidator and members of the Committee dealing with company’s assets.

143. Neither the Liquidator nor any member of the Committee of Inspection shall, while acting as liquidator or member of such committee in any winding-up, either directly or indirectly, by himself or any employer, partner, clerk, agent, servant or relative, become purchaser of any part of the company’s assets except by leave of the Court. Any such purchase made contrary to the provisions of this Rule may be set aside by the Court on the application of the Liquidator or of a creditor or contributory, as the case may be, and the court may make such order as to costs as it may think fit.

Committee of Inspection not to make profit.

144. No member of the Committee of Inspection shall, except under and with the sanction of the Court, directly or indirectly, by himself, or any employer, partner, clerk, agent, servant or relative, be entitled to derive any profit from any transaction arising out of the winding-up or to receive out of the assets any payment for services rendered by him in connection with the administration of the assets, or for any goods supplied by him to the Liquidator for or on account of the company. Where any profit or payment has been made contrary to the provisions of this Rule such payment shall be disallowed or the profit shall be recovered, as the case may be, on the audit of the Liquidator’s accounts or otherwise.

Costs of obtaining sanction of Court.

145. In any case in which sanction of the Court is obtained under the last two preceding Rules, the costs of obtaining such sanction shall be borne by the person in whose interest such sanction is obtained and shall not be payable out of the company’s assets.

Order sanctioning payment to Committee.

146. Where the sanction of the Court to a payment to a member of the Committee of Inspection for services rendered by him in connection with the administration of the company’s assets is obtained, the order of the Court shall specify the nature of the services, and such sanction shall only be given where the service performed is of a special nature. Except by the express sanction of the Court, no remuneration shall be paid to a member of the Committee for services rendered by him in the discharge of the duties attaching to his office as a member of such Committee.

Debts and claims against company

Fixing a date for proving debts.

147. Subject to the provisions of the Act, and in a winding-up by the Court, subject to the directions of the Court, the Official Liquidator in a winding-up by the Court shall, and the Liquidator in any other winding-up may, fix a certain day, which shall be not less than 14 days from the date of the notice to be given under the next succeeding Rule, on or before which the creditors of the company are to prove their debts or claims and to establish any title they may have to priority under section 530, or to be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts or claims are proved, or, as the case may be, from objecting to such distribution.

Notice to creditors.

148. (1) The Liquidator shall give not less than 14 days’ notice of the date so fixed by advertisement in one issue of a daily newspaper in the English language and one issue of a daily newspaper in the regional language circulating in the State or Union Territory concerned, as he shall consider suitable. Such advertisement shall be in Form No. 63.

(2) The Liquidator shall also give not less than 14 days’ notice of the date fixed, in a winding-up by the Court, to every person mentioned in the statement of affairs as a creditor, who has not proved his debt, and to every person mentioned in the statement of affairs as a preferential creditor, whose claim to be a preferential creditor has not been established or is not admitted, or, where there is no statement of affairs, to the creditors as ascertained from the books of the company, and, in any other winding-up, to each person who, to the knowledge of the Liquidator, claims to be a creditor or preferential creditor of the company and whose claim has not been admitted, to the last known address or place of abode of such person. Such notice shall be in Form No. 64 or 65, as the case may be, and shall be sent to each creditor by pre-paid letter post under certificate of posting.

(3) All the Rules hereinafter set out as to the admission or rejection of proofs shall apply with the necessary variations to any claim to priority as a preferential creditor.

Proof of debt.

149. (1) In a winding-up by the Court every creditor shall, subject as hereinafter provi- ded, prove his debt, unless the Judge in any particular case directs that any creditors or class of creditors shall be admitted without proof.

(2) Formal proof of the debts mentioned in paragraph (d) of sub-section (1) of section 530 shall not be required, unless the Official Liquidator shall in any special case otherwise direct, in a winding-up by the Court.

Mode of proof and verification thereof.

150. A debt may be proved by delivering or sending by post to the Liquidator, an affidavit verifying the debt made by the creditor or by some person authorised by him. If the affidavit is made by a person authorised by the creditor, it shall state the authority and means of knowledge of the deponent. A creditor need not attend upon the investigation unless required to do so by the Liquidator.

Contents of proof.

151. An affidavit proving a debt shall contain or refer to a statement of account showing the particulars of the debt, and shall specify the vouchers, if any, by which the same can be substantiated. The affidavit shall state whether the creditor is a secured creditor, or a preferential creditor, and if so, shall set out the particulars of the security or of the preferential claim. The affidavit shall be in Form No. 66.

Workmen’s wages.

152. In any case where there are numerous claims for wages or accrued holiday remuneration by workmen and others employed by the company, it shall be sufficient if one proof in Form No. 67 for all such claims is made either by a foreman or some other person on behalf of all such creditors. Such proof shall have annexed thereto as forming part thereof, a schedule setting forth the names of the workmen and others and the amounts severally due to them. Any proof made in compliance with this rule shall have the same effect as if separate proofs had been made by each of the said workmen and others.

Production of bills of exchange and promissory notes.

153. Where a creditor seeks to prove in respect of a bill of exchange, promissory note or other negotiable instrument or security of a like nature on which the company is liable, such bill of exchange, note, instrument or security shall be produced before the Liquidator and be marked by him before the proof is admitted.

Value of debts.

154. The value of all debts and claims against the company shall, as far as is possible, be estimated according to the value thereof at the date of the order of the winding-up of the company or where before the presentation of the petition for winding-up, a resolution has been passed by the company for voluntary winding-up, at the date of the passing of such resolution.

Discount.

155. A creditor proving his debt shall deduct therefrom all trade discounts, if any.

Interest.

156. On any debt or certain sum payable at a certain time or otherwise, whereon interest is not reserved or agreed for, and which is overdue at the date of the winding-up order, or the resolution, as the case may be, the creditor may prove for interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent per annum up to that date from the time when the debt or sum was payable, if the debt or sum is payable by virtue of a written instrument at a certain time, and if payable otherwise, then from the time when a demand in writing has been made, giving notice that interest will be claimed from the date of demand until the time of payment.

Periodical payments.

157. When any rent or other payment falls due at stated periods, and the order or resolution to wind-up is made at any time other than one of those periods, the persons entitled to the rent or payment may prove for a proportionate part thereof up to the date of winding-up order or resolution as if the rent or payment accrued due from day to day. Provided that where the Liquidator remains in occupation of the premises demised to a company which is being wound-up nothing herein contained shall prejudice or affect the right of the landlord of such premises to claim payment by the company, or the Liquidator, of rent during the period of the company’s or liquidator’s occupation.

Proof of debt payable at a future time.

158. A creditor may prove for a debt not payable at the date of the winding-up order or resolution, as if it were payable presently, and may receive dividends equally with the other creditors, deducting only thereout a rebate of interest at the rate of four per cent per annum computed from the date of declaration of the dividend to the time when the debt would have become payable according to the terms on which it was contracted.

Examination of proof.

159. The Liquidator shall, with all convenient speed, examine every proof of debt lodged with him and the grounds of the debt. He may call for the production of the vouchers if any referred to in the affidavit of proof or require further evidence in support of the debt. If he requires further evidence, or requires that the creditor should attend the investigation in person, he shall fix a day and time at which the creditor is required to attend or to produce further evidence and send a notice to such creditor in Form No. 68 by pre-paid registered post so as to reach him not later than 7 days before the date fixed.

Official Liquidator’s right to summon any person in connection with the investigation.

160. The Official Liquidator in a winding-up by the Court may summon any person whom he may deem capable of giving information respecting the debts to be proved in liquidation and may require such person to produce any documents in his custody or power relating to such debts and shall tender with the summons such sum as appears to the Official Liquidator sufficient to defray the travelling and other expenses of the person summoned for one day’s attendance. Where the person so summoned fails without lawful excuse to attend or produce any documents in compliance with the summons or avoids or evades service, the Official Liquidator may apply to the Court for the issue of a warrant for the apprehension of such person and the production before him of such documents as may be required, or for other appropriate orders.

Oaths.

161. For the purpose of his duties in relation to the admission of proof of debts, the Official Liquidator may administer oaths and take affidavits.

Costs of proof.

162. Unless otherwise ordered by the Judge, a creditor shall bear the costs of proving his debt.

Acceptance or rejection of proof to be communicated.

163. After such investigation as he may think necessary, the Liquidator shall in writing admit or reject the proof in whole or in part. Every decision of the Liquidator accepting or rejecting a proof, either wholly or in part, shall be communicated to the creditor concerned by post under certificate of posting where the proof is admitted and by registered post for acknowledgement where the proof is rejected wholly or in part, provided that it shall not be necessary to give notice of the admission of a claim to a creditor who has appeared before the Liquidator and the acceptance of whose claim has been communicated to him or his agent in writing at the time of acceptance. Where the Liquidator rejects a proof, wholly or in part, he shall state the grounds of the rejection to the creditor in Form No. 69. Notice of admission of proof shall be in Form No. 70.

Appeal by creditor.

164. If a creditor is dissatisfied with the decision of the Liquidator in respect of his proof, the creditor may, not later than 21 days from the date of service of the notice upon him of the decision of the Liquidator, appeal to the Court against the decision. The appeal shall be made by a Judge’s summons; supported by an affidavit which shall set out the grounds of such appeal, and notice of the appeal shall be given to the Liquidator. On such appeal, the Court shall have all the powers of an appellate Court under the Code.

Procedure where creditor appeals.

165. (1) The Liquidator shall, upon receiving notice of the appeal against a decision rejecting a proof wholly or in part, file with the Registrar such proof with the order containing the grounds of rejection.

(2) It shall be open to any creditor or contributory to apply to the Court for leave to intervene in the appeal, and the Court may, if it thinks fit, grant the leave subject to such terms and conditions as may be just. Where such leave has been granted notice of the hearing of the appeal shall be given to such creditor or contributory.

Official Liquidator not to be personally liable for costs.

166. The Official Liquidator shall in no case be personally liable for costs in relation to an appeal from his decision rejecting any proof wholly or in part.

Proofs and list of creditors to be filed in Court.

167. In a winding-up by the Court, the Official Liquidator shall, within three months from the date fixed for the submission of proofs under rule 147 of these rules or such further time as the Court may allow, file in Court a certificate in Form No. 71 containing a list of the creditors who submitted to him proofs of their claims in pursuance of the advertisement and the notices referred to in rule 148, the amounts of debt for which they claimed to be creditors, distinguishing in such list the proofs admitted wholly, the proofs admitted or rejected in part, and the proofs wholly rejected. The proofs, with the memorandum of admission or rejection of the same in whole or in part, as the case may be, endorsed thereon, shall be filed in Court along with the certificate.

List of creditors not to be varied.

168. The list as certified by the Official Liquidator and filed in Court shall be the list of the creditors of the company, and shall not be added to or varied except under orders of Court and in accordance with such orders. Where an order is made adding to or varying the list of creditors, the Official Liquidator shall amend the list in accordance with such order.

Notice of filing the list and inspection of the same.

169. Upon the filing of the certificate containing the list of creditors as settled by the Official Liquidator, the Registrar shall notify the filing thereof on the Court notice board, and the certificate and the list of creditors as settled and the proofs relating thereto shall be open to the inspection of every creditor or contributory on payment of a fee of one rupee.

Procedure in the District Court regarding proof of claims.

170. Rules 163 to 169 of these rules shall not apply to proceedings in a winding-up in the District Court and in lieu thereof rules 171 to 175 of these rules shall apply.

List of proofs and summons for directions.

171. Where the winding-up is in a District Court, the Official Liquidator attached to the Court shall, after such investigation as he may think necessary, make out and file in the Court, within two months of the date fixed for the submission of proofs under rule 147 of these rules, or within such extended time as the Court may allow, a list verified by his affidavit of all the debts and claims sent to him, distinguishing in such list which of the debts and claims or parts thereof are in his belief justly due and proper to be allowed without further evidence, with the reasons for his belief, and which of them ought to be proved by the creditors, and shall also file with the list all the proofs and the evidence received by him from the several creditors in connection with their claims. He shall at the same time take out a summons for the settlement of the list of creditors by the Court. The affidavit verifying the list shall be in Form No. 72 and the summons shall be in Form No. 73.

Direction at hearing of summons.

172. It shall not be necessary to issue notice of the summons in the first instance and the summons shall be posted before the Court for directions together with the list of creditors and the affidavit verifying the same, filed by the Official Liquidator. Upon the hearing thereof, the Court may allow such of the debts and claims or such parts thereof as in the opinion of the Court do not require further proof, and shall require further proof of such of the debts and claims or parts thereof as in the opinion of the Court require to be proved by the claimants. The Court shall fix a date for the adjudication of the claims which are to be proved, and shall adjourn the summons to the date so fixed.

Notice to be given to creditors.

173. Not less than 14 days before the date fixed for the proof of claims under the last preceding rule, the Official Liquidator shall give notice by registered post individually to each of the creditors who are required to prove their debts or claims or parts thereof, as the case may be, to come in and prove before the Court on the date fixed. Such notice shall be in Form No. 74. The Official Liquidator shall also give notice of the admission of their claims by post individually to the creditors whose claims have been admitted.

Settlement of list of creditors.

174. On the date fixed or on any adjourned date, the Court shall, after hearing such evidence as may be tendered, adjudicate upon the claims and settle the list of creditors. The settlement of the list of creditors shall be recorded in a certificate signed by the Judge in Form No. 75.

Inspection of the list of creditors and the proofs filed.

175. The list of creditors as settled and the proofs filed shall be open to the inspection of every creditor and contributory on payment of a fee of one rupee.

Expunging of proof.

176. (1) If after the admission of a proof, the Liquidator has reason to think that the proof has been improperly admitted or admitted by a mistake, he may apply to the Court upon notice to the creditor who made the proof, to expunge the proof or reduce its amount, as the case may be.

(2) Any creditor or contributory may also apply to the Court to expunge a proof or reduce the amount thereof, if the Liquidator declines to move in the matter, and on such application, the Court may pass such orders as it may think just.

Procedure on failure to prove the debt within the time fixed.

177. If any creditor fails to file proof of his debt with the Liquidator within the time specified in the advertisement referred to in rule 148, such creditor may apply to the Court for relief, and the court may thereupon, adjudicate upon the debt or direct the Liquidator to do so.

Right of creditor who has not proved debt before declaration of dividend.

178. Any creditor who has not proved his debt before the declaration of any dividend or dividends shall be entitled to be paid out of any money for the time being in the hands of the Liquidator available for distribution of dividend, any dividend or dividends which he may have failed to receive before that money is applied to the payment of any future dividend or dividends, but he shall not be entitled to disturb the distribution of any dividend declared before his debt was proved by reason that he has not participated therein.

Payment of subsequent interest.

179. In the event of there being a surplus after payment in full of all the claims admitted to proof, creditors whose proofs have been admitted shall be paid interest from the date of the winding-up order or of the resolution, as the case may be, up to the date of the declaration of the final dividend, at a rate not exceeding 4 per cent per annum, on the admitted amount of the claim, after adjusting against the said amount the dividends declared as on the date of the declaration of each dividend.

Settlement of the list of contributories in a winding-up by the Court

Provisional list of contributories.

180. (1) Unless the Court dispenses with the settlement of a list of contributories, the Official Liquidator shall prepare and file in the Court not later than 21 days after the date of the order on the application for directions referred to in rule 139 of these Rules, a provisional list of contributories of the company with their names and addresses, the number of shares or the extent of interest to be attributed to each contributory, the amount called up and the amount paid up in respect of such shares or interest, and distinguishing in such list the several classes of contributories.

(2) The list shall consist of every person who was a member of the company at the commencement of the winding-up or his representative, and shall be divided into two parts, the first part consisting of those who are contributories in their own right, and the second part, of those who are contributories as being representatives of, or liable for the debts of, others. The list shall be in Form No. 76.

Notice to be given of date of settlement of list.

181. (1) Upon the filing of the provisional list, the Official Liquidator shall, subject to any directions of the Judge on the application for directions referred to in rule 139 of these rules, fix a date not later than one month from the date of the filing of the provisional list for the settlement of the list before him, and shall give notice thereof to every person included in such list, stating in such notice in what character and for what number of shares or extent of interest such person is included in the list, the amount called up and the amount paid up in respect of such shares or interest. Such notice shall be in Form No. 77 and shall be sent by pre-paid letter post under certificate of posting to every person included in the list at the address mentioned therein so as to reach him in the ordinary course of post not later than 14 days before the date fixed for the settlement.

(2) The person who posted the notices shall swear to an affidavit in Form No. 78 relating to the despatch thereof and the affidavit shall be filed with the proceedings.

Settlement of the list.

182. On the date fixed for the settlement of the list, the Official Liquidator shall hear any person who objects to being settled as a contributory or to being settled as a contributory in such character or for such number of shares or extent of interest as is mentioned in the provisional list, and after such hearing, shall finally settle the list. The list when so settled shall be the list of contributories of the company.

Certificate of final settlement to be filed in Court.

183. Within 7 days after the settlement of the list the Official Liquidator shall file in Court a certificate of the list of contributories as finally settled by him. Such certificate shall be in Form No. 79.

Notice of settlement to contributories.

184. (1) Upon the filing of the certificate, the Official Liquidator shall forthwith give notice to every person placed on the list of contributories as finally settled, stating in what character and for what number of shares or interest he has been placed on the list, what amount has been called up and what amount paid up in respect of such shares or interest, and in the notice he shall inform such person that any application for the removal of his name from the list or for a variation of the list, must be made to the Court within 21 days from the date of service on the contributory of such notice. Such notice shall be in Form No. 80, and shall be sent to each person settled on the list by pre-paid registered post for acknowledgement at the address mentioned in the list as settled.

(2) An affidavit of service relating to the despatch of the notices to the contributories under this rule shall be sworn to by the person who despatched the said notices and shall be filed in Court within 14 days of the filing by the Official Liquidator of his certificate of the list of contributories under rule 183 of these rules. Such affidavit shall be in Form No. 81.

Supplemental list of contributories.

185. The Official Liquidator may from time to time add to the list of contributories by a supplemental list or lists and any such addition shall be made in the same manner in all respects as the settlement of the original list. A supplemental list shall be in Form No. 82.

Variation of the list.

186. (1) Save as provided in the last preceding rule, the certificate of the list of contributories shall not be varied, and no person settled on the list as a contributory shall be removed from the list, or his liability in any way varied, except by order of Court and in accordance with such orders.

(2) Where the Court makes an order varying the list of contributories, the Official Liquidator shall amend the list in accordance with the order of the Court.

Application by Official Liquidator for rectification of list.

187. If after the settlement of the list of contributories the Official Liquidator has reason to think that a contributory who had been included in the provisional list has been improperly or by mistake excluded or omitted from the list of contributories as finally settled or that the character in which or the number of shares or extent of interest for which he has been included in the list as finally settled or any other particular contained therein requires rectification in any respect, he may, upon notice to the contributory concerned, apply to the Court for such rectification of the list as may be necessary and the Court may, on such application, rectify or vary the list as it may think fit.

Application by contributory to vary the list.

188. Subject to the power of the Court to extend the time or to allow an application to be made notwithstanding the expiration of the time limit for that purpose, no application to the Court by any person who objects to his being settled on the list of contributories as finally settled by the Official Liquidator shall be entertained after the expiration of 21 days from the date of service on such person of the notice of the settlement of the list. An order varying a list of contributories shall be in Form No. 83, and an order rectifying the Register of Members and the list of contributories shall be in Form No. 84.

Official Liquidator not to be personally liable for costs.

189. The Official Liquidator shall not in any case be personally liable to pay any costs of, or in relation to, an application to set aside or vary his act or decision settling the name of a person on the list of contributories of a company.

Settlement of the list of contributories in District Courts.

190. Where winding-up proceedings are held in a District Court, the Court shall settle the list of contributories and rules 181 to 189 of these rules shall not apply and in lieu thereof rules 191 to 194 of these rules shall apply to proceedings in a District Court.

Notice to be given of date of settlement.

191. (1) In a District Court, upon the filing of the provisional list of contributories mentioned in rule 180, the Official Liquidator shall obtain an appointment from the Judge to settle the list, and shall give notice of the date appointed to every person included in such list, stating in such notice in what character and for what number of shares or extent of interest such person is included in the list, the amount called up and the amount paid up in respect of such shares or interest, and informing such person by such notice that if he intends to object to his being settled as a contributory in such character and for such number of shares or interest as mentioned in the list, he should file in Court his affidavit if any in support of his contention, and serve a copy of the same on the Official Liquidator not less than 2 days before the date fixed for the settlement, and appear before Court on the date appointed for the settlement in person or by advocate. Such notice shall be in Form No. 85, and shall be sent by registered post for acknowledgement to every person included in the list so as to reach him in the ordinary course of post not less than 14 days before the date fixed for the settlement.

(2) The person who posted the notices shall swear to an affidavit in Form No. 78 relating to the despatch thereof, and file the same in Court not later than 2 days before the date fixed for the settlement of the list.

Settlement of the list.

192. On the date appointed for the settlement of the list, the Court shall hear any person who objects to being settled as a contributory or as a contributory in such character or for such number of shares or extent of interest as is mentioned in the list, and after such hearing, shall finally settle the list. The list when settled shall be certified by the Judge under his signature and shall be in Form No. 86.

Supplemental list of contributories.

193. The Court may from time to time add to the list of contributories by a supplemental list or lists and any such addition shall be made in the same manner in all respects as the settlement of the original list.

Application for rectification of list.

194. If after the settlement of the list of contributories the Official Liquidator has reason to think that a contributory who had been included in the provisional list has been improperly or by mistake excluded or omitted from the list of contributories as finally settled or that the character in which or the number of shares or extent of interest for which he has been included in the list as finally settled or any other particular contained therein, requires rectification in any respect, he may, upon notice to the contributory concerned, apply to the Court for such rectification of the list as may be necessary, and the Court may, on such application, rectify or vary the list as it may think fit.

List of contributories consisting of past members.

195. It shall not be necessary to settle a list of contributories consisting of the past members of a company unless so ordered by the Court. Where an order is made for settling a list of contributories consisting of the past members of a company, the provisions of these Rules shall apply to the settlement of such list in the same manner as they apply to the settlement of the list of contributories consisting of the present members.

List of contributories under section 104(1)(b).

196. Where on the application of a creditor made under section 104(1)(b) the Court thinks fit to direct that a list of persons liable to contribute to his debt or claim be settled, such list shall be settled in the same manner as a list of ordinary contributories of a company in a winding-up.

General meetings of creditors and contributories in a winding-up by Court and of creditors in a creditors’ voluntary winding-up

‘Court meetings’, ‘Liquidator’s meetings’ and ‘voluntary Liquidation meetings’.

197. (1) In addition to the meetings of creditors and contributories which may be directed to be held by the Court under section 557, hereinafter referred to as Court meetings of creditors and contributories, the Official Liquidator may, in a winding-up by the Court, as and when he thinks fit, summon and hold meetings of the creditors and contributories, herein- after referred to as Liquidator’s meetings of creditors and contributories, for the purpose of ascertaining their wishes in all matters relating to the winding-up and such meetings shall be summoned, held and conducted in the manner provided by these Rules and subject to the control of the Court.

(2) In a creditors’ voluntary winding-up, the liquidator may himself from time to time summon, hold and conduct meetings of creditors for the purpose of ascertaining their wishes in all matters relating to the winding up—(Such meetings and all meetings of creditors which a liquidator of a company is by the Act required to convene in or immediately before such a voluntary winding-up and all meetings convened by a creditor in a voluntary winding-up under these Rules are hereinafter called voluntary liquidation meetings).

Application of Rules to meetings.

198. (1) Except where and so far as the nature of the subject matter or the context may otherwise require, the Rules as to meetings as hereinafter set out shall apply to Court meetings, Liquidator’s meetings of creditors and contributories and voluntary liquidation meetings, provided that in the case of Court meetings, the Rules shall apply only subject to any directions given by the Court.

Notice of meeting.

199. (1) The Liquidator shall summon all meetings of creditors and contributories by giving not less than 14 days notice of the time and place appointed for the meeting by advertisement in one daily newspaper in the English language and one daily newspaper in the regional language circulating in the State or Union territory concerned as the liquidator may consider suitable, and by sending individually to every creditor of the company notice of the meeting of creditors, and to every contributory of the company notice of the meeting of contributories, by pre-paid letter post under certificate of posting so as to reach such person in the ordinary course of post not less than 14 days before the date fixed for the meeting.

(2) The notice to each creditor shall be sent to the address given in his proof or, if he has not proved, to the address given in the statement of affairs, or, if there is no statement of affairs, to the address given in the books of the company, or to such other address as may be known to the person summoning the meeting. The notice to each contributory shall be sent to the address mentioned in the books of the company as the address of such contributory or to such other address as may be known to the person summoning the meeting.

(3) In the case of meetings under section 506, the continuing liquidator, or if there is no continuing liquidator, any creditor may summon the meeting.

(4) The notices shall be in such of the Form Nos. 87 to 91 as may be appropriate, and Form Nos. 90 and 91 may be used suitably altered in the case of voluntary liquidation meetings.

(5) This rule shall not apply to meetings under section 500 or 509.

Place and time of meeting.

200. Every meeting shall be held at such place and time as the person convening the same considers most convenient for the majority of the creditors or contributories or both. Different times or places or both may, if thought fit, be appointed for the meetings of creditors and the meetings of contributories.

Notice of first or other meeting to officers of company.

201. (1) In a winding-up by the Court, the Official Liquidator shall also give to each of the officers of the company, who in his opinion ought to attend the first or any other meeting of creditors or contributories, fourteen days’ notice of the time and place appointed for such meeting. The notice may either be delivered personally or sent by registered post for acknowledgement as may be convenient. It shall be the duty of every officer who receives notice of such meeting to attend if so required by the Liquidator, and if any such officer fails to attend, the Liquidator may report such failure to the Court. Such notice shall be in Form No. 92.

(2) The Official Liquidator, if he thinks fit, may, instead of requiring any of the officers of the company to attend the meeting as aforesaid, require such officer to answer any interrogatories or to furnish in writing any information that he may require for purposes of such meeting, and if such officer fails to answer the interrogatories or furnish such information, he shall report such failure to the Court.

Proof of notice.

202. An affidavit by the clerk of the Official Liquidator, or by any person who sent the notices, that such notices have been duly sent, shall be sufficient evidence of the notices having been sent to the persons to whom the same were addressed. In the case of Court meetings, the affidavit shall be filed in Court and in the case of Liquidator’s meetings, the affidavit shall be filed with the Official Liquidator. Such affidavit shall be in Form No. 93.

Costs of calling meetings at instance of creditor or contributory.

203. Where a creditor or contributory desires the liquidator to convene a meeting, the liquidator may require such creditor or contributory to deposit as a condition precedent thereto a sum sufficient for the costs thereof, to be computed as hereinafter provided; and on any application to the Court by a creditor or contributory to direct the Liquidator to convene a meeting, the Judge may, if he thinks fit, require the applicant to deposit a similar sum for such costs. Such sum shall include all disbursements necessary to be made for printing, stationary, postage and hire of room, to be calculated at the rate of Re. 1 for each creditor or contributory up to the first 25 creditors or contributories, 50 Paise for each creditor or contributory for the next 75 creditors or contributories, 25 Paise for each creditor or contributory above the first 100 creditors or contributories. The sum so deposited shall be repaid to the person depositing the same out of the assets of the company, if the Court shall by order, or if the creditors shall by resolution, so direct.

This Rule shall not apply to meetings to be summoned by the Official Liquidator under section 460(3)(b) or to a meeting summoned at the instance of a creditor under section 506.

Chairman of meeting.

204. Where a meeting is summoned by the liquidator, the liquidator, or some person nominated by him, shall be the chairman of the meeting. The nomination shall be in Form No. 94. At every other meeting of creditors or contributories, not being Court meetings of creditors and contributories, the chairman shall be such person as the meeting by resolution shall appoint. This Rule shall not apply to meetings under section 500.

Resolution at creditors’ meeting.

205. At a meeting of creditors, a resolution shall be deemed to be passed, when a majority in number and value of the creditors present personally or by proxy, and voting on the resolution, have voted in favour of the resolution. In a winding-up by the Court, the value of a creditor shall, for the purposes of a first meeting of the creditors or of a meeting held under section 464, be deemed to be the value as shown in the books of the company, or the amount mentioned in his proof, whichever is less, and for the purposes of any other meeting, the value for which the creditor has proved his debt or claim.

Resolution at contributories’ meeting.

206. At a meeting of the contributories, a resolution shall be deemed to be passed when a majority in number and value of the contributories present personally or by proxy and voting on the resolution have voted in favour of the resolution. The value of the contributories shall be determined according to the number of votes to which each contributory is entitled as a member of the company under the provisions of the Act, or the regulations of the company, as the case may be.

Copies of resolutions to be filed.

207. In a winding-up by the Court, the Official Liquidator shall file in Court a copy certified by him of every resolution passed at a meeting of creditors or contributories. The Registrar shall keep in each case a file of such resolutions.

Non-receipt of notice by a creditor or contributory.

208. Where a meeting of creditors or contributories is summoned by notice, the proceedings and resolutions at the meeting shall, unless the Court otherwise orders, be valid notwithstanding that some creditors or contributories may not have received the notice sent to him.

Adjournments.

209. The chairman may, with the consent of the meeting, adjourn it from time to time, but the adjourned meeting shall be held at the same place as the original meeting unless in the resolution for adjournment another place is specified or unless the Court otherwise orders.

Quorum.

210. A meeting may not act for any purpose except for adjournment thereof unless there are present or represented thereat in the case of a creditors meeting at least three creditors entitled to vote or in the case of a meeting of contributories at least three contributories, or all the creditors entitled to vote or all the contributories if the number of creditors entitled to vote or the number of contributories, as the case may be, shall not exceed three.

Procedure in the absence of quorum.

211. If, within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum of creditors or contributories, as the case may be, is not present or represented, the meeting shall be adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place, or to such other day, or time or place as the chairman may appoint, but the day appointed shall be not less than 7 or more than 14 days from the day from which the meeting was adjourned. If at such adjourned meeting, a quorum be not present, two creditors or contributories present in person shall form a quorum and may transact the business for which the meeting was convened.

When creditor can vote.

212. In the case of a meeting of creditors held under section 464 or of any adjournment thereof, a person shall not be entitled to vote as a creditor unless he has duly lodged with the Official Liquidator, not later than the time mentioned for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, a proof of the debt which he claims to be due to him from the company. In the case of other meetings of creditors a person shall not be entitled to vote as a creditor unless he has lodged with the Official Liquidator a proof of the debt which he claims to be due to him from the company and such proof has been admitted wholly or in part before the date on which the meeting is held :

Provided that this rule and the next four following rules shall not apply to a court meeting of creditors held prior to the meeting of creditors under section 464 :

Provided further that this rule shall not apply to any creditors or class of creditors who by virtue of these rules or any directions given thereunder are not required to prove their debts, or to any voluntary liquidation meetings.

Cases to which creditors may not vote.

213. A creditor shall not vote in respect of any unliquidated or contingent debt or any debt the value of which is not ascertained, nor shall a creditor vote in respect of any debt on or secured by a current bill of exchange or promissory note held by him unless he is willing to treat the liability to him thereon of every person who is liable thereon antecedently to the company, and against whom no order of adjudication has been made, as a security in his hands, and to estimate the value thereof, and for the purposes of voting, but not for purposes of dividend, to deduct it from his proof.

When secured creditor can vote.

214. (1) For the purposes of voting at a meeting, in a winding-up by the Court, a secured creditor shall unless he surrenders his security, state in his proof the particulars of his security, the date when it was given and the value at which he assesses it, and shall be entitled to vote only in respect of the balance due to him, if any, after deducting the value of his security.

(2) For the purposes of voting at any voluntary liquidation meetings, a secured creditor shall, unless he surrenders his security, lodge with the liquidator, or where there is no liquidator, at the registered office of the company, before the meeting, a statement giving the particulars of his security, the date when it was given and the value at which he assesses it, and shall be entitled to vote only in respect of the balance due to him, if any, after deducting the value of his security.

Effect of voting by a secured creditor.

215. If a secured creditor votes in respect of his whole debt, he shall be deemed to have surrendered his security, unless the Court on application is satisfied that the omission to value the security was due to inadvertence.

Procedure when secured creditor votes without surrendering security.

216. The liquidator may within 28 days from the date of the meeting at which a secured creditor voted on the basis of his valuation of the security, require him to give up the security for the benefit of the creditors generally on payment of the value so estimated by him, and may, if necessary, apply to the court for an order to compel such creditor to give up the security :

Provided that the Court may, for good cause shown, permit a creditor to correct his valuation before being required to give up the security, upon such terms as to costs as the Court may consider just.

Admission or rejection of proofs for purposes of voting.

217. The chairman shall have power to admit or reject a proof for the purpose of voting, but his decision shall be subject to appeal to the Court. If he is in doubt whether a proof shall be admitted or rejected, he shall mark it as objected to and allow the creditor to vote subject to the vote being declared invalid in the event of the objection being sustained.

Minutes of proceedings.

218. (1) The chairman shall cause minutes of the proceedings at the meeting to be drawn up and fairly entered in the Minutes Book and the minutes shall be signed by him or by the chairman of the next meeting.

(2) A list of creditors and contributories present at every meeting shall be made and kept as in Form No. 95.

Report of Court meetings.

219. Where a meeting is summoned under the direction of the Court, the chairman shall, within the time fixed by the court, or if no time is fixed within 7 days of the conclusion of the meeting, report the result thereof to the Court. Such report shall be in Form No. 96.

Proxies in relation to a winding-up by court and to meetings of creditors in a creditors ’ voluntary winding-up

Voting by proxies.

220. A creditor or contributory may vote either in person or by proxy. Where a person is authorised in the manner provided by section 187 to represent a Corporation at any meeting of creditors or contributories, such person shall produce to the Official Liquidator or other chairman of the meeting a copy of the resolution so authorising him. Such copy must be certified to be a true copy by a director, the manager, the secretary or other officer of the company duly authorised in that behalf who shall certify that he is so authorised.

Form of proxies.

221. A creditor or contributory may give a general proxy or a special proxy to any person. A General proxy shall be in Form No. 97 and a special proxy in Form No. 98.

Proxies to Liquidator or Chairman.

222. A creditor or contributory in a winding-up by the Court may appoint the Official Liquidator, and in a voluntary winding up the liquidator, or if there is no liquidator, the Chairman of the meeting, to act as his general or special proxy.

Use of proxies by deputy.

223. Where an Official Liquidator who holds any proxies cannot attend the meeting for which they are given, he may in writing depute some person under his official control to use the proxies on his behalf and in such manner as he may direct.

Forms to be sent with notice.

224. Forms of proxies shall be sent to the creditors and contributories with the notice summoning the meeting. No name shall be inserted or printed in the form before it is sent.

Proxies to be lodged.

225. A proxy shall be lodged not later than 48 hours before the meeting at which it is to be used, with the Official Liquidator in a winding-up by the court, with the company at its registered office for a meeting under section 500, and with the liquidator, or if there is no liquidator, with the person named in the notice convening the meeting to receive the same, in a voluntary winding-up.

Holder of proxy not to vote on matter in which he is financially interested.

226. No person acting either under a general or special proxy shall vote in favour of any resolution which would directly or indirectly place himself, his partner or employer in a position to receive any remuneration out of the assets of the company otherwise than as a creditor ratably with the other creditors of the company.

Minor not to be appointed proxy.

227. No person shall be appointed as a general or special proxy who is a minor.

Filling in proxy where creditor or contributory is blind or incapable.

228. The proxy of a creditor or a contributory blind or incapable of writing may be accepted if such creditor or contributory has attached his signature or mark thereto in the presence of a witness who shall add to his signature his description and address :

Provided that all insertions in the proxy are in the handwriting of the witness and such witness shall have certified at the foot of the proxy that all such insertions have been made by him at the request and in the presence of the creditor or contributory before he attached his signature or mark.

Proxy of person not acquainted with English.

229. The proxy of a creditor or contributory who does not know English may be accepted if it is executed in the manner prescribed in the last preceding rule and the witness certifies that it was explained to the creditor or contributory in the language known to him, and gives the creditor’s or contributory’s name in English below the signature.

Attendance and appearance of creditors and contributories

Attendance at proceedings.

230. (1) Save as otherwise provided by these rules or by an order of Court, every person for the time being on the list of contributories of the company and every creditor whose debt has been admitted by the Official Liquidator wholly or in part shall be at liberty at his own expense to attend the proceedings before the Court or before the Official Liquidator and shall be entitled upon payment of the costs occasioned thereby to have notice of all such proceedings as he shall, by request in writing addressed to the Official Liquidator, desire to have notice of ; but if the court shall be of opinion that the attendance of any such person has occasioned any additional costs which ought not to be borne by the funds of the company, it may direct such costs or a gross sum in lieu thereof to be paid by such person and such person shall not be entitled to attend any further proceedings until he had paid the same.

(2) No contributory or creditor shall be entitled to attend any proceedings before the Judge, unless and until he or an Advocate on his behalf has filed an appearance with the Registrar. The Registrar shall keep an ‘Appearance Book’ in which all such appearances shall be entered. Such book shall be open to the inspection of the Official Liquidator.

Representation of creditors and contributories before Court.

231. The court may, if it thinks fit, appoint from time to time any one or more of the creditors or contributories to represent before the court at the expense of the company all or any class of creditors or contributories upon any question or in relation to any proceedings before the court, and may remove any person so appointed. If more than one person is appointed under this rule to represent one class, the persons so appointed shall employ the same advocate to represent them, and where they fail to agree as to the advocate to be employed, the Judge may nominate an advocate for them.

Collection and distribution of assets in a winding-up by court

Powers of Official Liquidator.

232. The duties imposed on the Court by sub-section (1) of section 467 with regard to the collection of the assets of the company and the application of the assets in discharge of the company’s liabilities shall be discharged by the Official Liquidator as an officer of the Court subject to the control of the Court and to the proviso in section 643(2).

Official Liquidator to be in the position of a Receiver.

233. For the discharge by the Official Liquidator of the duties imposed by sub-section (1) of section 467 and the last preceding rule the Official Liquidator shall, for the purpose of acquiring and retaining possession of the property of the company, be in the same position as if he were a Receiver of the property appointed by the Court, and the court may on his application enforce such acquisition or retention accordingly.

Company’s property to be surrendered to Official Liquidator on requisition.

234. The powers conferred on the Court by section 468 may be exercised by the Official Liquidator. Any contributory for the time being on the list of contributories, trustee, receiver, banker or agent or officer of a company which is being wound up under order of the Court, shall on notice from the Official Liquidator and within such time as he shall by notice require, pay, deliver, convey, surrender or transfer to or into the hands of the Official Liquidator any money, property or documents, books or papers which happen to be in his hands for the time being and to which the company is prima facie entitled. Where the person so required fails to comply with the notice, the Official Liquidator may apply to the Court for appropriate orders. The notice shall be in Form No. 99.

Calls in a winding-up by the court

Calls by the Official Liquidator.

235. Subject to the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 643, the powers and duties conferred upon the court by section 470 in relation to making calls, may be exercised by the Official Liquidator as hereinafter provided.

Official Liquidator to realise uncalled capital.

236. Notwithstanding any charge or encumbrance on the uncalled capital of the company, the Official Liquidator shall alone be entitled to call and realise the uncalled capital of the company and to collect the arrears if any due on calls made prior to the winding-up, but shall hold all moneys so realised subject to the rights, if any, of the holder of any such charge or encumbrance.

Application for leave to make call.

237. (1) The Official Liquidator shall not make any call without obtaining the leave of the Court for the purpose.

(2) At any time after the settlement of the list of contributories, the Official Liquidator may apply by summons to the Court for leave to make a call on the contributories. The summons shall state the proposed amount of such call and shall be in Form No. 100. It shall be supported by the affidavit of the Official Liquidator which shall be in Form No. 101.

Notice of application.

238. Notice of an application for leave to make a call shall be served on every contributory proposed to be included in such call, by post under certificate of posting so as to reach such contributory in the ordinary course of post not less than 7 clear days before the date appointed for the hearing thereof, or if the Court so directs, notice of the application may be given by advertisement in Form No. 102, in such papers as the Court shall direct not less than 7 clear days before the date appointed for the hearing, without a separate notice to each contributory. The affidavit of service relating to the despatch of notice to each contributory, or to the advertisement, as the case may be, shall be filed three days before the date fixed for the hearing.

Order granting leave to make a call and document making the call.

239. The order granting leave to make a call shall be in Form No. 103, and shall contain directions as to the time within which such calls shall be paid. When an order has been made granting leave to make a call, the Official Liquidator shall file in Court a document making the call in Form No. 104 with such variations as circumstances may require.

Service of notice of call.

240. Soon after filing the document making the call under the last preceding rule, the Official Liquidator shall serve by registered post a copy of the order granting leave to make the call upon each of the contributories included in such call together with a notice in Form No. 105 specifying the amount or balance due from such contributory in respect of such call. The order granting leave to make a call need not be advertised unless the Court otherwise orders for any special reason.

Order for payment of call.

241. The Official Liquidator may apply to the Court for an order against any contributory or contributories for payment of moneys due on the calls made by him. The application shall be made by summons in Form No. 106 and shall be supported by an affidavit in Form No. 107. Notice of the application together with a copy of the affidavit shall be served on the contributory by registered post for acknowledgement not less than 14 days before the date fixed for the hearing of the summons. The order for payment shall be in Form No. 108.

Other moneys due by contributories.

242. Where any money is due to the company from a contributory or from the estate of the person whom he represents, other than moneys due on calls made subsequent to the winding-up, but including moneys due on calls made prior to the winding-up, the Official Liquidator may make an application to the Court supported by an affidavit for an order against such contributory for the payment of such moneys. Notice of the application shall be given to such contributory by registered post not less than 14 days prior to the date fixed for the hearing of the application.

Examination under sections 477 and 478

Application for examination under section 477.

243. (1) An application for the examination of a person under section 477 may be made ex parte, provided that where the application is made by any person other than the Official Liquidator, notice of the application shall be given to the Official Liquidator.

(2) The summons shall be in Form No. 109 and, where the application is by the Official Liquidator, shall be accompanied by a statement signed by him setting forth the facts on which the application is based. Where the application is made by a person other than the Official Liquidator, the summons shall be supported by an affidavit of the applicant setting forth the matters in respect of which the examination is sought and the grounds relied on in support of the summons.

Directions at hearing of summons.

244. Upon the hearing of the summons the Judge may, if satisfied that there are grounds for making the order, make an order directing the issue of a summons against the person named in the order for his examination and/or for the production of documents. Unless the Judge otherwise directs, the examination of such person shall be held in Chambers. The order shall be in Form No. 110.

Examination on commission or by interrogatories.

245. The Court may, if it thinks fit, instead of issuing a summons to any person for his appearance before the Court for examination, issue a commission to the District Judge within whose jurisdiction such person resides for the examination of such person, or make an order for his examination by interrogatories, as the Court may think fit.

Service of the summons.

246. The summons issued in pursuance of the order shall be in Form No. 111 and shall be served on the person to be examined not less than 7 days before the date fixed for the examination. When the summons is served in person, there shall be paid or tendered to the person summoned along with the summons a reasonable sum for his expenses to be fixed by the Judge or Registrar with due regard to the scale of fees in force in the Court. When the summons is served by registered post, such sum shall be sent to such person by postal money order.

Conduct of the examination.

247. (1) The Official Liquidator shall have the conduct of an examination under section 477, provided that the Court may, if for any reasons it thinks fit to do so, entrust the conduct of the examination to any contributory or creditor. Where the conduct of the examination is entrusted to any person other than the Official Liquidator, the Official Liquidator shall nevertheless be entitled to be present at the examination in person or by advocate, and may take notes of the examination for his own use and put such questions to the person examined as the Court may allow.

(2) Save as aforesaid, no person shall be entitled to take part in an examination under section 477 except the Official Liquidator and his advocate, but any person examined shall be entitled to have the assistance of his advocate who may re-examine the witness :

Provided that the Court may permit, if it thinks fit, any creditor or contributory to attend the examination subject to such conditions as it may impose.

(3) Notes of the examination may be permitted to be taken by the witness or any person on his behalf on his giving an undertaking to the Court that such notes shall be used only for the purpose of the re-examination of the witness. On the conclusion of the examination, the notes shall, unless otherwise directed, be handed over to the Court for destruction.

Notes of the deposition.

248. (1) The notes of the deposition of a person examined under section 477 shall be signed by such person and shall be lodged in the Office of the Registrar. But the notes shall not be open to the inspection of any creditor, contributory or other person, except the Official Liquidator, nor shall a copy thereof or extract therefrom be supplied to any person other than the Official Liquidator, save upon orders of Court.

(2) The Court may from time to time give such general or special directions as it shall think expedient as to the custody and inspection of such notes and the furnishing of copies thereof or extracts therefrom.

Order for public examination under section 478.

249. (1) Where an order is made for the examination of any person or persons under section 478, the examination shall be held before the Judge ; provided that in the case of a High Court, the Judge may direct that the whole or any part of the examination of any such person or persons, be held before any of the officers mentioned in sub-section (10) of the said section as may be mentioned in the order. Where the date of the examination has not been fixed by the order, the Official Liquidator shall take an appointment from the Judge or officer before whom the examination is to be held as to the date of the examination. The order directing a public examination shall be in Form No. 112.

(2) The Judge may, if he thinks fit, either in the order for examination or by any subsequent order, give directions as to the specific matters on which such person is to be examined.

Notice of public examination.

250. Not less than 7 clear days before the date fixed for the examination, the Official Liquidator shall give notice thereof to the creditors and contributories of the company by advertisement in Form No. 113 in such newspapers as the Judge shall direct, and shall within the same period, serve, either personally or by registered post, on the person or persons to be examined, a notice in Form No. 114 of the date and hour fixed for the examination and the officer before whom it is to be held, together with a copy of the order directing the examination. Where a public examination is adjourned, it shall not be necessary to advertise the adjournment or serve notice thereof unless otherwise ordered.

Adjournment of public examination to Court.

251. Where on an examination held before an officer appointed by the Judge under rule 249 of these rules, such officer is of the opinion that the examination is being unduly or unnecessarily protracted, or, for any other sufficient cause he is of the opinion that the examination should be held before the Judge, such officer may adjourn the examination of any person, or any part of the examination, to be held before the Judge and submit his report to the Judge. The Judge may thereupon hold the examination himself or pass such orders as he may think fit.

Procedure for contumacy.

252. If a person examined before an officer appointed by the Judge under rule 249 of these rules refuses to answer to the satisfaction of such officer any question which he may put or allow to be put, such officer shall report such refusal to the Judge and upon such report being made the person in default shall be in the same position and be dealt with in the same manner as if he had made default in answering before the Judge.

The report shall be in writing and shall set forth the question or questions put and the answer or answers given (if any) by the person examined, and the officer shall notify the person examined of the date when he should attend before the Judge. The report shall be in Form No. 115. Upon receiving the report, the Judge may take such action thereon as he shall think fit.

Notes of examination.

253. The notes of every public examination shall, after being signed as required by sub- section (8) of section 478, form part of the records of winding-up. The Official Liquidator, the person examined and any creditor or contributory of the company shall be entitled to obtain a copy thereof from the court on payment of the prescribed charges.

Shorthand notes of examination under sections 477 and 478.

254. In respect of any examination under section 477 or 478, the court may order that the evidence be taken down in shorthand. Where such order is made, the Judge or the officer before whom the evidence is taken shall nominate a person to take down the evidence and the costs, if any, occasioned thereby shall be paid out of the assets of the company. The shorthand note of the examination shall be transcribed and the transcript shall be read over to or by the person examined, and signed by him.

Application under section 478(7)(a).

255. (1) An application under sub-section (7)(a) of section 478 by any person ordered to be publicly examined, to be exculpated from any charges made or suggested against him, shall be made upon notice to the Official Liquidator and to such other persons as the Court may direct.

Default in attending examination under section 477 or 478.

256. (1) If any person who has been directed by the court to attend for examination under section 477 or section 478 fails to attend at the time and place appointed for holding or proceeding with the same, and no good cause is shown by him for such failure, or if before the day appointed for such examination, the Official Liquidator satisfies the court that such person has absconded or that there is reason to believe that he is about to abscond with the view of avoiding the examination, the Court may, if satisfied that notice of the date and hour fixed for the examination was duly served on such person, issue without any further notice a warrant in Form No. 116 for the arrest of the person required to attend, or make such other order as the Court thinks just.

(2) Every warrant of arrest of any person issued under these rules shall remain in force until it is cancelled by the court which issued it or by the Court to which appeals ordinarily lie from the decisions of such court, or until it is executed.

Prison to which person arrested on warrant is to be taken.

257. Where the Court issues a warrant for the arrest of a person under these rules, the prison (to be named in the warrant) to which the person shall be committed shall, unless the Court otherwise orders, be the prison to which commitments are made by the court in the exercise of its ordinary civil jurisdiction.

A warrant committing a person to prison shall be in Form No. 117 and an order releasing him on bail in Form No. 118.

Execution of warrant of arrest outside ordinary jurisdiction of Court.

258. (1) Where a warrant has been issued by the Court under these rules for the arrest of any person who is or is believed to be outside the ordinary jurisdiction of the Court, the court issuing the warrant may send the warrant of arrest for execution to the District Court, or to the Court of Small Causes at Bombay, Calcutta or Madras (if the warrant has to be executed in any of these places), within the ordinary jurisdiction of which such person shall then be or be believed to be, with a requisition in Form No. 119 annexed thereto under the seal of the Court requesting execution of the warrant by the Court to which it is sent, and the last mentioned Court shall seal the warrant with its seal and shall cause the arrest to be made by its own officers or by a Court subordinate to itself, and all police officers shall aid and assist within their respective jurisdictions in the execution of such warrant.

(2) The Court making the arrest shall send the person arrested in proper custody to the Court by which the warrant of arrest was originally issued, unless he furnishes the required security to the satisfaction of the former Court for his appearance before the latter Court, in which case the Court shall release him on such security and inform the Court by which the warrant of arrest was originally issued accordingly.

Public examination under section 519.

259. Where, in a voluntary winding-up, an order is made under section 519 for the public examination of any of the persons mentioned in the said section, the rules relating to a public examination under section 478 in a winding-up by the Court shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of such examination.

Applications against delinquent directors, promoters and officers of the company

Applications under section 542 or 543.

260. An application under sub-section (1) of section 542 or under sub-section (1) of section 543, shall be made by a summons returnable in the first instance in Chambers. The summons shall state the nature of the declaration or order for which the application is made, and the grounds of the application, and shall be served on every person against whom an order is sought not less than 8 days before the day named in the summons for the hearing of the application. It shall not be necessary to file any affidavit or report before the return of the summons. The summons shall be in Form No. 120 or 121 with such variations as may be necessary.

Directions at preliminary hearing of summons.

261. On the return of the summons the Court may give such directions as it shall think fit as to whether points of claim and defence are to be delivered, as to the taking of evidence wholly or in part by affidavit or orally, as to the cross-examination, before the Judge on the hearing, either in Court or in Chambers, of any deponents to affidavits in support of or in opposition to the application, as to any report it may require the Liquidator to make, and generally as to the procedure on the summons and for the hearing thereof. Points of claim to be delivered shall be in Form No. 122 or 123 with such variations as may be necessary.

Liberty to apply for further directions.

262. Where the Court has directed that points of claim and defence shall be delivered it shall be open to either party who wishes to apply for any further direction as to any interlocutory matter, to apply, by restoration of the summons, before the summons has been set down for trial, for such direction, upon giving two clear days’ notice in writing to the other party stating the grounds of the application. A copy of the notice shall be filed with the Registrar two clear days before the day fixed for the hearing of the application.

Disclaimer

Application for disclaimer.

263. (1) An application for leave to disclaim any part of the property of a company pursuant to sub-section (1) of section 535 shall be made by a summons supported by an affidavit setting out the full facts relating to the property, the parties interested and the nature of their interests, and stating whether the company is solvent and whether any notice has been served on the liquidator by any party under sub-section (4) of the said section requiring him to elect whether or not he will disclaim.

(2) Form Nos. 124 to 130 shall be used in respect of the matters to which they relate with such variations as may be necessary.

Preliminary hearing of the summons.

264. The summons shall be posted before the Court ex parte in the first instance for directions as to the persons on whom notice of the summons should be served, and the Court shall thereupon fix a date for the hearing of the summons and give such directions as may be necessary as to the persons on whom notice of the summons should be served.

Claimant to furnish statement of his interest.

265. Where a person claims to be interested in any part of the property of a company which the Liquidator wishes to disclaim, such person shall, if so required by the Liquidator, furnish a statement of the interest claimed by him.

Service of notice.

266. Notice of the date fixed for the hearing of the summons shall be in Form No. 131 and shall be served not less than 7 days before the date fixed for the hearing, together with a copy of the summons and of the affidavit filed in support thereof. The notice shall require that any affidavit in opposition to the summons shall be filed in Court and a copy thereof served on the Liquidator of the company not later than 2 days before the date fixed for the hearing.

Order granting leave to disclaimer.

267. On the hearing of the summons, the Court may after hearing the Liquidator and such parties as may appear in response to the notices issued, and such other persons appearing and interested as the Court may think fit to hear, grant leave to the Liquidator and to disclaim on such terms and conditions if any as to the Court may seem just. The order granting leave to disclaim shall be in Form No. 132.