Amendment In CIRP Regulations Amid Covid-19 Lockdown

In a move aimed at smooth resolution of insolvent firms, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (“IBBI”) amended the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 (“CIRP Regulations”) on March 29, 2020.

Due to the declaration of 21 days lockdown by the Government of India with effect from 25th March, 2020 as a measure to contain the spread of Covid-19, it has become extremely hard for the insolvency professionals to continue to conduct the process, for members of committee of creditors to attend the meetings, and for prospective resolution applicants to prepare and submit resolution plans, during the period of nationwide lockdown.

With the aim to address this difficulty, the IBBI has amended the CIRP Regulations to provide that the period of lockdown imposed by the Government of India in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak shall not be counted for the purposes of the time-line for any activity that could not be completed due to the lockdown, in relation to a corporate insolvency resolution process. This would, however, be subject to the overall time-limit provided in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (“IBC”).