IBC 165 — Preference transactions

Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016

Statutory text

(1) The bankruptcy trustee may apply to the Adjudicating Authority for an order under this section if a bankrupt has given a preference to any person.
(2)  The  transaction  giving  preference  to  an  associate  of  the  bankrupt  under  sub-section  (1)  should have  been  entered  into  by  the  bankrupt  with  the  associate  during  the  period  of  two  years  ending  on  the date of the application for bankruptcy.
(3)  Any  transaction  giving  preference  not  covered  under  sub-section  (2)  should  have  been  entered into by the bankrupt during the period of six months ending on the date of the application for bankruptcy.
(4)  The  transaction  giving  preference  under  sub-section  (2)  or  under  sub-section  (3)  should  have caused the bankruptcy process to be triggered.
(5)  On  the  application  of  the  bankruptcy  trustee  under  sub-section (1),  the  Adjudicating  Authority may—
(a) pass an order declaring a transaction giving preference void;
(b) pass an order requiring any property transferred in respect of a transaction giving preference to be vested with the bankruptcy trustee as a part of the estate of the bankrupt; and (c) pass  any  other  order it thinks  fit  for  restoring  the  position  to  what  it  would have  been if the bankrupt had not entered into the transaction giving preference.
(6) The Adjudicating Authority shall not pass an order under sub-section (5) unless the bankrupt was influenced in his decision of giving preference to a person by a desire to produce in relation to that person an effect under clause (b) of sub-section (8).
(7) For the purpose of sub-section (6), if the person is an associate of the bankrupt, (otherwise than by reason only of being his employee), at the time when the preference was given, it shall be presumed that the bankrupt was influenced in his decision under that sub-section.
(8)  For  the  purposes  of  this  section,  a  bankrupt  shall  be  deemed  to  have  entered  into  a  transaction giving preference to any person if—
(a) the person is the creditor or surety or guarantor for any debt of the bankrupt; and

(b) the bankrupt does anything or suffers anything to be done which has the effect of putting that person into a position which, in the event of the debtor becoming a bankrupt, will be better than the position he would have been in, if that thing had not been done.

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