Sunil Ambwani, J.@mdashHeard Shri Subodh Kumar learned Counsel for petitioner-Union of India and Shri S.O.P. Agarwal for Mr. C.G. Goel, Ex-Chairman. Kashinath Seth Bank Ltd. Gangapur Colony, Meerut.
2. The proceedings have been initiated under Sections 45, 45H(2) 45L(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 read with Section 543 of Companies Act, 1956 for recovery of Rs. 77.82 lakhs along with interest from the respondent-Mr. C.G. Goel, the Ex-Chairman of the Kashinath Seth Bank (amalgamated with State Bank of India w.e.f. 1.1.1996) for negligence, misfeasance and breach of trust causing mismanagement and losses to the bank leading to its winding up and amalgamated with the State Bank of India, under a scheme prepared by Reserve Bank of India w.e.f. 1.1.1996, with which the Kashinath Seth Bank Limited stood wound up.
3. Two years prior to the date, a moratorium was declared and the competent authority was directed to scrutinize the matter. It was found that the Bank had suffered losses on account of several acts of misappropriation and misfeasance by the Board of Directors of the Bank leading to filing of this Company Petition. The matter is connected with 16 other Company Petitions with regard to misfeasance by the Ex-Directors for various periods beginning from 1984 to December 1994.
4. Shri Subodh Kumar, learned Counsel for Union of India states that respondent-Mr. C.G. Goel was Chairman of the Bank from 20.2.1985 to 30.6.1985. He along with members of Board of Directors is jointly and severally liable to the loss of Rs. 77.82 lacs caused to the Government of India and or/to the State Bank of India due to negligence and misfeasance of the respondent, which the respondent must pay to the bank as damages along with interest @ 18% per annum.
5. In a supplementary affidavit filed in connected Company Petition No. 112 of 2000, the loss caused to the bank explained after investigations is stated as follows:
10-A That till 12th of September, 1993, the affairs of the Kashi Nath Seth Bank Ltd were in the hands of a Board which was being managed by the Board of Directors including Sri P.C. Seth, R.C. Seth, Ashok Kumar, Dwarika Nath, Umesh Tandon, P.K. Pandey etc.
10-B That no doubt the Board of Directors, as per their balance sheet of the financial year 1991-92 (assessment year 1992-93) have shown profit of Rs. 5,955.48. However, in the financial year 1992-93 (assessment year 1993-94) ending on 37st March, 1993, they have shown a net loss of Rs. 7, 10, 47, 252.15. At the cost of repetition it is submitted that till 31.3.1993 the affairs of the Bank were being managed by the Board of Directors including the aforesaid persons. It is also important to mention here that while preparing and tendering the balance sheet of the Bank till 31.3.1993 there is a page showing highlights of different financial years i.e. 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93. A chart of the highlights is filed herewith and is being reproduced hereinafter.
HIGHLIGHTS
(Rupee in Lakhs)
SN 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93
1 Total No. of 29 29 29 30 30
Branches
2 Deposits 4,289.54 5,290.25 7,102.69 7,075.09 7,086.65
3 Advance 2,883.82 3,392.12 4,218.83 4,714.80 4608.16
4 Income 540.02 547.87 674.11 906.14 398.92
5 Expenditure 535.78 528.29 673.09 904.71 1109.45
6 Reserve 10.00 12.75 22.00 24.05 -678.60
7 Investment 830.74 1085.23 1752.05 1761.30 1691.00
The reserves of the amount of different financial years is too much material specially regarding financial year 1992-93 which shown minus 678.60 Lacs. The form of balance sheet further shows that the advances made by the Bank to the borrowers is 46,08,16, 180. 00. The said advances including present amount in dispute is approximately 8.00 crore. Copy of the entire balance sheet and annual report of financial year 1992-93 is being annexed herewith and marked as Annexure No. 1 to this company petition.
10C That, on 13th September, 1993 the Reserve Bank of India imposed certain restrictions regarding withdrawal of amount from the accounts of the Bank. The Board of Directors was suspended w.e.f. 13th September, 1993. Thereafter powers u/s 35A of the Banking Regulation Act were invoked vide order dated 8.9.1993 which continued till 19.6.1994. During the restriction, the officers of the Reserve Bank of India found that the condition of the Bank was worse and actual loss to the Bank till 31.3.1994 was Rs. 24,08,47,285.82. To prove this fact a copy of the balance sheet and annual report dated 31.3.1994 is being, annexed herewith and marked as Annexure No. 2 to this company petition. Ultimately while exercising the powers u/s 45(2) of the Banking Regulation Act, the Government of India passed an order of Moratorium on 20.6.1994 suspending the business of the Bank. The said Moratorium continued till 19.12.1994. The Bank was again placed under the Reserve Bank of India''s directions from 20.12.1994. Consequently second order of Moratorium was passed on 30.6.1995 which continued till the Bank was financially amalgamated with transferee bank.
10-D That in the year ending on 31.3.1995 (financial year 1994 95) (assessment year 1995-96), the Bank was found to be in loss of Rs. 35, 18, 82, 619.00. Copy of the Director''s Report and balance sheet is being annexed herewith and marked as Annexure No. 3 to this company petition.
10-E That, the financial condition of the Bank was so worse that the transaction of the Bank was not possible and, as such, total business of the Bank was restricted for a period of about 2 years till it was amalgamated on 1.1.1996. After amalgamation of Kashi Nath Seth Bank Ltd in State Bank of India vide Gazette Notification dated 31.12.1995 effective from 1.1.1996. the business of the erstwhile Kashi Nath Seth Bank Ltd was transferred to the Stale Bank of India and State Bank of India started its smooth functioning as per the scheme of amalgamation. Copy of the gazette notification dated 31.12.1995 is being annexed herewith and marked as Annexure No. 4 to this company petition.
6. The paragraph Nos. 12 to 22 of the company petition give the details of the allegations which constitute charges against the respondent for misconduct and misfeasance resulting into losses of Rs. 77.82 lacs with 18% interest as joint and several liability.
7. The first transaction relates with regard to Lala Kashinath Seth Jewellers Bahadurganj, Shahjahanpur. The firm had a cash credit (H) account in the bank. Smt. Meera Seth wife of Shri P.C. Seth was the Director of the bank. At that time, besides Shri P.C. Seth-her husband. Shri R.C. Seth- her son was also on the board of director. In June 1988 a cash credit limit of the borrowing firm was sharply increased to Rs. 45 lacs from the initial cash credit limit of Rs. 4.5 lacs only sanctioned on 28.7.1979 without appraisal of the credit needs and without noticing that the firm had incurred a loss in the previous year. The valuation of the stocks was not carried out nor the existing stocks were ascertained. The action of the chairman in enhancing the credit limit of the borrowing firm was confirmed by a sub committee of the board of directors in its meeting dated June 8, 1988 in which Shri G.C. Goel, Shri P.C. Mehrotra, and Shri R.C. Seth participated. Thereafter frequent enhancements were made in the sanction limit and the actions of the firm and the branch managers in advancing the limit without scrutinizing the accounts were never questioned. Consequently by 31.12.1999 the firm was advanced Rs. 489.40 lacs as against sanction limit of Rs. 45 lacs. No positive and constructive action was taken to recover the amount till the bank was amalgamated with State Bank of India on 31.12.1995. The copies of chairman''s letter dated 28.7.1979, 14.6.1988, loan application and brief report of the borrower dated 28.5.1998, chairman''s letter dated 26.11.1991, Form No. 120 dated 25.11.1991, Branch Manager''s letter dated 17.10.1992 and ledger extract of the bank have been annexed as evidence to the charge.
8. The second transaction is of Viraj Cold Storage and Allied Industries Misripur to which a term loan of Rs. 30 lacs was sanctioned 17.6.1989. The sanction was given inspite of the fact that first term loan of Rs. 10 lacs given in the year 1985 was in assurance and the unit was incurring loss. Shri Daya Vinod, brother-in-law of Shri P.C. Seth is director of the bank. These bad debts were joint and several liability of the respondent and his successor chairman Shri R.S. Chanana and other board members in its meeting dated 28.8.1989 resolving into loss of Rs. 65.06 lacs. The sanction letter, brief report of the borrower credit report dated 25.5.1989 and the proceeding of the board meeting dated 28.8.1899 have been annexed in support of the charge.
9. The third transaction is the loss of Rs. 19.80 lacs on account of loan given to Seth Ice and Cold Storage Harpur, Ballia in which term loan of Rs. 10 lacs was sanctioned to the borrowing unit in April 1989 out of which despite the fact that Rs. 4.96 lacs were released by the Branch Manager in excess unauthorisedly, sanction of a second Term Loan of Rs. 20 lacs by the then Chairman was approved by the Board of Directors in the meeting on 22.12.1989 in which the respondent participated, excessive overdrawing in Cash Credit (Hyp) account was allowed by the Branch Manager till the outstanding reached Rs. 25 lacs against the sanctioned limit of Rs. 14 lacs. The respondent did not get any objective. The appraisal of the project cost, the chairman''s letter dated 7.6.1991. report of the Branch Manager dated 4.11.1989, loan application form, credit report. and proceeding of the boards meeting dated 22.12.1989 are enclosed with the petition in support of the charges.
10. The fourth transaction refers to joint liability with the successor Chairman Shri B.M. Kapoor for the loss of Rs. 15.08 lacs on account of loan extended to Arora Cold Storage and Ices Factory Alain Nagar, Lucknow. The term loan of Rs. 19 lacs was enhanced to Rs. 25 lacs on 11.8.1986 within a short span of 8 months. The proposal was not put before the board of director for confirmation. The enhancement was totally unauthorized and was enhanced twice subsequently within one year. The need of the unit was not assessed realistically and proper appraisal of the credit proposals was not undertaken. The petition annexes chairman''s letter dated 31.3.1986, sanctioning term loan of Rs. 19 lacs. chairman''s letter dated 11.8.1986 enhancing term loan to Rs. 25 lacs and chairman''s letter dated 15.9.1989 of re-scheduling payment as evidence in support of the charges.
11. The fifth transaction relates to Dinesh Cold Storage Shahjahanpur. A term loan of Rs. 28 lacs was sanctioned to the firm by the Board of Directors on 28.11.1988. Though the valuation of the unit was shown as Rs. 55 lacs. The value of the fixed assets as on 13.2.1989 was only Rs. 25 lacs. This unit was firstly advanced as Shyam Cold Storage then as Viraj Refrigeration and lastly as Dinesh Cold Storage without finding out that the previous loans were not paid. The chairman''s letters dated 27.4.1889, proceedings of the board of directors dated 28.11.1988, brief report of the borrower dated 25,11.1988, financial report of the guarantor and recommendation dated 25.11.1988, chairman''s letter dated 2.2.1987, sanctioning credit limit, loan application form, valuation report and income and expenditure accounts, as well as term loan ledger extract, chairman''s letter dated 27.4.1989 and proceeding of the board meeting dated 28.10.1988 are annexed in support of the charge.
12. The Sixth transaction is in regard to loss of Rs. 38.87 lacs on account of loan to Lala Kashinath Seth Jewellers, Tundla, Agra in which a Cash Credit Limit of Rs. 25 lacs was sanctioned by the Board on 28.10.1988 without considering that the proposal for credit had not been appraised at any stage. There was no alternative collateral security and that one of the partners in the borrowing firm Shri N.C. Seth was an Ex-Director of the Bank. Copy of the chairman''s report dated 22.12.1988. credit report and recommendation dated 16.9.1988, branch manager''s letter dated 12.1.1989, Form No. 120, Chairman''s letter dated 24.2.1989, cash credit ledger and proceeding of the board dated 28.10.1988 are annexed in support of the charges.
13. The Seventh transaction relates to General and Motor-Finance Co. Kapseda District Shahjahanpur in which the limit was enhanced from Rs. 5 lacs sanctioned on 30.10.1987 to 15 lacs in five months. One of the partner of the company was Shri J.C. Mahrotra who joined the board on 20.6.1988 and participated in board meetings dated 22.2.1989 and 20.12.1991 prohibited by Section 20 of the Banking Act. Shri G.C. Goyal also attended these meetings and signed the proceedings. Two copies of the chairman''s letters dated 30.11.1987, proceedings of the board meeting dated 30.10.1987, chairman''s letter dated 12.3.1988 and 21.12.1991, partnership deed and proceeding of the board meeting dated 22.2.1989 and 20.12.1991 and copy of the C.C. ledger extract arc annexed in support of the charges.
14. Shri Subhodh Kumar has relied upon judgments in Official Liquidator, Janhitkari Alap Bachat Rindayatri Sans than Pvt. Ltd v. Vishnu Kumar Pradhan and Ors. 2001 Camp Cas 1026 (Raj ); K Madhaya Nayalean and Ors. v. Popular Bank Ltd AIR 1970 Kerala 131 and
15. In
16. In
In
Even where there is no ministerial duty as above, and even where no recognised tort such as trespass, nuisance, or negligence is committed, public authorities or officers may be liable in damages for malicious, deliberate or injurious wrong-doing. There is thus a tort which has been called misfeasance in public office, and which includes malicious abuse of power, deliberate maladministration, and perhaps also other unlawful acts causing injury." (p. 777). The jurisdiction and power of the courts to indemnify a citizen for injury suffered due to abuse of power by public authorities is founded as observed by Lord Hailsham in Cassell and Co. Ltd. v. Broome 1972 AC 1027 : 1972 1 All ER 801 on the principle that, ''an award of exemplary damages can serve a useful purpose in vindicating the strength of law''. An ordinary citizen or a common man is hardly equipped to match the might of the State or its instrumentalities. That is provided by the rule of law. It acts as a check on arbitrary and capricious exercise of power. In Rookes v. Barnard 1664 AC 1129 : (1964) 1 All ER 367, 410 it was observed by Lord Devlin, ''the servants of the government are also the servants of the people and the use of their power must always be subordinate to their duty of service'', a public functionary if he acts maliciously or oppressively and the exercise of powers results in harassment and agony then it is not an exercise of power but its abuse. No law provides protection against it. He who is responsible for it must suffer it. Compensation or damage as explained earlier may arise even when the officer discharges his duty honestly and bona fide. But when it arises due to arbitrary or capricious behaviour then it loses its individual character and assumes social significance. Harassment of a common man by public authorities is socially abhorring and legally impermissible. It may harm him personally but the injury to society is far more grievous. Crime and corruption thrive and prosper in the society due to lack of public resistance. Nothing is more damaging than the feeling of helplessness. An ordinary citizen instead of complaining ant fighting succumbs to the pressure of undesirable functioning in offices instead of standing against it. Therefore the award of compensation for harassment by public authorities not only compensates the individual, satisfies him personally but helps in curing social evil. It may result in improving the work culture and help in changing the outlook. Wade in his book Administrative Law has observed that it is to the credit of public authorities that there are simply few reported English decisions on this form o\\ malpractice, namely, misfeasance in public offices which includes malicious use of power, deliberate maladministration and perhaps also other unlawful acts causing injury. One of the reasons for this appears to be development of law which apart, from other factors succeeded in keeping a salutary check on the functioning in the Government or semi-government offices by holding the officers personally responsible for their capricious or even ultra vires action resulting in injury or loss to a citizen by awarding damages against them. Various decisions rendered from time to time have been referred to by Wade on Misfeasance by Public Authorities. We shall refer to some of them to demonstrate how necessary it is for our society. In Ashby v. White (1703) 2 L R 938 the House of Lords invoked the principle of ubi jus ibi remedium in favour of an elector who was wrongfully prevented from voting and decreed the claim of damages. The ratio of this decision has been applied and extended by English Courts in various situations. In Roncarelli v. Duplessis (1959) 16 DLR 689 the Supreme Court of Canada awarded damages against the Prime Minister of Quebec personally for directing the cancellation of a restaurant-owner''s liquor licene solely because the licensee provided bail on many occasions for fellow members of the sect of Jehovah''s Witnesses, which was then unpopular with the authorities. It was observed that, ''what could be more malicious than to punish this licensee for having done what he had an absolute right to do in a matter utterly irrelevant to the Alcoholic Liquor Act? Malice in the proper sense is simply acting for a reason and purpose knowingly foreign to the administration, to which was added here the element of intentional punishment by what was virtually vocation outlawry. In Smith v. East Elbe Rural District Council 1956 AC 736 : (1956) 1 All ER 855 the House of Lords held that an action for damages might proceed against the clerk of a local authority personally on the ground that he had procured the compulsory purchase of the plaintiff''s property wrongfully and in bad faith. In Farrington v. Thompson 1959 UR 286 the Supreme Court of Victoria awarded damages for exercising a power the authorities knew they did not possess, a licensing Inspector and a police officer ordered the plaintiff to close his hotel and cease supplying liquor. He obeyed and filed a suit for the resultant loss. The Court observed:
Now I take it to be perfectly clear, that if a public officer abuses his office, either by an act of omission or commission, and the consequence of that is an injury to an individual, an action may be maintained against such public officer.
17. On the other hand, Shri Arun Kumar Misra, appearing for respondent in the connected petitions submits that in none of these transaction, the respondent is alleged to have gained anything personally or retained to himself for the purposes of assessing or quantifying recovery or damages by him to the bank. According to him, the directors may not have exercised prudence for sanction of loans, which may be required by law, but that by itself cannot be treated to be misfeasance or breach of trust. The misfeasance has an element criminal liability. The proceedings are quasi criminal in name which may also ultimately make respondent liable to criminal acts. He submits that out of transactions detailed in the Company Petition, when the respondent was director of the bank upto 1992, the current status of loan accounts is as follows:
1. Lala Kashi Nath Seth Jewellers, Bahadurganj, Shahjahanpur.
Loss shown in the petitioner-Rs. 489.40 lacs
A compromise proposal dated 26.3.2001 pending consideration before the State Bank of India.
2. Dinesh Cold Storage, Shahjahanpur
Loss shown in the Petition-Rs. 133.94 lacs
Account settled with the State Bank of India under the One Time Settlement Scheme for Rs. 94 lacs, by its order dated 26.07.2006 of the said amount, Rs. 84 lacs have been paid and a sum of Rs. 10 lacs are to be deposited by 02.4.2007.
3. General and Motor Finance Company, Kapsenda
Loss shown in the Petition-Rs. 15.67 lacs.
Present status is not known.
4. Viraj Cold Storage & Allied Industry, Misripur
Loss shown in the petition-Rs. 65.05 lacs.
Account settled with the State Bank of India under the One Time Settlement Scheme for Rs. 115.50 lacs, by its order dated 8.8.2005. The said amount has been deposited and a no dues certificate has been issued to the said firm. A withdrawal application has been filed by the Bank before Debt Recovery Tribunal, Lucknow in terms of the compromise.
5. Lal Kashi Nath Seth Jewellers, Tundla, Agra
Loss shown in the Petition-Rs. 38.87 lacs.
Account settled with the State Bank of India under the One Time Settlement Scheme for Rs. 38.77 lacs. The said amount has been deposited and the case pending before the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Allahabad was decided 24.7.2001 in terms of the compromise.
6. Seth Jewellers, Oktenganj, Ballia
Loss shown in the Petition-Rs. 29.48 lacs.
Accounted settled with the State Bank of India under the One Time Settlement Scheme for Rs. 30.48 lacs, by its order dated 30.3.2001. The said amount has been deposited and the suit pending before the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Allahabad and has been dismissed in the. full satisfaction of the compromise by the order dated 14.3.2002.
7. Seth Ice & Cold Storage, Harpur, Ballia
Loss shown in the Petition-Rs. 19.80 lacs.
Account settled with the State Bank of India under the One Time Settlement Scheme for Rs. 72.61 lacs, by its order dated 31.3.2001. The said amount has been deposited and the suit pending before the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Allahabad and has been dismissed in terms of the compromise by the order dated 11.3.2002.
8. Vivek Mehrotra, Bhattha Enterprises, Shahjahanpur
Loss shown in the petition Rs. 8.13 lacs.
Present status is not known.
9. Lala Kashi Nath Seth Jewellers, Chowk, Shahjahanpur
Loss shown in the Petition- Rs. 7.28 lacs
Account settled with the State Bank of India under the one time Settlement Scheme for Rs. 6.61 lacs, by its order dated 30.3.2001. The said amount has been deposited and the suit pending before the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Allahabad and has been dismissed in terms of the compromise.
9. Saraswati Electricals Enterprises, Bareilly
Loss shown in the Petition- Rs. 14.06 lacs.
A compromise proposal dated 31.3.201, after depositing Rs. 4.70 lacs is pending consideration before the State Flank of India. Present status is not known.
18. I have considered the facts and evidence given by the petitioner for taking action of misfeasance or breach of trust and for recovering Rs. 133.94 lacs with interest @ 18% from the respondent either individual or jointly along with other directors. The respondent was director of the Bank from 6.4.1984 to 8.6.1992. There is no allegation that he was a proprietor or partner in any of firms to which the loans were advanced. He may have participated in the meetings of the Board of Directors, which regularized and sanctioned the grant of further loans or credit limits. There is however absolutely no allegation that he gained anything out of these transactions, except that he should have been more careful and should have considered the viability of the loans and advances which ultimately resulted into losses to the bank. The respondent may have been a party to the collective decisions of the Board of Directors and taken bad commercial decisions but that alone cannot be taken to have led to the fall of the bank, on account of which it was wound up. The status of these loan accounts shows that loans given to Dinesh Cold Storage Shahjahanpur; Viraj Cold Storage & Allied Industry, Misripur; Lala Kashi Nath Seth Jewellers, Bahadurganj, Shahjahanpur; Seth Jewellers. Oktenganj, Ballia; Seth Ice & Cold Storage, Harpur, Ballia: Lala Kashi Nath Seth Jewellers, Chowk, Shahjahanpur and Saraswati Electricals Enterprises, Bareilly have been settled or are in the process of settlement and that the State Bank of India has accepted the settlement of these amounts.
19. In all the judgments cited by the petitioner, the Directors or Chairmen were found to have misapplied and had retained the advances which ultimately led to the collapse of the bank. In the present case, the fact and evidence on record do not establish that the respondent-Suresh Mani had misapplied, misappropriated or committed any misfeasance and breach of trust and had gained individually in participating and sanctioning advances as Director of the bank leading to the losses, which were the cause of collapse of the Bank.
20. The object of proceeding u/s 543 of the Companies Act. 1956 is to assess damages against delinquent directors. u/s 543(i)(b) the Court can compel then Director, Manager, Liquidator or Officer of the company, 10 repay or restore the money or the property or any part thereof respectively with interest at such rate as the court may deem fit 01 to contribute such sum to the asset of the company, by way of compensation in respect of the misapplication, retainer, misfeasance or breach of trust, as the court thinks fit. In the present case pleading and the evidence do not show that respondents had in any way benefitted from the subject transactions or had gained and retained any pecuniary benefits and committed breach of trust to recover any amount from him. Further, there is nothing to show that the bank had taken any steps to recover the amount in the period of ten years. In the circumstances the State Bank of India may be justified in recovering the amount from the borrowers but the directors of the Bank who had regularised these accounts, or sanctioned additional or increased loans cannot be held responsible for damages in the misfeasance proceedings.
21. In the facts and circumstances the Company Petition against respondent-Mr. C.G. Goel, Ex Chairman, Kashinath Seth Bank Ltd Gangapur Colony Meerut is dismissed.
