Law4u - Made in India

Can a creditor initiate bankruptcy & insolvency proceedings against a guarantor?

Answer By law4u team

No, a creditor cannot initiate bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings against a guarantor under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The IBC only provides for the initiation of bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings against a corporate debtor (company) or an individual debtor. A guarantor is a person who guarantees the payment of a debt or the fulfillment of an obligation by another person (the principal debtor). If the principal debtor defaults on the debt or obligation, the creditor can initiate recovery proceedings against the guarantor to recover the amount owed. However, the recovery proceedings against a guarantor are governed by the provisions of the Indian Contract Act and the Limitation Act, and not by the IBC. The creditor may file a civil suit against the guarantor to recover the amount owed, and may also initiate proceedings under the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFAESI Act) if the debt is secured by collateral. In summary, a creditor cannot initiate bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings against a guarantor under the IBC. The recovery proceedings against a guarantor are governed by the provisions of the Indian Contract Act and the Limitation Act, and the creditor may file a civil suit or initiate proceedings under the SARFAESI Act to recover the amount owed.

Answer By Anik

Dear client, Yes, under the Indian legal framework the creditors can initiate a bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings against a guarantor under the insolvency and bankruptcy code, 2016. Further supreme of court India clarified the power of the creditors to proceed against both corporate debtor and the guarantor simultaneously. The legal provisions governing guarantors in Insolvency Section 5(22) of the IBC – defines a personal guarantor as an individual who has given the guarantee on behalf of the corporate debtor. Section 60(2) of the IBC - allows the creditors to initiate an insolvency proceeding against a personal guarantor before the national company law tribunal (NCLT). Section 128 of Indian contract act, 1872 – it states that the liability of the guarantor is co- extensive with that of the borrower unless it is specifically stated otherwise. The process for initiating insolvency against the guarantor: Filing of applications- a financial creditor or an operational creditor can file an application under the section 95 of IBC to initiate the insolvency proceedings against the personal guarantor. The application is filed before the national company law tribunal (NCLT) that has the jurisdiction over the corporate debtor. Appointment of resolution professional – the NCLT will appoint interim resolution professional to examine the case. The resolution professional will submit the report before the NCLT on whether the application should be accepted or rejected. Moratorium period – once the insolvency application is accepted the moratorium period is applied under section 96 of IBC which prevents the creditors from taking legal action against the guarantor. Resolution plan – if the resolution plan by the resolution professional is accepted then the guarantor may enter into a repayment plan. If no plan is approved, then the NCLT may declare the guarantor bankrupt under the section 125 of IBC. I hope this answer helps. In case of future queries please feel free to contact us. Thank you

Bankruptcy & Insolvency Verified Advocates

Get expert legal advice instantly.

Advocate Yogendra Singh

Advocate Yogendra Singh

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Corporate, Court Marriage, Customs & Central Excise, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, GST, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Motor Accident, Property, R.T.I, Recovery, Supreme Court

Get Advice
Advocate Rupesh Tiwari

Advocate Rupesh Tiwari

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Court Marriage, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Documentation, GST, Domestic Violence, Family, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, Media and Entertainment, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, Patent, Property, R.T.I, Recovery, RERA, Succession Certificate, Trademark & Copyright, Wills Trusts, Revenue, Tax, Breach of Contract, Medical Negligence, Banking & Finance, Customs & Central Excise

Get Advice
Advocate Kunal Pawar

Advocate Kunal Pawar

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Court Marriage, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, Supreme Court, Wills Trusts, Revenue, Breach of Contract, Corporate, Documentation, GST, Insurance, Media and Entertainment, Property, R.T.I, Recovery, Startup, Trademark & Copyright, Tax, Armed Forces Tribunal

Get Advice
Advocate Ankit Kumar Rao

Advocate Ankit Kumar Rao

Breach of Contract, Anticipatory Bail, Civil, Consumer Court, Cheque Bounce, Arbitration, Armed Forces Tribunal, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Child Custody

Get Advice
Advocate Mayank Kumar

Advocate Mayank Kumar

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Banking & Finance, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Civil, Consumer Court, Court Marriage, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Documentation, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Insurance, Muslim Law, Property, R.T.I, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Armed Forces Tribunal, Customs & Central Excise, Corporate, Child Custody, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, Motor Accident

Get Advice
Advocate Sonia Sharma

Advocate Sonia Sharma

Anticipatory Bail, Civil, Criminal, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Recovery, Arbitration, Breach of Contract, Corporate, Court Marriage, Documentation, Cyber Crime, Consumer Court, Cheque Bounce, Armed Forces Tribunal, Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Child Custody, Insurance, Motor Accident, NCLT, Patent, R.T.I, Succession Certificate, Trademark & Copyright, Revenue, Property

Get Advice
Advocate Abhijeet Dubey

Advocate Abhijeet Dubey

Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Court Marriage, Divorce, Documentation, Domestic Violence, Family, Immigration, International Law, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, Property, R.T.I, Succession Certificate, Wills Trusts, Revenue, Banking & Finance, High Court, Muslim Law, Motor Accident, Patent, Startup, Trademark & Copyright

Get Advice
Advocate Tellam Adinarayana

Advocate Tellam Adinarayana

Anticipatory Bail,Arbitration,Armed Forces Tribunal,Bankruptcy & Insolvency,Banking & Finance,Breach of Contract,Cheque Bounce,Child Custody,Civil,Consumer Court,Corporate,Court Marriage,Customs & Central Excise,Criminal,Cyber Crime,Divorce,Documentation,Domestic Violence,Family,High Court,Immigration,Insurance,International Law,Labour & Service,Landlord & Tenant,Media and Entertainment,Medical Negligence,Motor Accident,Muslim Law,NCLT,Patent,Property,R.T.I,Recovery,RERA,Startup,Succession Certificate,Supreme Court,Tax,Trademark & Copyright,Wills Trusts,Revenue

Get Advice
Advocate Ranjeet Kumar

Advocate Ranjeet Kumar

Anticipatory Bail, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Court Marriage, Criminal, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Insurance, Labour & Service, Motor Accident, Property, Recovery, Revenue

Get Advice
Advocate Deependra Meena

Advocate Deependra Meena

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Armed Forces Tribunal, Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Corporate, Court Marriage, Customs & Central Excise, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Documentation, GST, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Immigration, Insurance, International Law, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, Media and Entertainment, Medical Negligence, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, NCLT, Patent, Property, R.T.I, Recovery, RERA, Startup, Succession Certificate, Supreme Court, Tax, Trademark & Copyright, Wills Trusts, Revenue

Get Advice

Bankruptcy & Insolvency Related Questions

Discover clear and detailed answers to common questions about Breach of Contract. Learn about procedures and more in straightforward language.