Workmen's dues and pari passu priority justified sale of attached company goods before formal winding-up order.

Workmen's dues were recognised as enjoying priority and a pari passu position with secured creditors in the winding-up context, and the Court treated the workers as having a special stake in the proceedings. Because the company was closed, assets were deteriorating and the attached goods risked damage, exceptional circumstances justified discretionary relief despite the absence of a formal winding-up order and separate leave. The workers were therefore permitted to benefit from sale of the attached goods, with the Tahsildar authorised to conduct the sale and the proceeds kept secured under the control of the provisional liquidator to protect rival creditor interests.

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Issues: Whether, in the circumstances of the case, the workers could be permitted to realise their dues by sale of the attached goods of the company despite the absence of a winding-up order and despite the secured creditor's claim over the movable assets.

Analysis: The amended scheme of the Companies Act recognised a priority for workmen's dues and introduced a pari passu arrangement with secured creditors in the winding-up context. The Court also treated the workers as having a special stake in the proceedings and relied on the discretionary power under the winding-up provisions to deal with questions arising in the course of winding up. Although no winding-up order had yet been made and leave under the Companies Act had not been separately sought, the company was closed, the assets were deteriorating, the mill premises were under strain, and the attached goods were exposed to damage. These features were treated as exceptional circumstances justifying relief so that the workers' claim could be given practical effect without unfair prejudice to the bank.

Conclusion: The workers were held entitled to the benefit of the attached goods being sold, and the Court permitted the Tahsildar to conduct the sale with the sale proceeds to remain secured under the control of the provisional liquidator.

Final Conclusion: The application was allowed only to the extent necessary to permit sale of the attached goods and safeguarding of the proceeds, thereby protecting the workers' dues while keeping the rival interests of the secured creditor under control.

Ratio Decidendi: In exceptional circumstances arising in company winding-up related proceedings, the Court may exercise its discretion to permit sale of attached assets and secure the proceeds for the benefit of workmen, even before a formal winding-up order is made.

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