Substituted service by paper publication permitted after repeated failed attempts to serve notice on the corporate debtor.

Substituted service by paper publication was permitted where repeated attempts to serve notice on the corporate debtor at the MCA-registered address had failed. The Tribunal treated its inherent procedural powers under Rule 11 of the NCLT Rules, 2016 as sufficient to authorise service through widely circulated English and Kannada newspapers, and granted permission accordingly.

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Issues: Whether permission could be granted for service of notice by paper publication under the Tribunal's inherent procedural powers.

Analysis: The applicant showed repeated unsuccessful attempts to serve notice on the corporate debtor at the address available on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website. The request was made under Rule 11 of the National Company Law Tribunal Rules, 2016 seeking permission to effect service through newspaper publication in widely circulated English and Kannada newspapers. In the circumstances, substituted service by publication was found appropriate.

Conclusion: Permission for paper publication was granted.

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