Petitioner's Document Request Denied, Costs Imposed for Frivolous Litigation

The Tribunal dismissed the petitions filed by the Petitioner under Section 163 of the Companies Act, 1956, ruling that he was not entitled to the requested documents and imposed costs for frivolous litigation. The Tribunal affirmed its jurisdiction, noted the Respondents' compliance with statutory obligations, and highlighted the Petitioner's history of vexatious litigation.

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Issues Involved:
1. Entitlement to copies of statutory registers and records under Section 163 of the Companies Act, 1956.
2. Jurisdiction of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under Section 163 of the Companies Act, 1956.
3. Maintainability of the petitions filed by the Petitioner.
4. Allegations of the Petitioner being a chronic litigant.
5. Compliance by the Respondent companies with statutory obligations.
6. Imposition of costs for frivolous litigation.

Detailed Analysis:

1. Entitlement to Copies of Statutory Registers and Records:
The Petitioner sought copies of the Register of Members and Annual Returns for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 from the Respondent companies, asserting his right under Section 163 of the Companies Act, 1956. The Petitioner argued that the companies were under a statutory obligation to provide these documents within 10 working days. The Respondents contended that they had already complied with the request by sending the documents on 28.5.2012 and that the Petitioner was not a shareholder in any of the companies.

2. Jurisdiction of NCLT:
The Petitioner challenged the jurisdiction of the NCLT to adjudicate the petitions under Section 163, arguing that the powers conferred upon the Company Law Board (CLB) under the Companies Act, 1956 had not been extended to the NCLT under the analogous Section 94 of the Companies Act, 2013. The Tribunal held that it had jurisdiction to decide on acts that happened before the new Act came into force, thus the petitions were maintainable.

3. Maintainability of the Petitions:
The Petitioner’s argument on maintainability was dismissed by the Tribunal, which noted that the petitions were ripe for adjudication. The Tribunal emphasized that the case was ready for oral submissions based on the affidavits and pleadings filed, and it could proceed to decide the case even in the absence of the Petitioner’s arguments.

4. Allegations of Chronic Litigant:
The Respondents accused the Petitioner of being a chronic litigant who habitually filed petitions under Sections 163 and 219 against various companies. The Tribunal noted that the Petitioner had filed 62 petitions against Reliance Industries Ltd. and its subsidiaries, often seeking voluminous documentation from the date of incorporation. The Tribunal observed that the Petitioner’s actions were frivolous and vexatious, aimed at harassing the companies.

5. Compliance by Respondent Companies:
The Respondents argued that they had complied with the statutory requirements by providing the requested documents on 28.5.2012. The Petitioner, however, claimed that the copies were incomplete. The Tribunal found that the Respondents had indeed furnished the documents and that the Petitioner had failed to demonstrate any injury or specific reason for requiring the documents.

6. Imposition of Costs:
The Tribunal concluded that the Petitioner was not entitled to the relief sought under Section 163, as he did not fall under the categories of persons (members, debenture holders, or any other person with an interest in the company) entitled to such documents. The Tribunal dismissed all 62 petitions, imposing a cost of Rs. 1000/- each for consuming the Tribunal's valuable time with frivolous litigation.

Conclusion:
The Tribunal dismissed the petitions filed by the Petitioner, holding that he was not entitled to the documents under Section 163 of the Companies Act, 1956, and imposed costs for engaging in frivolous litigation. The Tribunal affirmed its jurisdiction to adjudicate the petitions and emphasized that the Respondents had complied with their statutory obligations.

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