The Madras High Court on December 6th, 2021 directed the airline to wind up for non-payment of over $24 million to SR Technics, a Swiss company that maintains, repairs, overhauls aircraft engines and components.
However, the judge then stayed the order for a period of three weeks to enable SpiceJet to go for appeal. The stay was granted on condition that the company should deposit $4 million to the credit of the SR Technics within a fortnight.
Key points to note –
- The wind up petition was filed by Credit Suisse AG, a Zurich based corporation, which was assigned the right to receive the payments due to SR Technics.
- The judge agreed that SpiceJet had clearly accepted its liabilities in terms of an agreement entered between the two companies for a period of 10 years in 2011.
- Interestingly SpiceJet defence was – SR Technics did not have a valid authorisation from Director General of Civil Aviation to carry out aircraft engine maintenance contracts between January 1, 2009 and May 18, 2015 and therefore the debt was against public policy in India. Judge rightly rejected the argument that SpiceJet was aware of the absence of DGCA approval and yet chose to enter into a maintenance contract. After having done so, the company could not now turn around and complain of violation of provisions of the Aircraft Act.
Sometimes when one hears these kind of illogical arguments, one really wonders what does the counsel and the Company think of the judiciary !
A Division Bench of the Madras High Court dismisses SpiceJet’s appeal against the single judge order order to wind up.
However, it extended the interim stay granted till Jan 28, to allow the airline to prefer a further appeal in the Supreme Court.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/court-dismisses-spicejets-appeal-against-order-to-wind-up/article38232413.ece
Spicejet and Credit Suisse have settled the dispute. As per Spicejet disclosure to the exchanges –
https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/cb1f388e-0d76-456f-b258-8d733c5c7dc2.pdf
SpiceJet has defaulted on it’s payment obligations to Credit Suisse again.
Supreme court has specifically pointed out that SpiceJet was obligated to repay USD 6.5 million to Credit Suisse but has only managed to pay a fraction, totalling a little over USD 2 million. This discrepancy led to Credit Suisse filing a Contempt Plea against SpiceJet, asserting the airline’s failure to honor its financial commitments.
The Supreme Court has issued a summons for the personal appearance of Ajay Singh, Chairman of SpiceJet. This follows a recent decision by the Delhi High Court and comes as a severe blow to the airline.
https://www.cnbctv18.com/aviation/credit-suisse-vs-spicejet-after-delhi-hc-supreme-court-summons-ajay-singh-17527131.htm